Good books on Maria Theresa of Austria (or other European monarchy)

[woodstock]

I have been watching the Wealth TV (yes, it really exists) series on the Habsburgs. Maria Theresa seemed like an exceptional ruler. Very progressive in many respects.

I'd be interested in reading more about her, as well as well-written books on other royal family members. Time period doesn't matter, European dynasty doesn't matter. They are all interrelated anyway... ha.

Well-done historical fiction is fine as well.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[dmccormack]

Hmmm...

That era is full of interconnections (Her daughter was Marie Antoinette, her Son was emperor and was subscribed to a Mozart's opera).

The Making of modern Europe series, while dated, provides a good overview.

While it's outside the era, the best historical fiction ever written is Patrick O-Brien's 18 volume Aubrey-Maturin series The work is literature which illumines history the way no treatise ever can.

 

[woodstock]

Thanks Dan for the recos.

I knew about Marie Antoinette and have done a little bit of reading on her (in high school I read Stefan Zweig's account of her, and at least one other) but didn't know much about her mother the Empress.

 

[dmccormack]

Thanks Dan for the recos.

I knew about Marie Antoinette and have done a little bit of reading on her (in high school I read Stefan Zweig's account of her, and at least one other) but didn't know much about her mother the Empress.

She's interesting as the last of the true Monarchs of the Baroque era -- anyone after her was dealing with revolution and republics and all that nonsense. plus she falls in between the two Big Events in History and is over a "decadent empire" which will not survive Napoleon.

I find Old Fritz a bit more interesting (Frederick the Great) mostly because no British military historian can write anything without referring to him at least once.