I just completed this book about one of the most important figures in Austrian history. I've known of her for years, largely as a central figure in the Seven Years War from 1756-1763.
My fear that this biography would focus on the extensive warring of her reign as Empress was not realized. Neuhauser appropriately reviewed the military history, but then spent most of the book detailing other aspects of her reign, covering diplomacy, the economy, religious, civic and cultural matters.
And of course the book detailed Maria Theresa's infamous marriage-diplomacy, sending off her daughters to the far corners of Europe in the (mostly) vain hope of expanding Austrian rule.
She was staunchly Catholic, refusing to allow Protestantism to prosper in her realms. And although hardly a leader of the Enlightenment, she did push through a variety of reforms that benefitted her people. She famously introduced smallpox vaccination at a time when that was wildly controversial (some things never change), and also introduced widespread educational programs that benefitted even her lowliest subjects, well ahead of her time.
With Maria Theresa behind me, I've now firmed up a Viennese reading list that should take all of the next 12 weeks until our trip.
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