Like Diana, Elisabeth married at a relatively young age. Elisabeth was born in 1837, just months after Victoria took the throne in England.īut as I read this not-too-fictionalized biography of Elisabeth of Austria, the person she reminded me of most was Princess Di. At the same time, the rest of the world is in the midst of the Victorian Era, with its explosion of revolutions and industry. Her life as the Austrian empress shows a world that had not changed since the Hapsburgs first came to power in the 15th century. In some ways, Elisabeth’s story feels as if it happened in the Middle Ages. While we don’t see it in this book, Elisabeth’s life and trials lead in a slightly crooked line to World War I. The Accidental Empress shows us the fall of the long-reigning Hapsburg dynasty of Austria. The Traitor’s Wife shows the American Revolution through the eyes of a young woman who tries to bring it down. If the combination of The Traitor’s Wife (reviewed here) and The Accidental Empress tell us that the author has a penchant for writing historical biographies of young women who are thrust (or thrust themselves) into influential positions for which they are not exactly suited, then this reader is all for it. With Pataki’s rich period detail and cast of complex, bewitching characters, The Accidental Empress offers a captivating glimpse into one of history’s most intriguing royal families, shedding new light on the glittering Hapsburg Empire and its most mesmerizing, most beloved “Fairy Queen.” Thrust onto the throne of Europe’s most treacherous imperial court, Sisi upsets political and familial loyalties in her quest to win, and keep, the love of her emperor, her people, and of the world. Franz Joseph reneges on his earlier proposal and declares his intention to marry Sisi instead. But shortly after her arrival at court, Sisi finds herself in an unexpected dilemma: she has inadvertently fallen for and won the heart of her sister’s groom. With his empire stretching from Austria to Russia, from Germany to Italy, Emperor Franz Joseph is young, rich, and ready to marry.įifteen-year-old Elisabeth, “Sisi,” Duchess of Bavaria, travels to the Habsburg Court with her older sister, who is betrothed to the young emperor. The year is 1853, and the Habsburgs are Europe’s most powerful ruling family. New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki follows up on her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Traitor’s Wife, with the little-known and tumultuous love story of “Sisi” the Austro-Hungarian Empress and captivating wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. Purchasing Info: Author’s Website, Publisher’s Website, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Book Depository Format read: ebook provided by the publisher via Edelweissįormats available: hardcover, ebook, audiobook
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