Vienna 1814 by David King. Seems to me that just a few history books are so driven by passion, so well-researched and -written, that they open a wide window into adjacent eras, other realms, and provoke lively thoughts about history itself. This is one of them. Not the EASIEST read, but well-worth-the-concentration. ( )

Lightly written; very light view. The characters and stories fun. ( )

Fantastic book. I could see the movie playing in my head as I read it. He dwells a bit too much on the superficial details of the entertainments associated with the congress, but that's one of the few criticisms I can offer. Lovely stuff.

It is said, "To the victors, belong the spoils" Whether one agrees with it or not, it became all too clear as the Viennese conference unfolded. The Four conquerors of Napoleon paid lip service to being "fair and equitable" but the ambitions, fears, & vengeful overrode everythng else & Napoleon's return (which Tsar Alexander's folly had created) only served to exacerbate an already intense situation. Metternich, fully aware of Austria's weaknesses, driven to near despair by Russia's ambitions & Prussia's vengeful attitude and Britain's distraction with the American war, brings in France over the objections of Russia & Prussia. Britain's choice of Castlereagh as representative, a dull personality & limited lackluster role exposed Castlereagh's inability to establish Britain's leadership in the conference. Prussia's humiliation at the hands of France blinded them to any other possibilities other than complete destruction of the French yet its emperor did nothing without the Tsar's support. Russia's ambitions fueled from serious fears & desire for respect as a major player in Europe yet Alexander I's bizarre views & love affairs wreaked havoc & nerve racked conferees. In his last triumph in a long life filled with intrigues & surviving revolution & imperial power, France's representative,Tallyrand took full advantage of Metternich until Napoleon's return undercut him.
As King unfolds the events, even the women in these conferees' lives began to dictate the decision making between the five powers as the private battles heated up. By the end of the conference, the battle lines hardened and though so much was accomplished, very little stood up over time. In many ways, though at times a farce, too many questions were left on the table while pretensions to ideals were soon exposed to be unrealistic & inappropriate to the political realities elsewhere. As King delved into the personalities of each of the major conferees as well as the women they loved. It is quite revealing that personalities do influence the events of the day but do not foretell the future. In the end, political realities do the work, the influences of personalities can only either help or destroy.

This book is a piece of serious scholarship, based on hundreds of sources, with detailed analysis of the facts. It is also highly readable with a cast of hundreds of characters, many of whom were the crowned heads of Europe but who were also mad, bad, and dangerous to know. The whole event becomes somewhat surreal when you learn that the full Congress never met.

Yet out of the deliberations of the participants who often worked through informal get togethers at the lavish salons and balls, came arrangements for a post-Napoleon era where some international borders are still recognisable today.

Insightful and well-written, this is a story to ponder over and wonder how so much could be achieved affecting so many people. ( )