On the beautiful blue Danube

A family and artist’s story between the Biedermeier and Belle Époque eras that makes life tangible in all its colorfulness and harshness—and debunks the common legends and speculations.

After war, scarcity and convention, the Viennese longed for exuberance and inner liberation from repression. And what better way to forget the political turmoil than music and dance? Michael Lemster takes us on an entertaining and fact-filled journey into the world of Johann Strauss’ father, composer of the Radetzky March, and his son, the »Waltz King« Johann Strauss. They were the founding fathers of international entertainment business—and the strong women of the family were the driving forces behind this revolution in the world of music.

»Stimulating, clever and palatable … Lemster succeeds in conveying a feeling for the realities and mentalities.«
Die Presse about THE GRIMMS

»… wonderfully narrated, a great pictorial arc about a highly interesting family of thinkers and artists.«
Elke Heidenreich about THE GRIMMS

»A fascinating book by Michael Lemster about the Strauss dynasty.«
Vorarlberger Nachrichten

»The author not only tells the story of a family, but also that of an era.«
Badische Neueste Nachrichten Karlsruhe

»A detailed family portrait embedded in contemporary history.«
magazin KLASSIK