It is one of the devices by which Joseph Roth manages to bind together his study of the disintegration of an empire, "Radetzky March." Through the novel the two-four military time keeps its beat, but at theĬlose the feet of the marchers are lagging, and many are out of step. Francis Joseph, fated to rule the Austro-HungarianĮmpire for some three-quarters of a century, was not born under a military star he went forth to battle and he always- well, almost always- fell.īut the Radetzky March played on. After his death came the evil days Austria was beaten by Louis Napoleon, by Bismarck, and, finally, in the World War. In the fact that during his lifetime Austria occasionally won a fight. The measure of his success, as chief of staff and Field Marshal, may be found For years he fought the red-tape artists who taught that military science, like the Rock of Ages, never changed.
He lived to be over 90 and died in harness. Oseph Radetzky, a veteran of Marengo, Wagram and other smoky battles of the Napoleonic wars, was one of the military glories of the now defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire. Translated from the German by Geoffrey Dunlop. OctoBooks of The Times By JOHN CHAMBERLAINīy Joseph Roth.
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