Beyond Nationalism

"A pioneering study of the social history of a military elite. The subject is much neglected....Enthralling."--R.J.W. Evans, New York Review of Books "A superior work by a distinguished scholar....Not just the best book about the Habsburg army available, but a work that affords readers marvelously illuminating glimpses into the true nature of the whole monarchy."--CHOICE "This innovative study of the habburg army officer corps reflects the author's exhaustive research of memoirs and personnel files....Deak's study will be welcomed by military historians and by all students of the habsburg Monarchy and Central European history....one hopes that Beyond Nationalism will provide a model for similar social histories of the military elites of other countries."--The Journal of Military History "A pioneering work written with Deák's customary precision, verve, and elegance, this book makes a most important contribution to Habsburg studies, military history, and the question of nationalism."--Piotr Wandycz, Yale University "Written sympathetically and the vast amount of evidence employed is compressed into an easy narrative....More than just a good read, for it makes important revisionist points....An excellent book which every military, social, and political historian of Central Europe will find a joy to read."--Times Higher Education Supplement "The value of this work is exceptional. It is the only book in the English language that is directed to this complicated, and (in the proper sense of that much misused word) inter-national subject. Deak's research alone should command our respect; but the unusual breadth of his range of interests, together with the forthright style of writing elevates this book beyond the level of a remarkable academic monograph. By this I mean that attempts ought to be made to bring it to the attention of a reading public interested in the history of Central Europe."--John Lukacs "Deák, is right: compared to what followed, the Hapsburg experiment seems infinitely more civilized and humane. But his relative perspective should be welcomed, too. For after all, the frightful historical baggage carried by the nascent democracies of contemporary East Central Europe also includes troublesome Hapsburg freight."--Commonweal "His collective portrait, based on a wealth of documentary material, is impressively detailed and comprehensive."--The Times Literary Supplement "A work of substantial importance, with an excellent bibliographical essay."--Journal of Modern History