Royal Heirs

Rezensionen / Stimmen

'Beautifully written and elegantly translated by Rona Johnston, Mueller's brilliantly researched study is the first to shift attention from the monarchs themselves to the children who embodied the institution's future. Drawing on prodigious research in many national and regional archives, Mueller's analysis captures the European lineaments of monarchy's modern history without losing sight of national and dynastic peculiarities.' Christopher Clark, author of The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 'Mueller's book dazzles with the brilliance of his primary research and his ability to draw common threads and uncommon insights from a massive scholarly literature. Every chapter of this energetic, imaginative account offers sparkling apercus about how young and not-so-young heirs to the thrones of Europe grew into their dynastic roles (or didn't).' James Retallack, author of Germany's Second Reich: Portraits and Pathways 'A very substantial contribution to our understanding of monarchy and politics in the "long" nineteenth century. For those who do not know much already about the period, Mueller is a master at disentangling the various dynastic skeins, and weaving them back into a comprehensible story.' Brendan Simms, author of Europe: The Struggle for Supremacy, 1453 to the Present 'Mueller's fascinating account of the royal heirs in nineteenth-century Europe reminds us that the "game of thrones" can only be played successfully by those who keep a keen eye on what lies ahead in the future. Both meticulously researched and highly entertaining, the book analyses the making of modern men and power relations at the top of society.' Monika Wienfort, author of Monarchy in the Nineteenth Century 'A well-researched study of 19th-century monarchies and their captivating royal heirs.' Library Journal 'This is a beautifully written study that is underpinned by thorough research in various national and regional archives. Dealing with a cast of fascinating royal and imperial characters - some young and others not quite in the first flush of youth - Mueller's highly readable account adds a much-needed layer to the flourishing literature on royal history by artfully explaining how these future rulers contributed to the survival of crowns they were born to wear.' Aidan Jones, Royal Studies Journals '... ranges widely across the European monarchies, thus enabling structural elements common to many, if not all, dynasties to emerge. ... The German edition is extremely well-written, and the English version reviewed here is just as good, thanks to the translator, Rona Johnston.' Helen Watanabe-O'Kelly, The Journal of Modern History