3.5
Vienna, 1814
ByPublisher Description
“Reads like a novel. A fast-paced page-turner, it has everything: sex, wit, humor, and adventures. But it is an impressively researched and important story.”
—David Fromkin, author of Europe’s Last Summer
Vienna, 1814 is an evocative and brilliantly researched account of the most audacious and extravagant peace conference in modern European history. With the feared Napoleon Bonaparte presumably defeated and exiled to the small island of Elba, heads of some 216 states gathered in Vienna to begin piecing together the ruins of his toppled empire. Major questions loomed: What would be done with France? How were the newly liberated territories to be divided? What type of restitution would be offered to families of the deceased? But this unprecedented gathering of kings, dignitaries, and diplomatic leaders unfurled a seemingly endless stream of personal vendettas, long-simmering feuds, and romantic entanglements that threatened to undermine the crucial work at hand, even as their hard-fought policy decisions shaped the destiny of Europe and led to the longest sustained peace the continent would ever see.
Beyond the diplomatic wrangling, however, the Congress of Vienna served as a backdrop for the most spectacular Vanity Fair of its time. Highlighted by such celebrated figures as the elegant but incredibly vain Prince Metternich of Austria, the unflappable and devious Prince Talleyrand of France, and the volatile Tsar Alexander of Russia, as well as appearances by Ludwig van Beethoven and Emilia Bigottini, the sheer star power of the Vienna congress outshone nearly everything else in the public eye.
An early incarnation of the cult of celebrity, the congress devolved into a series of debauched parties that continually delayed the progress of peace, until word arrived that Napoleon had escaped, abruptly halting the revelry and shrouding the continent in panic once again.
Vienna, 1814 beautifully illuminates the intricate social and political intrigue of this history-defining congress–a glorified party that seemingly valued frivolity over substance but nonetheless managed to drastically reconfigure Europe’s balance of power and usher in the modern age.
—David Fromkin, author of Europe’s Last Summer
Vienna, 1814 is an evocative and brilliantly researched account of the most audacious and extravagant peace conference in modern European history. With the feared Napoleon Bonaparte presumably defeated and exiled to the small island of Elba, heads of some 216 states gathered in Vienna to begin piecing together the ruins of his toppled empire. Major questions loomed: What would be done with France? How were the newly liberated territories to be divided? What type of restitution would be offered to families of the deceased? But this unprecedented gathering of kings, dignitaries, and diplomatic leaders unfurled a seemingly endless stream of personal vendettas, long-simmering feuds, and romantic entanglements that threatened to undermine the crucial work at hand, even as their hard-fought policy decisions shaped the destiny of Europe and led to the longest sustained peace the continent would ever see.
Beyond the diplomatic wrangling, however, the Congress of Vienna served as a backdrop for the most spectacular Vanity Fair of its time. Highlighted by such celebrated figures as the elegant but incredibly vain Prince Metternich of Austria, the unflappable and devious Prince Talleyrand of France, and the volatile Tsar Alexander of Russia, as well as appearances by Ludwig van Beethoven and Emilia Bigottini, the sheer star power of the Vienna congress outshone nearly everything else in the public eye.
An early incarnation of the cult of celebrity, the congress devolved into a series of debauched parties that continually delayed the progress of peace, until word arrived that Napoleon had escaped, abruptly halting the revelry and shrouding the continent in panic once again.
Vienna, 1814 beautifully illuminates the intricate social and political intrigue of this history-defining congress–a glorified party that seemingly valued frivolity over substance but nonetheless managed to drastically reconfigure Europe’s balance of power and usher in the modern age.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesVienna, 1814 Reviews
3.5
“Ever see a book about something you’ve never heard of and decide to pick it up on a purely curious whim? I saw “Vienna 1814…” at a library book sale for a dollar. Why not!? Keep in mind, I probably couldn’t point to Austria on a map, so this was a deep dive into a subject I barely knew existed.
“Vienna 1814…” by David King is a masterful account of a massive peace congress opened after the Napoleonic Wars. Europe was in ruins after the “Corsican Ogre” had cut and carved his way through the country. King effectively covers this congress, which starts earnestly, transitions into a money wasting vanity fair (rich people amirite?), finally transforming into a somewhat effective military and peace meeting.
This book is filled to the brim with different characters and countries, alongside singular agents looking to forward their own agenda. The motives vary as much as the personalities - and these folk have personalities. King does a wonderful job at giving every player their voice. Talleyrand stuck out to me rather strongly.
As the Congress meanders, King’s focus instead switches to Napoleon. This exiled Emperor of Elba rules his tiny island with efficiency and purpose. While Vienna sparkles, Napoleon prepares. The book reaches its climax when Napoleon returns to France, builds his army, and begins his march to the infamous Waterloo.
The fall of the Congress and its players is just as exciting as its inception. No one will come out unscathed. The final fates that stood out to me were the unlucky Castleraegh and the mysterious Tsar Alexander. Side note, I have to learn more about this Tsar. Absolute wackadoodle.
This book has a lot of names, places, and plot lines. A robust index in the back is incredibly helpful. Additionally, King does a good job at reminding you the loyalties and motives of less frequent characters. Still, it’s a daunting book and I’m certain there are a few characters I’d missed.
I think that King’s book is incredibly informative and entertaining. It was approachable by a complete novice and inspired me to read more about Napoleon and 19th century Europe. If any complaint, the book has an insane number of characters and demands a lot from the reader. 4/5, a dense but entertaining read on a subject that deserves the focus. Would recommend to fans of European history or if you like reading about rich assholes.
Side note: reading all of these squabbles between monarchs made me more proud to be an American than any book I’ve read. I love to hate royalty”
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