A Heart for Europe is a good double biography of the last Emperor and Empress of Austria-Hungary, Bl. Karl I and Zita. The authors do a good job of covering both their lives, although Karl gets a bit more attention at times, as befits his station as a head of state. Beginning with childhood, the book follows the subjects as they find themselves unexpectedly hurdled into places and situations they never expected to be, all while Europe falls apart around them. The postwar situation is covered well, and helps lay the groundwork for understanding why Karl is currently on his way to being recognized as a saint (Blessed is the second-to-last stage of the canonization process). If you've ever wondered if some of the bloodshed and slaughter of the twentieth century could have been avoided, Karl is a man whose story you need to read. And his wife is an inspiration in her own right. My only complaint is that they could have cited their sources better, but they were writing when many of the people who knew the Imperial couple were still alive, which has benefits of its own. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Central European history, World War I, or interesting biographies. ( )