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Maria Theresa

The Habsburg Empress in Her Time
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( 134 ratings, 17 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Maria Theresa by Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger offers a gripping biography of the formidable Habsburg empress who ruled with vision and resilience in a time of significant political challenge. The book delves into her complex personality and the impact of her policies on European politics, balancing her personal life and public duties. It paints a vivid portrait of her reign, highlighting her efforts to modernise her empire and the lasting legacy she left behind.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by the lives of influential historical figures, especially in European history. It offers an insightful exploration into the reign of a powerful empress, revealing her political acumen, personal life, and lasting impact on the Habsburg Empire. This work may particularly appeal to those interested in the intricate dynamics of power and leadership during the 18th century.

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A major new biography of the iconic Austrian empress that challenges the many myths about her life and rule

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Maria Theresa (1717-1780) was once the most powerful woman in Europe. At the age of twenty-three, she ascended to the throne of the Habsburg Empire, a far-flung realm composed of diverse ethnicities and languages, beset on all sides by enemies and rivals. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger provides the definitive biography of Maria Theresa, situating this exceptional empress within her time while dispelling the myths surrounding her.

Drawing on a wealth of archival evidence, Stollberg-Rilinger examines all facets of eighteenth-century society, from piety and patronage to sexuality and childcare, ceremonial life at court, diplomacy, and the everyday indignities of warfare. She challenges the idealised image of Maria Theresa as an enlightened reformer and mother of her lands who embodied both feminine beauty and virile bellicosity, showing how she despised the ideas of the Enlightenment, treated her children with relentless austerity, and mercilessly persecuted Protestants and Jews. Work, consistent physical and mental discipline, and fear of God were the principles Maria Theresa lived by, and she demanded the same from her family, her court, and her subjects.

A panoramic work of scholarship that brings Europe's age of empire spectacularly to life, Maria Theresa paints an unforgettable portrait of the uncompromising yet singularly charismatic woman who left her enduring mark on the era in which she lived and reigned.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Maria Theresa by Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger is widely praised as a monumental and comprehensive reappraisal of the empress's life and influence. Reviews highlight the book's scholarly depth, detailed analyses of the Habsburg Monarchy, and its sweeping portrayal of the eighteenth century. The biography is celebrated for its impressive translation and its ability to offer both intricate detail and a grand historical vision.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691179063

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 18 January 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 30 color + 55 b/w illus. 1 map.

Contributors:

  • Translated by Robert Savage

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 155.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 1104

About the Author

Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger is professor of early modern history and rector of the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin. Her books include The Holy Roman Empire: A Short History (Princeton) and The Emperor's Old Clothes: Constitutional History and the Symbolic Language of the Holy Roman Empire.

Robert Savage is the author of Hlderlin After the Catastrophe and has translated books by some of Germany's leading intellectuals and historians.

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  • Maria Theresa
    Maria Theresa (1717-1780) was once the most powerful woman in Europe. At the age of twenty-three, she ascended to the throne of the Habsburg Empire, a far-flung realm composed of diverse ethnicities and languages, beset on all sides by enemies and rivals. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger provides the definitive biography of Maria Theresa, situating this exceptional empress within her time while dispelling...
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