A Heart for Europe The Lives of Emperor Charles and Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary / James & Joanna Bogle

The story of the last Emperor and Empress of Austria-Hungary is a romantic and moving tale of courage and faith.

Emperor Charles was the last Hapsburg ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II in 2004. The Pope was himself formerly bishop in the once Hasburg-ruled city of Cracow and his baptismal name "Karol" (meaning Charles) was given in memory of the late Emperor under who his father had served as an officer in the Imperial army.

Married to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Charles inherited the throne of Austria-Hungary in 1916 at the height of World War I upon the death of his uncle, the Emperor Franz Josef. His dedicated efforts to end the war earned him the popular name "the Peace-Emperor" but lead him to an idealistic struggle in the face of impossible odds and an early death in exile on the island of Madeira, after two attempts to regain the Hungarian throne. 

This book tells of these events set in the context of the wider drama of the twentieth century showing how a great and historically peaceful empire was destroyed by nationalist intrigue leaving the way free for the totalitarian powers that came after until their fall in 1945 and 1989.

"A Heart for Europe is both a celebration of Catholic monarchy and a story more enthralling than most novels". AD2000

James Bogle is a barrister practising in the Inner Temple, London. Born into a military family in Australia he was educated there and in the United Kingdom. After attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he served with the Queen's Own Hussars in West Germany and Berlin before being called to the Bar, and now serves as a lieutenant-colonel in the reserve forces, London, where he is also a Freeman of the City. He has written and broadcast in Britain and America, including a recent historical series for EWTN.

Joanna Bogle is a journalist and broadcaster, born and educated in London. Her many publications include biographies of Caroline Chisholm, the Australian social reformer, and of Fr Werenfried van Straaten, the founder of Aid to the Church in Need, as well as her best-selling A Book of Feasts and Seansons (now in its 3rd edition and 7th printing). She is a popular lecturer and broadcaster and writes for media in Britain, America, and Australia.