There are some fascinating historical figures that theoretically should be eternally popular, like Elizabeth I and the last Tsarina of Russia, but aren’t. And Empress Elisabeth of Austria is one of those figures. Known to those around her as Sisi, she married the Austrian Emperor, Franz Joseph I, for love and would struggle throughout her life with the demands of the Austrian court and her marriage. She has come into the limelight again, with several television shows and films out in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Empress by Gigi Griffis is a new historical fiction novel out, and is a must-read for any fan of Sisi!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Empress, Gigi Griffis
The year is 1853, and sixteen-year-old Elisabeth “Sisi” of Bavaria has been very clear: she will wait for the sweeping, head-over-heels kind of love the poets speak of, or she will have no love at all. It is not her fault Mother refuses to listen. After all, just because her older sister Helene has chosen the line of duty, and is preparing to marry Emperor Franz of Austria, does not mean Sisi also needs to subject herself to such a passionless, regimented existence. Sisi knows there is more to life than corsets, luncheons, and woefully unfashionable dukes . . . if only someone would give her the chance to experience it firsthand.
Meanwhile, in Austria, the Emperor is recovering from an assassination attempt that left him wounded and scared. In a bid to keep the peace, Franz has recommitted himself to his imperial duties-and promised to romance the pliant Bavarian princess, Helene, at his upcoming birthday celebration. How better to unite the country than with the announcement of a new Empress?
But when Sisi and Franz meet unexpectedly in the palace gardens, away from the prying eyes and relentless critique of their families, their connection cannot be denied. And as their illicit conversations turn into something more, they must soon choose between the expectations of the court, and the burning desires of their hearts . . .
Why You Should Read This…
This is the novelisation of the upcoming Netflix period drama, and reading it has made me even more excited for its release at the end of September 2022. Sisi was an incredibly complex and layered person. She often is reduced to one line- “mental health issues”, “beautiful”, “youthful”- but is so much more than that.
Griffis not only brought Sisi and Franz to life, the couple whose romance and early marriage are often celebrated (though it turned sour…) but Sisi’s family. I loved that we spent much of our time with Helene, the Bavarian duchess who was originally meant to marry Franz. We also get to know Maxi, Franz’s younger brother and future Emperor of Mexico. (Normally you get to know each of their mothers, so it is a nice change.) I would have loved to go beyond Sisi and Franz’s wedding day, but I suspect the show ends then!
This is a fantastic book for anyone who loves The Gilded Age, The Crown, or Downton Abbey!
Is The Empress by Gigi Griffis on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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