by Alan Sked (Author)
A new and revised edition of Alan Sked's groundbreaking book which examines how the Habsburg Empire survived the revolutionary turmoil of 1848.
'The Year of Revolutions', saw the whole of Europe convulsed in turmoil and revolt. Yet the Habsburg Empire survived. As state after state succumbed to the violent winds of change that were sweeping the continent. How did the Habsburg Empire survive? How was the army able hold together while the rest of the empire collapsed in civil war, and how was it able to seize the political initiative In this new edition, Alan Sked reflects on the changed understanding of the period which resulted from the first appearance of this book, and widens the discussion to look at the Habsburg Empire alongside the decline of the Russian and German Empires, arguing that it is possible to understand their decline from a broad European perspective, as opposed to the overly narrow focus of recent explanations. Alan Sked makes us look at familiar events with new eyes in this radical, vigorously written classic which is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of nineteenth-century Europe.
Back Jacket
'This is a book to be savoured and relished; excellently organised and rich in anecdote, irony, paradox and intelligence, it is a must for anyone interested in the Habsburg empire or anyone looking for an example of historical writing in its most lively, informative and attractive form.'
HISTORY Dealing with one of the key episodes in nineteenth-century history, Alan Sked completely revises the traditional view of that crucial outcome of the period's upheavals: the survival of the Habsburg Empire. Acclaimed by one Oxford professor as "worthy of A.J.P.Taylor at his best," the first edition of this book became a bestseller which was translated into German, Italian, Czech and Japanese. The key to the book's success has been the author's determination to analyse the course of Habsburg history and to take issue not merely with its leading historians, but with the very concept of "decline and fall" itself.In this second edition, the author reflects on the arguments originally raised and bolsters his original interpretation. The result is vintage Sked: clear and controversial, a vigorously written classic which is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of nineteenth-century Europe. ALAN SKED is Senior Lecturer in International History at the London School of Economics.
Author Biography
Alan Sked is Senior Lecturer in International History at the London School of Economics.