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Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Biography of a Difficult Woman
Review: Elisabeth of Austria has held a strange fascination for many people, because of her reknown beauty and her strange relationship with her husand and children. Married at 15 to the emperor of Austria, Elisabeth was under the domination of her mother in law. Her first two children are virtually raised by her mother in law and she has very little impact on their life. Feeling oppressed by the court atmosphere, Elisabeth escapes through numerous diversions, including exercise and horseback riding. Supporting a constitutional monarchy, she alienates herself from her husband, who nevertheless continues to love her desperately. Finally they are reconciled and she gives birth to her last child, a daughter who will be "her" child. Elisabeth becomes increasing erratic until she finally removes herself from court life completely. Her final years are marred by unhappiness with the suicide of her only son and her own death at the hands of an assassin.Author Hamann does an excellent job of portryaing the life of this woman, who has often been compared to Princess Diana. What really becomes clear is that Elisabeth must have suffered from some sort of mental breakdown and without help, she chose to life a life that brought unhappiness to quite a few people, including her husband and children. The book is well written and captures the time period perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Biography of a Difficult Woman
Review: Elisabeth of Austria has held a strange fascination for many people, because of her reknown beauty and her strange relationship with her husand and children. Married at 15 to the emperor of Austria, Elisabeth was under the domination of her mother in law. Her first two children are virtually raised by her mother in law and she has very little impact on their life. Feeling oppressed by the court atmosphere, Elisabeth escapes through numerous diversions, including exercise and horseback riding. Supporting a constitutional monarchy, she alienates herself from her husband, who nevertheless continues to love her desperately. Finally they are reconciled and she gives birth to her last child, a daughter who will be "her" child. Elisabeth becomes increasing erratic until she finally removes herself from court life completely. Her final years are marred by unhappiness with the suicide of her only son and her own death at the hands of an assassin. Author Hamann does an excellent job of portryaing the life of this woman, who has often been compared to Princess Diana. What really becomes clear is that Elisabeth must have suffered from some sort of mental breakdown and without help, she chose to life a life that brought unhappiness to quite a few people, including her husband and children. The book is well written and captures the time period perfectly.
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