>"Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire" by Peter H. Wilson offers a comprehensive examination of the Holy Roman Empire, challenging the traditional view of it as an ineffective and archaic entity. Wilson argues that the Empire, despite its decentralized nature and internal conflicts, played a crucial role in shaping European history and its legacy can still be seen in modern political structures like the European Union.

>The book provides a detailed account of the Empire's thousand-year history, from its origins under Charlemagne to its dissolution by Napoleon. Wilson explores the Empire's key aspects, including its political structures, religious dynamics, and social fabric, highlighting its unique characteristics and contributions to European civilization. He delves into the Empire's complex relationship with the papacy, the concept of imperial rule, and the diverse identities of its inhabitants, demonstrating how these elements shaped the Empire's development and its eventual decline.

Anybody else got good books on HRE? I've read books about Thirty Years War, but would like more good books on HRE, preferably a linear narrative one.

Great book about the Holy Roman Empire. More concepts than linear, which would be hard to do about a fragmented political entity that last a thousand years.