Best book/good book on the War of the Spanish Succession?

by Zhankfor

Basically, I just want to read a book about it, because it seems totally crazy and fascinating and full of Game of Thrones-style intrigue and machinations. I have a rudimentary familiarity with European history (like, freshman-level "Western Civ" course level), but I can probably take a bit heavier of a read than that.

DonaldFDraper

A vital but probably not as easily accessible source will be John Lynn's The Wars of Louis XIV.

Itsalrightwithme

This is a very hard question to answer because there is truly a dearth of accessible books that cover this very fascinating war. I think it depends on which aspects you are most interested in.

My own knowledge is based off several books, among which:

  • John Lynch's "Spain under the Habsburgs, Vol 2: Spain and America, 1598-1700", ISBN-13: 978-0631080305, 1969.
  • John Lynch's "Bourbon Spain 1700-1808", ISBN-13: 978-0631192459, 1994.

Those two are very good at explaining the internal factors leading to the war and following it; meaning economic, social, political. They are a delight to read if you are interested in those aspects.

If you are interested in the wider context of European balance of power and more dry political / military treatise, then:

  • McKay, Scott, "The Rise of Great Powers: 1648-1815", ISBN-13: 978-0582485549, 1983.