This is a splendid and ambitious study of the tension between nationalizing ambitions and the stubborn realities of local politics. Varga has managed to synthesize primary and secondary sources from more than six languages, putting all of it into a coherent, accessible narrative that yields real analytic insights into the political culture of late nineteenth-century Hungary.
Paul Hanebrink, ... Read moreRutgers University Hungary's Millennial monuments comprise a fascinating case study in nineteenth-century nationalism. Demonstrating impressive research skills, Balint Varga has written a careful, comparative analysis that takes the reader to the farthest corners of Habsburg Hungary to consider the politics of public space.
Robert Nemes, Colgate University Show Less