September saw the publication in German of Joachim Whaley's acclaimed two-volume history of the Holy Roman Empire 1493-1806 (Oxford University Press). The Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft has produced the translation in record time and the volumes are already arousing a lively interest. Anyone who has not got time to read the two volumes but always vaguely wondered what exactly the Holy Roman Empire was might be interested to know that next year Jo will be producing a Very Short Introduction to the subject for Oxford University, and this volume will survey the whole thousand-year history of the empire from c. 800 to 1806! For further details, please click here or see pp 42-3 of the Mitglieder Magazin 3/14.