A forensic review and examination of the fate of Budapest and the who lived there in the second world war written by an acknowledged expert on Hungary and its historical context.

Relying upon papers, documents and interviews LeBor builds a detailed picture of the former glories of a wonderful city and how it was devastated by the effects of the war. The Jewish population of the city were of course particularly hard hot and their fate is examined in great detail.

Sometimes a hard read but an important one.

started reading this with high hopes but it simply did not deliver. it is far too focused on an aristocratic family rather than offering a more holistic portray of what budapest was like during ww2, which is disappointing.