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ISBN-10: 1-933648-63-5
ISBN-13: 9781933648637
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Country:
Year: November 1, 2007
Size: 15.24 x 22.61 x 2.29cm
Number of pages: 240
Weight: 340gr
Binding: Paperback
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»In his splendid study The Siege of Vienna, the Oxford historian John Stoye provides a detailed account of the intricate machinations between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans. Mr. Stoye's description of the siege itself is masterly. He seems to know every inch of ground, every earthwork and fortification around the Imperial City, and he follows the action meticulously.«-The Wall Street Journal
»Worthy of the pen of Herodotus. … It is a measure of the fascination of Mr. Stoye's subject that one should think of comparing his treatment of it with the work of the greatest historians.«-The Times Literary Supplement
»John Stoye is the master of every aspect of his subject.«-Daily Telegraph
The siege of Vienna in 1683 was one of the turning points in European history. So great was its impact that countries normally jealous and hostile sank their differences to throw back the armies of Islam and their savage Tartar allies.
The consequences of defeat were momentous: The Ottomans lost half of their European territories, which led to the final collapse of their empire, and the Habsburgs turned their attention from France and the Rhine frontier to the rich pickings of the Balkans. That hot September day in 1683 witnessed the last great trial of strength between the East and the West-and opened an epoch in European history that lasted until the First World War.
John Stoye, the author of several books on European history, is a fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he lives.
reviews
I FIND THE TURKISH ROUT BEFORE VIENNA IS THE LAND BATTLE THAT CLOSES THE TURKISH EMPIRE'S GLORIOUS TIMES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SEA BATTLE THAT STOPPED THE TURKISH EMPIRE IN THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST CHRISTIANITY. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT BATTLE, ANS THE BOOK COVERS IT IN A SHORT SPACE WITH THE HELP OF QUITE GOOD MAPS.
A somewhat dry but thorough narrative history of the second siege of Vienna. The work was originally written in the early sixties, and lacks many of the qualities that people look for in more modern works of popular history. Although it is very thorough when it describes the political and diplomatic events of the seige, there is little here for a social or a military historian. There is no discussion of the general way of life, of the personal experiences of small people, or of the weaponry or tactics of the day. Similarly, there is no discussion of the economic factors that helped lead up to the conflict, or were affected by the conflict. Nor are the events put into the long-term history of centuries of conflict of the Ottoman and Austrian empires, nor the context of the development of Islam in Europe. Nor is there a description of the cultural impact of the seige on further generations of eastern Europeans. These criticisms may be unfair. For a historian of the early sixties, John Stoye writes a good thorough narrative account, and teases out the facts of what really happened when with judicious skill. This is what historians of his era generally did. To ask for more, is to ask for a book written later, which would look at more. If you are reading any other books related to the seige of Vienna, then this is probably a very good book to get, as it will explain, carefully and readably, the sequence of events: a need that more modern historians sometimes overlook in their attempts to be very clever or insightful. It is a bit dry however, by modern standards.
I would like to learn more about this topic, but this book read like a text book. I couldn't get into it and I like history.
Rather looks like a turn paper of a quite average-college standard. Also, the reference index is really not revealing. So, why?
I love good, well written, interesting history books. I have read hundreds. This isn't one of them. Tedious is being generous. I'm sorry I didn't read the reviews first. Yes, there is copious detail, but it is dull, lifeless, and impossible to plough through.
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