Radetzkymarch

Perhaps the greatest novel ever written.

I loved much of this and will hunt out more of his writings, but in truth I did feel that I needed to have had some Austro-Hungarian experience to fully understand and relate to the book.

The Austrian empire is holding on but it's past its expiration date. Alongside the long life of emperor Franz-Josef I. run the life of three generation of Trotta men. It's a time where fathers are respected, and in control of their sons occupations. The first Trotta saves the emperor's life and is granted the status of a national hero, the second Trotta resembles the emperor in his strive for tradition and strict protocol, while the third Trotta is demoralized by his military career in an army that's listless, purposeless and waiting for the looming downfall.

Roth's writing is quite exquisite, full of details, mixed with a very fine humor.