The Habsburgs

To Rule the World

By: Martyn Rady

Narrated by: Simon Boughey

The definitive history of a powerful family dynasty who dominated Europe for centuries—from their rise to power to their eventual downfall.

"A feat of both scholarship and storytelling." —Wall Street Journal

In The Habsburgs, Martyn Rady tells the epic story of a dynasty and the world it built—and then lost—over nearly a millennium. From modest origins, the Habsburgs gained control of the Holy Roman Empire in the fifteenth century. Then, in just a few decades, their possessions rapidly expanded to take in a large part of Europe, stretching from Hungary to Spain, and parts of the New World and the Far East. The Habsburgs continued to dominate Central Europe through the First World War.

Historians often depict the Habsburgs as leaders of a ramshackle empire. But Rady reveals their enduring power, driven by the belief that they were destined to rule the world as defenders of the Roman Catholic Church, guarantors of peace, and patrons of learning. The Habsburgs is the definitive history of a remarkable dynasty that forever changed Europe and the world.

Critic reviews

"Martyn Rady's history of this peculiar family is deeply informed, elegantly written and a joy to read."—Evening Standard (UK)

"Rady is a lucid and elegant writer... It is impossible to imagine a more erudite and incisive history of this fascinating, flawed and ultimately tragic dynasty."—The Times (UK)

"A Rolls Royce of a narrative that motors through ten centuries of history with an effortlessness that belies the intellectual horsepower beneath the bonnet."—Literary Review (UK)

"Probably the best book ever written on the Habsburgs in any language.... Lucid, comprehensive and witty, it is not merely a pleasure to read but a complete education. Students, scholars and the general reader will never find a better guide to Habsburg history."—Times Literary Supplement (UK)

"This admirably compact, exceptionally well-written survey will probably be the standard one-volume history of the Habsburg dynasty for years to come."—Library Journal

"This comprehensive account provides an insightful overview of seven centuries of European history."—Publishers Weekly

"A sweeping chronicle of the rise and fall of the Habsburg dynasty."—Kirkus

"The Habsburgs is gripping, colorful, and dramatic but also concise, scholarly, and magisterial. Martyn Rady recounts the story of Europe's greatest dynasty that ruled an empire, on which the sun never set, from Peru to the Philippines. Revealing a key player in world history for almost a thousand years, The Habsburgs is a chronicle of high politics and family intimacy involving religion, murder, incest, madness, suicide, assassination. History on an epic scale!"—Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Romanovs

"The Habsburgs were once Europe's foremost royal family. Rady tells their story with verve and authority, casting a curious eye over their eccentricities and peccadilloes while all the time revealing their extraordinary influence and global vision. A fascinating read."—Alexander Watson,author of The Fortress and Ring of Steel

"This is a first global history of Europe's most famous and durable dynasty, chronicling its exploits with great panache over nearly a millennium of rule across wide swathes of the continent and beyond. Martyn Rady writes incisively and judiciously, drawing on much recent international scholarship in a range of languages to illustrate multiple facets of Habsburg governance in theory and practice. At the same time his text is accessible and entertaining, his ready wit providing a delectable counterpoint to the notorious humourlessness of so many of the dynasts he examines."—Robert Evans, University of Oxford

"A tour de force. Thorough, accessible and resolutely erudite, this is the volume that this vitally important subject so desperately needed. Rady should be congratulated."—Roger Moorhouse, author of Poland 1939

wanted a deeper dive

I was looking for something a little more in depth. this glosses over the stuff I was interested in, mainly the Hapsburgs.

Narration

A tremendous amount of narrative facts. At times dry as a bone. Impressive collection of details but too little biography of individuals. Awesome narration but 2-3 stars.

Informative

This book brought together pieces of random history taught in school. It was not dry. the reader was enjoyable. Central Europe Makes more sense To me know. As does the Holy Roman Empire. These sweeping historical pieces are great ! The family tree that is included was helpful.

It's good

Good and informative, although it can get a bit boring and monotonous at times, IMO.

A seemingly balanced approach

It’s a good story that combined praise when appropriate, with plenty of unflattering facts. It explains a lot about nearly 1000 years of European history