Budapest

Portrait of a City Between East and West

By: Victor Sebestyen

Narrated by: Elinor Coleman

AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • A vivid and enthralling account of the historical and cultural events that defined Budapest, a unique city in the heart of Europe, on the fault line between East and West—from the critically 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 city—at times rich and prosperous, at times enduring unbearable hardship. It has stood at the center of the world-changing 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 Café still going today; Edward Teller, inventor of the H bomb; and Countess Elisabeth Báthory, a cousin of the King of Poland, who became a serial killer, among many others.

Sebestyen’s compelling history of Budapest is a lively page-turner as well as being uniquely revelatory and authoritative account of one of the most important cities of Europe.

What does it mean to be Hungarian?

This history brings out the Hungarian-ness of Budapest well. It is more than the history of a city; it is the history of a people.

Comprehensive Insightful Enlightening

Immersive listening

A humanized "Game of Thrones" revisited.

Rich Complicated Heritage.
Appreciation for the historically significant sequence of events prior to, during and after the fall of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Sad but beautiful

Too much blood too gloomy but i overall a good book to read ! Interesting overall

Absolutely Amazing 🤩

I have read many historical books, but this one in particular was written incredibly well. I also purchased the hardcover because it was ripe with interesting names, dates and events.

I highly recommend this book if you are going to visit Budapest, Prague, Vienna or Bratislava.

Books like this should be read in schools on both sides of the Atlantic 🙏 the history lessons applicable to us all.

Book performed its purpose well

I learned much more about Hungary's history. The book did well with its purpose. The female voice caught me off guard because it is a male author and normally it is a male voice for all the history books I listen to. There were a lot of Hungarian names and words here and there that needed proper pronunciation and, though I don't speak Hungarian, I assume they were done well by the narrator. Voice was clear. I listened at 1.3x-1.4x speed and there were not incomprehensible segments.