I couldn't find anything substantial in the books/resource list. Are there any good books that focus on the Empire, from its formation to more modern times?
If you want a single book that covers that whole period, one of the better works is Peter Wilson's Heart of Europe. It's quite extensive, and Wilson is well respected in the field. It might be a bit dense for a first look piece, but the you want one book, it'd be the one I'd recommend.