Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Historical adventure fiction
Weblink
allisonpataki.com/

SISI

Allison Pataki

Empress on Her Own

This new novel, Pataki’s second on the fascinating, eventful life of the Habsburg Empress Elisabeth (“Sisi”), reveals a refreshing and revealing perspective of this much admired but unexamined heroine in history.

In the mid-19th century during a time when the great dynastic monarchies were crumbling, the Empress strengthened the rule of the Austro-Hungarian empire through a carefully brokered compromise with Hungary. In doing so, she asserted her right to her throne and also to her place beside her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph, as leader of the Habsburg Court. In Vienna, where court buzzed not only with waltzes and champagne, but also with temptation, rivals, and cutthroat intrigue, Sisi survived a host of unexpected perils and adversaries.

But there’s another part to the story of Sisi to explore as she came into her own as Empress—a deeper, more intimate story of those she loved and lost, of the complexities of being a mother and wife in her role, the tragedies she experienced, as well as the wealth, privilege, and worldview she acquired that cemented her place in history.

With a mesmerizing supporting cast of characters such as mad King Ludwig II, Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary Jules Andrassy, Crown Prince Rudolph, Franz Joseph, and Princess Sophie, Pataki gives readers an insider look at a Golden Age in history when Strauss, Handel, Wagner, and Freud were heavy influencers of the time, and events such as the opening of the Suez canal and Vienna’s World Exhibition took place—all through the eyes of Sisi.

Allison Pataki is the New York Times bestselling author of the historical novels THE TRAITOR’S WIFE and THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS. The daughter of former New York State Governor George E. Pataki, Allison was inspired to write about Sisi thanks to her family’s deep roots in the former Habsburg empire of Austria-Hungary. Allison is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, ReConnect Hungary. She graduated cum laude from Yale University with a major in English and is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and FoxNews.com, and is a member of The Historical Novel Society. Allison lives in Chicago with her husband.

Available products
Book Published 2016-03-01 by Dial Press
Book Published 2016-03-01 by Dial Press

Comments

Emotional, exuberant, masterful, Sisi swept me into the glittering, treacherous world of the waning Habsburg empire. Allison Pataki's understanding of the Empress Elisabeth is nothing short of miraculous. A must read.

Beautifully written, meticulously researched, and powerfully evocative, Sisi brings to life the story of the embattled Hapsburg Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary, humanizing one of the great female figures of history.

From luscious moonlit gardens to sumptuous castles, the settings of Sisi: Empress on Her Own are as dazzling as those of Vienna’s Imperial Court Theater, and the drama enacted on its pages is no less impressive. Pataki resurrects the unforgettable Empress Elisabeth in a rich and exquisite tragedy of passion and heartbreak—a true tour de force.

A satisfying saga of the late Habsburg period.

This entire novel is irresistible—completely impossible to put down! Allison Pataki returns to the glittering court of Empress Sisi to reimagine the reign of this nineteenth century Princess Diana in this stunning book.

From the outside looking in, Empress Sisi inhabits a fairytale life, but from the inside looking out, nothing is as it appears. Pataki pens another winner, wielding a literary brush to paint a picture of a woman who has all the trappings of fame, fortune and beauty, but who faces overwhelming odds around most every corner. Sisi: Empress On Her Own is a lush novel that delivers on all fronts: intrigue, love triangles, deception, heartbreak and triumph. A wonderful read.

A wonderful, fascinating novel, Sisi: Empress on Her Own enthralled me from the very first page. Readers will enjoy the glorious dilemma of whether to turn the pages swiftly, breathlessly following Empress Sisi from one astonishing, often heartbreaking, adventure to the next, or to linger and luxuriate in Allison Pataki’s vivid, sumptuous descriptions of the Hapsburg court. Sisi brings the past to life as only the very best historical fiction can.

Allison Pataki has written a nuanced and compelling account of that ever-glamorous heroine, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, immortalized as “Sisi.” Pataki’s sublimely readable prose is the perfect vehicle for a tale that spans thirty years and settings from Corfu to Hungary to Ireland. The glamour and the heartache of Sisi’s life will keep you riveted.

Pataki’s extensive historical research is evident as she deftly explores the complex life of a woman who was both loved and hated by those whom she ruled. Though her life as an empress seemed like one of ease, with opulent dwellings and magnificent wealth, she is portrayed as a lonely person, as well as a true survivor and a woman ahead of her time. She faces the infidelity of her husband, the emotional and physical distance of her older children, and the death of her middle daughter, Sophie, when she is just a toddler. Pataki brings richness and relevance to the story of the woman who worked tirelessly to protect the face of an empire

Bulgarian: Ednorog, Croatian: Lumen, Czech: Alpress, Dutch: House of Books, Hungarian: Helikon, Polish: HarperCollins, Portuguese/ Brazil: Autentica, Portuguese/ Portugal: 20/20, Slovene: Ucila, Spanish: Penguin Random House

Allison simply stuns me with each new book. I savor each page. Sisi is her best yet!

The tumultuous world of mid-nineteenth century royalty comes to stunning life in this sweeping novel about the courageous, defiant empress who sought her own survival amidst rivalry, betrayal and tragedy. Allison Pataki draws back Sisi’s romantic veil to reveal her inner struggles and yearnings in a time careening toward irrevocable change. Fans of historical fiction will revel in this sumptuous account of a legendary woman.