Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe
Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe
Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe
Description
Description
'Fascinating, masterful ... gems scattered throughout the book' Peter Frankopan, Spectator
'Quirkily original but also scholarly and authoritative, to be read for pleasure and serious reflection' Telegraph *The dramatic history of Europe's shape-shifting centre, from the author of The Habsburgs* Central Europe is not just a space on a map but also a region of shared experience - of mutual borrowings, impositions and misapprehensions. From the Roman Empire onwards, it has been the target of invasion from the east. In the Middle Ages, Central Europeans cast their eastern foes as 'the dogmen'. They would later become the Turks, Swedes, Russians and Soviets, all of whom pulled the region apart and remade it according to their own vision. Competition among Europe's Middle Kingdoms yielded repeated cultural effervescences. This was the first home of the High Renaissance outside Italy, the cradle of the Reformation, the starting point of the Enlightenment, Romanticism, the symphony and modern nationalism. It was a permanent battleground too for religious and political ideas. Most recent histories of Central Europe confine themselves to the lands in between Germany and Russia, homing in on Poland, Hungary, and what is now the Czech Republic. This new history embraces the whole of Central Europe, including the German lands as well as Ukraine and Switzerland. The story of Europe's Middle Kingdoms is a reminder of Central Europe's precariousness, of its creativity and turbulence, and of the common cultural trends that make these lands so distinctive.
About the Author
About the Author
Martyn Rady is Masaryk Professor Emeritus of Central European History at University College London. A leading expert on Central Europe, he is the author of The Habsburgs: To Rule the World, The Habsburg Empire: A Very Short Introduction, and other books on Hungarian, German, and Romanian history. He lives in Gloucestershire, UK.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Rady deftly unravels the strands of a long and complex past to show Central Europe as both a battle zone of often hideous violence and a medieval cradle of Western democracy." --Wall Street Journal
"A magisterial history." --Peter Frankopan, Spectator
"This is a very impressive book, quirkily original but also scholarly and authoritative, to be read for pleasure and serious reflection." --Daily Telegraph
"Popular academic history at its best."--Ivan Krastev, Financial Times
"A masterly synthesis." --Times (of London)
"[Rady's] history is full of stories and vignettes, personalities and ideas rather than grand theses. The result, built on a lifetime of scholarship and vast reading in multiple languages, vividly conveys the complexities and multi-faceted nature of central Europe."--BBC History Magazine
"A repeatedly rewarding study...This book deserves attention." --New Criterion
"A tour de force of two thousand years...a brisk and stimulating introduction to [Central Europe's] history." --Washington Free Beacon
"A sparkling, witty, elegantly-written and deeply erudite book." --The Critic
"A comprehensive approach to a subject as rich as it is complex...of service to everyman and specialists alike." --Aspects of History
"Excellent."--Marginal Revolution
"An astonishing book...an authoritative scholarly account...Anecdotes, colorful stories and quotations, as well as the constant presence of Rady's wise and engaging voice make this a rare book...This is an unparalleled resource for anyone concerned about the future of Europe and the history of its nations."--Library Journal, starred review
"An ambitious survey of Central Europe from antiquity to the present day...evocative prose renders this complex history accessible. It's a boon for anyone seeking insights into Central Europe's influence on the modern world." --Publishers Weekly
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Basic Books
Pub date:
2024-11-05
Length:
640 pages
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