Carl Menger’s Lectures to Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria

[Germania09]

I'm sorry for the long title, but has anyone read this book? Basically I'm curious as to learning more about Rudolf and the internet is filled with how he was a liberal and how he was the greatest chance for Austria Hungary to climb out of it's decline. What's sad is that there's never any real detail, it's all just fluff. This book however is probably one of the few definitive works he helped write, so any help would be appreciated.

[Paul MacQ]

This has massive possibilities and a question that has been asked in the past with very little follow up using Rudolf in Title search brings up a number of times the question was asked but few replies.

[Germania09]

Originally Posted by Paul MacQ

This has massive possibilities and a question that has been asked in the past with very little follow up using Rudolf in Title search brings up a number of times the question was asked but few replies.

I'm surprised since Rudolf could be compared to Wilhelm III in Carlton Bach's "Es Geloybte Aretz" TL. I'm now tempted to write a TL of my own about him since what I've been able to dig out of the Internet is interesting.

[Germania09]

Here's basically how it would go:


Rudolph lay despondent within his bed in Mayerling. This depression was indeed warranted, for Rudolf was finding himself more and more pushed away from the day to day runnings of the very empire he was supposed to some day rule. "This is all the fault of that damned Taffe," Rudolph thought to himself. "His obsession of maintaining power is destroying any chance Austria has of joining the Modern World."

In this growing despair Rudolf was becoming more and more suicidal and was coming to the conclusion that it was the only way out of the ever decaying corpse that his beloved Austria Hungary was becoming. Almost casually he took his sidearm and bringing it to his temple and pulled the trigger. *click* Surprised Rudolf pulled it again *click*. In anger he repeated the action *click* *click* *click* Yelling out in frustration Rudolf threw his gun at the wall and looked at it like one would look at a venemous serpent.

"Is it some sick joke that I am too live" Rudolf thought. It played through his head for hours it seemed.

Anyways that's what I've come up with at the top of my head. the basis TL is along the lines that Rudolf attempts to commit suicide earlier than his successful attempt. And it fails, this somehow creates a spark of realization to keep fighting less his dream of a better world fall to the fire and destruction of a European war

[carlton_bach]

Austria-Hungary is complicated. I think that's really all the answer you'll get. The literature is hard to come by even if you read German, and the fate of a multiethnic state in a world obsessed with ethnic nationalism - it's going to be a damned hard TL to write.

[Grey Wolf]

"The Road to Mayerling" by Richard Barkeley is interesting

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Road-May.../dp/1842126733

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

[Germania09]

Well I've been able to find two books on the state of the economy within the empire. So that's helped. It was one of the sticking points Rudolf had against the ingrained aristocracy. That and from what i can gather the Hungarians were trying to give him the crown of St. Stephen for the longest time. All in all he had an amazing antipathy towards the Russians and disliked the Prussian led German Empire. So it could all lead to a shifting of alliances towards France.

[Makemakean]

The title made me suspect that this was intended to be some sort of Ron Paulite wank...

[Germania09]

Originally Posted by Makemakean

The title made me suspect that this was intended to be some sort of Ron Paulite wank...

Lulz

[Paul MacQ]

Originally Posted by Germania09

I'm surprised since Rudolf could be compared to Wilhelm III in Carlton Bach's "Es Geloybte Aretz" TL. I'm now tempted to write a TL of my own about him since what I've been able to dig out of the Internet is interesting.

Probably for reason is the level of understanding of the subject. The Politics are very complex and I have seen some high volatility regards members with different national views. I would love to see a timeline of Rudolf coming to power well before the Bosnian Crisis of 1908. The AH Empire and Ottomans have more conflicting opinions than anything else regarding there survivability than anything else I have seen on the board.

Here in New Zealand it is a subject that is hard to research if you do not have a budget to buy specific books. The so online resources are good. Public libraries having little on the subject. (As in only 2 of the dozen academic books I have been recommended). Most of reading has been in a University Library.

[Germania09]

Originally Posted by Paul MacQ

Here in New Zealand it is a subject that is hard to research if you do not have a budget to buy specific books. The so online resources are good. Public libraries having little on the subject. (As in only 2 of the dozen academic books I have been recommended). Most of reading has been in a University Library.

The AH Empire and Ottomans have more conflicting opinions than anything else regarding there survivability than anything else I have seen on the board.

The books are hard to find. And those that are there are oftentimes expensive for a college student like myself. What frustrates me is that this books material is over 100 years old and yet I can't find a site to get a pdf download.
As for the AH and OE the obvious threat to it all was the multi ethnic nature of their respective empires. The less obvious was the incometence of many of the leaders both local and within the capitol. combined with financial mismanagement etc. The Austro-Hungarian Empire/ Ottoman Empire was living on borrowed time unless the people at the top stop acting like idiots and realized that this wasn't the middle ages and that unless serious reforms were put into place they could bid farewell to their thrones.

[Paul MacQ]

Then again I can edit my post while you post

I understand totally understand I will send links if I find any

[Germania09]

lol well I could make the TL along the lines that poor Franz finally dies and Rudolf through the fact that he despises Taffe and the whole lot of aristocrats who he percieved as social parasites, gets rid of them with the backing of Hungarian and growing Liberal factions

[Paul MacQ]

Maybe cut it fine Rudolf finding his Father if gravely ill a week before the shooting. Pulling himself together and thinking when he is Crowned he can decide what he wants.