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AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A vivid and enthrallingaccount of the historical and cultural events that defined Budapest a unique city in the heart of Europe on the fault line between East and Westfrom thecritically acclaimed author of Lenin

A compelling portrait of one of the most important cities in Europe Full of sharp insights elegant writing and vivid characters Andrew Roberts author of The Chief

Victor Sebestyen has written a sweeping colorful and immersive history of the capital of Hungary from the fifth century to the present day a metropolis whose location in Europe has marked it as a crucial cityat times rich and prosperous at times enduring unbearable hardship It has stood at the center of the worldchanging historical developments for hundreds of years the Muslim invasion The Reformation both World Wars fascism the Holocaust and Communism

Sebestyen mixes colorful details and anecdotes about the people streets and neighborhoods of his hometown with its rich cultural legacy of literature music and architecture He shows how its people have shifted culturally politically and emotionally between East and West through many revolutions bloody battles uprisings and wars of conquest won and lost He vividly brings to life the many rulers the ruthless early Magyar Hun and Mongol chieftains celebrated medieval kings and princes Ottoman Turks and the Hapsburgs including the beloved Empress Elisabeth Sisi We also learn about colorful figures in politics the arts and the sciences among them Theodor Herzl father of modern political Zionism film pioneer Alexander Korda who held court with the director of Casablanca Michael Curtiz young reporter Billy Wilder and photographer Robert Capa in the glamorous New York Caf still going today Edward Teller inventor of the H bomb and Countess Elisabeth Bthory a cousin of the King of Poland who became a serial killer among many others

Sebestyens compelling history of Budapest is a lively pageturner as well as being uniquely revelatory and authoritative account of one of the most important cities of Europe