Scan barcode
hasayo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
michael5000's review against another edition
4.0
The Holy Roman Empire is a fairly ghostly figure in the working-Joe's understanding of Western Civ, since it doesn't seem quite "like" any other entity on the historical stage, and because it -- well, try this: When and how did the Holy Roman Empire come to an end? Do you know? I sure didn't.
So, what we have here is a good-as-comprehensive analytic history of the HRE, weighing in at about one page per year of the Empire's existence. Don't expect each year to get its own page, of course, because as most reviews on GR point out this is not a chronicle. Many reviewers seem kind of offended that it isn't a chronological treatment, but I have to say going year by year through this material seems like it would be absolutely stultifying, whereas Wilson always has something interesting to say in his thematic approach.
Key Ideas, which Wilson tends to hammer on a bit because he's trying to correct some 19th and 20th century misconceptions of the HRE, include:
--> IT ISN'T JUST A DISORGANIZED VERSION OF GERMANY ALREADY
--> JUST BECAUSE IT WAS STRUCTURALLY WEIRD DOESN'T MAKE IT BAD
--> DON'T DISMISS IT AS A FAILURE! ~YOU~ TRY LASTING A THOUSAND YEARS!
You certainly come out of Heart of Europe reminded that the modern nation-state isn't the only, or necessarily a great, way to organize things. Plus you get exposed to some other unexpected ideas along the way. One standout is that the trend towards violent physical punishment in the late middle ages was thought of as a reform movement, the logic being that a fine hurts a peasant much worse than a lord, but public torture or execution is equally unpleasant for rich and poor alike. Ouch!
The audiobook version is read with terrific energy and enthusiasm, which is a big help with a historical treatment of this length and sophistication.
So, what we have here is a good-as-comprehensive analytic history of the HRE, weighing in at about one page per year of the Empire's existence. Don't expect each year to get its own page, of course, because as most reviews on GR point out this is not a chronicle. Many reviewers seem kind of offended that it isn't a chronological treatment, but I have to say going year by year through this material seems like it would be absolutely stultifying, whereas Wilson always has something interesting to say in his thematic approach.
Key Ideas, which Wilson tends to hammer on a bit because he's trying to correct some 19th and 20th century misconceptions of the HRE, include:
--> IT ISN'T JUST A DISORGANIZED VERSION OF GERMANY ALREADY
--> JUST BECAUSE IT WAS STRUCTURALLY WEIRD DOESN'T MAKE IT BAD
--> DON'T DISMISS IT AS A FAILURE! ~YOU~ TRY LASTING A THOUSAND YEARS!
You certainly come out of Heart of Europe reminded that the modern nation-state isn't the only, or necessarily a great, way to organize things. Plus you get exposed to some other unexpected ideas along the way. One standout is that the trend towards violent physical punishment in the late middle ages was thought of as a reform movement, the logic being that a fine hurts a peasant much worse than a lord, but public torture or execution is equally unpleasant for rich and poor alike. Ouch!
The audiobook version is read with terrific energy and enthusiasm, which is a big help with a historical treatment of this length and sophistication.
navahx's review
Going to come back to this after I re-read "Reformations" by Carlos M. N. Eire. I just wasn't ready for the medieval or early modern sections of this book!
ben_sch's review against another edition
3.0
Not recommended casually. I felt a little gross trying to finish it but felt compelled to. Some sections were really interesting but others I skimmed. I liked the style of really abstract, broad history, but I didn't have enough concrete background. Reminded me of Robin Hanson. Better to read one of the sections after you have read several other more detailed and concrete books relating.
bulwerka's review against another edition
2.0
Obviously well researched and knowledgeable on the subject, was not a fan of the structure of the book. It was simultaneously too dense and too dry for me to want to pick it up for longer than a couple minutes. Didn’t really retain much from it either, honestly only picked up bits and pieces here and there. Wouldn’t recommend as a leisure read but I do think there is value in retaining it for research purposes.