The Red Prince: The Secret Lives of a Habsburg Archduke Paperback – Special Edition, September 28, 2010

Narrator should do his homework and find out how to pronounce foreign names / words properly. Snyder's unearthing the story of Red Wilhelm helps to explain the current mess in that particular part of the world.Glad to have discovered this book, even if the narration resembles an advertisement for some self-help/ get-rich- quick scheme.

Great book, Uber fast shipper great condition !!!!

The Red Prince is subtitled The Secret Lives of a Habsburg Archduke, but this is a biography of far more than one individual. This able work by Timothy Snyder does much to illuminate the history of Ukraine and Central and Eastern Europe during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.When Wilhelm von Habsburg was born in 1895 he was a minor member of a minor branch of the Habsburg Dynasty, which had been a dominating force in European politics for 500 years. Wilhelm's immediate family were not in the main line of succession and thus lived out of the public eye as much as was possible for people known as Imperial and Royal Archdukes and Archduchesses. Wilhelm's father seems to have originated a family streak of rebelliousness, when he apparently began to make plans to establish himself as King of Poland before that country had even regained its independence. Wilhelm, as his father's youngest son, had to go further afield to rebel, and he chose the province of Ukraine, a region divided between Russia and Austria-Hungary. Before and during World War I Wilhelm was an advocate for Ukrainian independence and for some surprisingly left wing politics, and during the tumultuous period after World War I at one point seemed poised to become the country's King. Conflict between Poland and the Soviet Union put an end to hopes for Ukrainian independence, and Wilhelm was relegated to the life of a playboy in Paris, enjoying love affairs with both sexes until a financial scandal forced him to return to Austria. Then during the 1930s and 1940s Wilhelm dabbled in right wing politics, switched to anti-Nazi activities during World War II, and then in the early years of the Cold War apparently worked with Western countries spying on the Soviet Union. This led to his arrest and imprisonment by the Soviets, and he died in prison in 1948.However colorful his life, Wilhelm von Hapsburg would not have merited a biography solely on his own account. He apparently left few letters or other written records, and there seem to be very few photographs as well. What makes The Red Prince so important is the good coverage Snyder provides of the complicated history of Ukraine. The region slipped back and forth between Austria-Hungary, Poland, and the Soviet Union until finally gaining independence in 1991. Snyder draws many excellent parallels between the nationalist politics pre- and post- World Wars I and II, the political turmoil that has plagued the former Soviet Union and its satellites since the end of the Cold War, and the kind of universal supra-nationalistic politics practiced by the Habsburgs and now by the European Union. The coverage of the Orange Revolution of 2004, when Ukraine took a decisive turn away from dictatorship towards democracy, is especially interesting.Although Wilhelm himself seems to have left few written records, so that readers will not feel they know much about him personally, Snyder was able to recreate the lives of his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews and other relations. He reveals them to have been interesting and intelligent people with independent views, a far cry from the habitual stereotype of the Habsburgs as insufferably inbred mediocrities. Snyder also gives some fascinating portraits of some of Wilhelm's associates like Trebitsch Lincoln, who deserves a biography of his own, though it would probably be considered too bizarre to be true.

Well told tale of the unwinding of the Hapsburgs. So much intrigue, you couldn't make it up. Great story

Very pleased to get a used book in such excellent condition. Also, a great read!

I enjoyed this book because in national histories taught at schools in Poland or Ukraine the role of the Habsburgs in national independence movements is usually omitted and ignored. What is also omitted are the struggles for independence in neighboring Slavic countries. In that sense the book was somewhat illuminating. On the other hand I found Wilhelm himself rather unprepared for any serious political leadership. The story of Polish and Ukrainian post WWI emerging independence presented in this book seems short and simplified. Referring to Galicia as a legitimate geographical entity seemed to me some sort of a joke, or at least something that I am not used to. The author didn't do a good job at presenting the issue of Ukraine/Poland border disputes clearly; statistics and demographics are not mentioned, and historical background is also missing. Someone reading that "Poland decided to keep Western Galicia", a statement that suggests Poland occupying Ukrainian lands, would be surprised to know that Poland's old capital Krakow is indeed in Western Galicia. The federalist plan of marshal Pilsudski is not mentioned in the book. Cultural differences between eastern and western Ukraine are barely mentioned.Generally, my impression was that the book was addressed to a broader audience and therefore is simply lacking depth. I don't mind the author's pro-Habsburg and pro-Ukrainian sympathies or sentiments (which I might even partially share!) but would like much more detailed information.

Perfect copy! Arrived quickly! great transaction!

Fascinating survey of the widespread influence of the Hapsburg dynasty on eastern Europe, depicted in the life of this relatively unknown figure in modern European history. It is surprising how much influence the Hapsburg family had on the outcome of World War II and ultimately the "Cold War."

A fascinating account which never pretends to be comprehensive of life in and around part of the declining Habsburg Empire through the early part of the 20th century hung on the framework of the extraordinary lives and identities of a minor and otherwise forgotten troubled member of the family. Immensely entertaining it frees the imagination to wonder how things were and how things might have been in this long-suffering region of Europe and is particularly poignant in mid-2014 after all that has occurred and may yet be in the future for Ukraine. An essential but easy read whereas the equally excellent Bloodlands is also essential but could hardly be described as an easy read.

I had already read this book, and I am now reasing again. Excellent historical perspective.

very happy

EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY

I was truly amazed by this book, after reading the Bloodlands by the same author covering much the same timespan on a wider canvas.The first realisation was the brewery owned by the family involved now has its products i my fridge.It can be hard to put yourself in the mindset of a man who wakes up one day thinking I'll make myself available to be king of Poland and my brother for the Ukraine. By far the most interesting and enligtning part was the interwar years in Paris home to many exiles the role of Karl of Austria a figure largely forgoten like Austria in general overwhelmed,in all histories by its larger Northern neighbour and everybody knows the Kaiser ended his days in Holland.I may be a prodouct of the English education system which treats the eastern half of our continent as a sideshow. All in all I enjoyed the book,but am still no lover of aristocrats in all the smugness this jubilee year our aristos would do well to note not all things stay the same.