Monday ...

[nightdog_barks]

... and a happy Fourth of July to folks who are celebrating. We're observing the holiday by hiding from the heat and doing laundry. Oh, and watching the Law & Order marathon on TNT. *g*

Fascinating obit from the Telegraph today -- Otto von Habsburg, last heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire dies, aged 98. Otto's father (Karl) was the last official Emperor; Otto was Crown Prince but never assumed the throne. When Otto was born, an Austrian newspaper said that he “will be called upon to steer the future of Europe in the last quarter of the 20th century.” Which means that in an alternate version of history, there would still be an Empire in the center of Europe, and a lot of people might be carrying passports issued Im Namen Seiner Majestät Franz Joseph Otto, Kaisers von Oesterreich, Königs von Böhmen, etc etc., and stamped with an imperial black double-headed eagle. AUs, I love 'em.

I should pick up a good history of the Empire. I've read A Nervous Splendor but not much else.

Comments

[takes_a_fairy]

Happy Independence anniversary!! :D

You'll likely recall that I've spent the last three days tidying for my son's visit...his girlfriend's presence. I don't want him feeling embarrassed by my total mess, here. He's used to it, but it makes me feel better if I can get more order here, too. They're coming gives me stronger motivation and a deadline. Heh!

Kitchen and living room as done as they'll get. The mister's taking care of the bathroom tonight, since after I tackle my bedroom (hoarders' advertisement stage set) I'll be too tuckered to do it. The hard part is the 'deciding' what goes, what stays and where to put it. The only trash is old papers, magazines and receipts which I've had a good handle on tossing. I hate parting with books and anything art related. :(

Right now: sheets are washing so they're fresh. Tomorrow, I'll get some groceries, bake a pan of brownies and another of lasagna.

[damigella]

I must admit that as compared to what came after it, the Austro-Hungarian Empire wasn't even so bad (you know, once it finished people started killing each other for ethnic reasons, and basically haven't stopped yet). As for the antisemitism, It wasn't so terribly bad as compared to what there was in the rest of Europe (think of France at the same time, not to mention Russia and Poland) and of course to what came after it.

I have the impression that the book you've read focuses a bit on Vienna, which is right in a sense but forgets how large and multicultural the Empire was. I've read about half of "The Man Without Qualities" but never could finish it (the author couldn't finish writing it, either) and I've read "The Kapuzinergruft" of Joseph Roth that I found incredibly beautiful (I don't know whether there's an English translation but I think so, most of Roth's books have been translated into Italian).

Of course unlike you I live in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire :) so I should have read much more than I have. Suggestions welcome (though I don't much like history written as a novel, preferring either pure fiction or pure history).

[pwcorgigirl]

We're back from the south land. There were a lot of people at the family gathering, the food was great, and the children all behaved while we were gone. And now it's thundering heavily and trying to rain, which is another local July 4th tradition. :D

[taiga13]

Happy Independance Day! Just think, if a courier hadn't dropped his general's orders, the South would have won the Civil War and who knows what you'd be celebrating today - you would probably be flying a different flag, anyway.