Vienna 1814: How the Conquerors of Napoleon Made Love, War, and Peace at the Congress of Vienna Audiobook

" A remarkable story of how all the rulers of Europe came together for 6 months or so to solve peace as we know it-and fail. Parties, intrigue, spying and Napolean escaping Elba. Fascinating. "

" A very good history of the Congress of Vienna. For those who are not history geeks, after the first defeat of Napoleon the winning powers (Great Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia were the main ones) met in Vienna to decide the fate of Europe. Such questions as should there be a Poland (no), what would happen to the Kingdom of Naples (it went back to the Bourbons). It is a very dry subject, but the author makes it very lively. It amazed me how much of the politics were conducted in lady's salons, and the amount of influence a few key ladies had over policy. Not a bad book, but I would recommend it to the true history geeks only. Definitely not a beach read. "

" A great book with insight into Vienna as the Europeans tried to figure out how to split up Europe but instead had a huge party. "

" Oh those nutty politicians. Lovers, not fighters. "

" The most engrossing take on Metternich since Kissinger. Certainly an easier read than Kissinger's fifty-eight-year-old dissertation. Loads of colorful court intrigue to spice it up and make the diplomacy easier to swallow. Plus at the end there's a good old fashioned war! Highly recommended. "

" I learned more about some of the people that shaped today's Europe: Prince Metternich, Alexander 1st of Russia, Tallyrand, Napolean,etc, and how the boundaries of many of the European nations were established, that lasted until WWI "

" okay, it's a trend. the prequel to Versailles. really good stuff. "

" Interesting historical read but a bit like reading a textbook. Good but not great. I learned a lot about that period of European history. I liked how the author tied it in to what was happening in the US. "

" Engrossing narration of the happenings at the Vienna Peace Conference, and what followed. "

" Trying to read and understand Les Miserables brought me to Vienna 1814, and the lively, informative and amusing narrative of this book places it atop all other history books that I have read or studied. "

" This is nonfiction but it reads like a historical novel. If you like historical books you'll love this. It's fun to see all the intrigue and craziness that went on at the Congress of Vienna while meanwhile Napoleon was planning his escape from Elba. It's really a great book. "

" A surprisingly readable scholarly account of the Congress of Vienna. Just as entertaining as Harold Nicolson's slender volume, but with a great deal more research to assuage one's guilt. "

" Intrigue and gossip. History and Political Science. The first Congress of its kind with ramifications that had an impact on WWI and thus the rest of Western history. Good read. "

" I learned more about some of the people that shaped today's Europe: Prince Metternich, Alexander 1st of Russia, Tallyrand, Napolean,etc, and how the boundaries of many of the European nations were established, that lasted until WWI "

" A great book with insight into Vienna as the Europeans tried to figure out how to split up Europe but instead had a huge party. "

" Trying to read and understand Les Miserables brought me to Vienna 1814, and the lively, informative and amusing narrative of this book places it atop all other history books that I have read or studied. "

" okay, it's a trend. the prequel to Versailles. really good stuff. "

" This is nonfiction but it reads like a historical novel. If you like historical books you'll love this. It's fun to see all the intrigue and craziness that went on at the Congress of Vienna while meanwhile Napoleon was planning his escape from Elba. It's really a great book. "