Sisi und ihre Geschwister: Mit 21 Abbildungen

1,366 In her biographical work “Sisi und ihre Geschwister” (Sisi and Her Siblings), historian and writer Erika Bestenreiner turns her gaze away from the already well-known story of the Austrian empress and alludes to the wider family circle of the Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty. Through the life stories of the eight children of the Bavarian Duke Max and Duchess Ludwig, the author builds a rich and dynamic picture of one of the most interesting, but also most eccentric, royal families of the 19th century.

While Elisabeth (Sisi) became Empress of Austria, her younger sister Sophie Charlotte almost married the “mad” King Ludwig II, only to later tragically die in a fire in Paris. Sister Marie became the last Queen of the Two Sicilies and the heroine of the defense of Gaeta, while the brothers led equally unusual lives – from renouncing their noble titles for love of actresses to successful medical careers. The book details how the free-spirited upbringing at Possenhofen Castle shaped their character traits, but also dared them to clash with the strict court etiquette of Europe.

Bestenreiner combines thorough archival research with an exceptionally enjoyable storytelling style. With the help of 21 historical illustrations and photographs, the author brings a moving, dramatic and historically valuable insight into a family imbued with great passions, aristocratic splendor, but also deep tragedies and mental instability.