Sisi: Empress on Her Own: A Novel (utgåvan 2016)

The author recreates the life of Empress Elisabeth [Sisi] of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from her reign as empress to her death. Ms. Pataki [daughter of a former NY State governor and of Hungarian descent herself] has fashioned an interesting tale of the later 19th century and the imperial family dynamics. The beautiful and complex Sisi struck me as a sympathetic person in one way--she was thrust into her role at a naïve young age--but in others also self-absorbed and escapist. She was neglectful of certain of her children, most notably Crown Prince Rudolf, who bore a tormented childhood, and suffered trauma all his life, ending in the sad Mayerling episode. The book contained ill-starred romance. ( )

I read this book after I listened to Stuff You Missed in History's episode "Sisi: The Empress of Austria and Her Cult of Beauty" (link at the end) so I already had an idea of what I would be reading about. Historical fiction, especially about royalty, has always been something I enjoyed (especially all of Phillipa Gregory's books) and this was in the same vein--humanizing people we think of only in a historical context, even if it's not 100% accurate. "Sisi" was an easy, smooth read for me.

https://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/the-empress-of-austria-and-her-cult-of-... ( )

Amazing book. I really loved both Sisi and the Accidental Empress. Both are amazing.

Start with Accidental Empress.

Sisi covers Empress Sisi's later life. Starting on her estate, withdrawn from court, Sisi really is on her own. However, as the crown goes through crisis, Sisi is needed back at the Emperor's side. ( )

I was a bit disappointed in this book. I love the historical Sissi, and Ms. Pataki portrays her with such modern eyes that the interactions between the characters are almost unrealistic. The language is uneven, sometimes way too colloquial, sometimes ridiculous, as if a teenager was trying to imagine how royals spoke in the 19th century. I had a major problem with her characterizing Marie Larisch as some backwater upstart, when she was Sissi's proper niece, her older brother's daughter. And Sissi being addressed as "Empress" instead of "Your Majesty" made me tick. Overall, it's way too soapy for my tastes, but is an entertaining romance read if one is not to picky on historical accuracy. ( )

Thoroughly enjoyed it and now I have to go get the 1st book! ( )