Preview
  • Budapest

  • Portrait of a City Between East and West
  • By: Victor Sebestyen
  • Narrated by: Elinor Coleman
  • Length: 16 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (35 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Budapest

By: Victor Sebestyen
Narrated by: Elinor Coleman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • A vivid and enthralling account of the historical and cultural events that defined Budapest, a unique city in the heart of Europe, on the fault line between East and West—from the critically acclaimed author of Lenin

“A compelling portrait of one of the most important cities in Europe. Full of sharp insights, elegant writing and vivid characters.” —Andrew Roberts, author of The Chief

Victor Sebestyen has written a sweeping, colorful and immersive history of the capital of Hungary, from the fifth century to the present day: a metropolis whose location in Europe has marked it as a crucial city—at times rich and prosperous, at times enduring unbearable hardship. It has stood at the center of the world-changing historical developments for hundreds of years: the Muslim invasion, The Reformation, both World Wars, fascism, the Holocaust and Communism.

Sebestyen mixes colorful details and anecdotes about the people, streets and neighborhoods of his hometown with its rich cultural legacy of literature, music, and architecture. He shows how its people have shifted culturally, politically and emotionally between East and West, through many revolutions, bloody battles, uprisings, and wars of conquest won and lost. He vividly brings to life the many rulers: the ruthless early Magyar, Hun, and Mongol chieftains, celebrated medieval kings and princes, Ottoman Turks, and the Hapsburgs, including the beloved Empress Elisabeth (“Sisi”). We also learn about colorful figures in politics, the arts and the sciences, among them Theodor Herzl, father of modern political Zionism; film pioneer Alexander Korda who held court with the director of Casablanca, Michael Curtiz, young reporter Billy Wilder, and photographer Robert Capa in the glamorous New York Café still going today; Edward Teller, inventor of the H bomb; and Countess Elisabeth Báthory, a cousin of the King of Poland, who became a serial killer, among many others.

Sebestyen’s compelling history of Budapest is a lively thriller as well as being uniquely revelatory and authoritative account of one of the most important cities of Europe.

©2023 Victor Sebestyen (P)2023 Random House Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF FALL 2023 from Kirkus Reviews

“A fascinating chronicle of Hungary’s storied capital.... Filled with fun footnotes and wry asides.... After reading [Budapest] you’ll want...to see for yourself the city that Sebestyen so lovingly brings to life.” The Washington Independent Review of Books

“A sweeping and insightful chronicle.... Sebestyen vividly describes the invasions, revolutions, wars, and catastrophes...that shaped Budapest as he profiles its notable rulers and citizens.... A comprehensive account of one of Europe’s great cities.” Publishers Weekly

What listeners say about Budapest

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    21
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

more engaging then expected

i thought i was diving into a dry, dull documentary but so many anecdotes and references that added color and a view of the human experience made it a compelling listen. character development of actual life players was good despite only a brief window to introduce and tell their story. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx cxxcxxxgycugigiftdugigigih ivigigufygi higigigi junction

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Sad but beautiful

Too much blood too gloomy but i overall a good book to read ! Interesting overall

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Intense and informative

Extremely informative, and thoughtfully delivered. For both the portrait of a city, and the portrait of culture, it does not disappoint.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Contrasting and Mesmerizing

The history of Budapest as told by this author and read by this narrator is absolutely fascinating. Eastern Europe has always held a fascination for me. It is so turbulent; from marauding golden hordes to imperial monarchies, they’ve endured so much.

Budapest has a rich history full of tragedy and triumph; barbarity and compassion.

I loved how this story was told. It would take one of Hungarian descent to tell it so beautifully.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just finished in Downtown Budapest...

...and the expose of Hungarian Communism (any Communism, for that matter) makes it a worthy listen. The monstrous system dedicated to destroying human individuality was particularly brutal in this gorgeous city and i am amazed, after concluding this book and only one day in Budapest how resilient, prosperous and beautiful the citizens seem to be. But like. the author, i am somewhat unsatisfied with a history that provides no real conclusion or path ahead...and find myself unable to completely embrace either. Perhaps that is the intended mystery of both.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Amazing 🤩

I have read many historical books, but this one in particular was written incredibly well. I also purchased the hardcover because it was ripe with interesting names, dates and events.

I highly recommend this book if you are going to visit Budapest, Prague, Vienna or Bratislava.

Books like this should be read in schools on both sides of the Atlantic 🙏 the history lessons applicable to us all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful