The Austrians: A Thousand-year Odyssey - Hardcover

Brook-Shepherd, Gordon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002553848 ISBN 13: 9780002553841

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1996

Synopsis

A thousand years of European history are passed through the prism of the Austrian experience. The chief factors which have smothered national development throughout - loyalty to a supranational dynasty and confusion over their Germanic roots - are traced right down to modern times. The Austrian nationality as such was created as recently as 1918 when the Austro-Hungarian Habsburg empire collapsed at the end of World War I. For centuries, the Austrians had been the privileged servants of the dynasty, like the stewards of some vast family estate. Already troubled by the question "is there such a thing as an Austrian or are we simply a south German branch of the great Teutonic race?", they were quickly faced by a new crisis of identity when the Austrian Adolf Hitler merged them into the "Thousand Year Reich" with Germany.

About this title

Product Description:

, xxiv, 483 pages with two sections of black and white photographic plates

From the Back Cover:

Austria stands at the heart of Europe, but despite the Austrians’ long history their nation state has only existed since the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1918. For centuries they struggled to find their own identity, against the pull of multi-national Danubian traditions on the one hand and racial German ties on the other. Who are the Austrians? To what extent have they come to terms with their recent past, notably Hitler's 'Anschluss' and the Waldheim affair? And what will they bring to their new role as members of a united Europe?

Gordon Brook-Shepherd has witnessed much of Austria's post-war history himself, first as a soldier and then as a foreign correspondent based in Vienna. He has had access to private Hapsburg family archives, and has personally known several of Austria's Chancellors. The result is a unique blend of academic research and political experience.

‘Brook-Shepherd knows more about Austria and the Austrians than any living Englishman... And written with a verve and style now too rarely seen, this book is a delight to read... a sustained tour de force, the best written and most lively account of modern Austria available anywhere.’
ANDREW WHEATCROFT, 'Sunday Times'

‘A very enjoyable book, with a wealth of detail and some wonderful insights... good turns of phrase and a rattling pace.’
ADAM ZAMOYSKI, 'Evening Standard'

‘A most readable and in every way readable book’
CHARLES CHEVENIX TRENCH, 'Irish Independent'

‘Excellent... great narrative verve’
SIMON HEFFER, 'Daily Mail'

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0002553848
• ISBN 13: 9780002553841
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480