THE CROSSROADS OF CIVILIZATION

A new history of an important global capital.

Robertson, a member of the Scottish Parliament, spent much of his pre-parliamentary career as a journalist in Vienna, and he clearly loves the city. Surprised to find that there was no comprehensive account of the city’s history, he decided to write one. In this book, he chronicles that history, from the city’s beginnings as a Roman frontier fort to the present. For centuries, the city was the key bulwark against Islamic expansion into Europe, and Robertson recounts the numerous battles and sieges. He notes that Vienna, always famous for its bakeries, invented the croissant to mark a victory over an invading army, with the shape representing the crescent on Muslim flags. Vienna has always been a magnet for cultural influences from all over Europe, and it gradually evolved into the powerful capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Robertson leads readers through the labyrinthine politics associated with the city and notes the many famous figures—Mozart, Freud, Hitler, Stalin, Mahler, Klimt—who lived there at one time or another. In the aftermath of World War I, the empire disintegrated, but Vienna remained a crucial pivot point for the region. A dark period began when the Nazis invaded in 1938—and were largely welcomed. After World War II, Vienna was occupied by the Soviets and the Allies, and it was a whirlpool of Cold War espionage for a decade. The Russians left in 1955 after the Austrian government declared permanent neutrality. Even now, Austria is not a part of NATO. Robertson does a good job of keeping the complicated narrative straight, although the book is decidedly top-down history. Some readers may view it as essentially a procession of aristocrats, grandees, and diplomats. Nonetheless, the author is knowledgeable and has many interesting insights.

A pleasing mix of epic sweep and meticulous research.