Books on the Habsburgs

[Greenowl]

I am currently rereading Brigit Hammann bio on Sissi, and was surprised to see that Sissi herself was hoping that, when she died, Franz would marry Katherine.

As far as I can make out from the various sources, Elisabeth never had a bad word to say about her husband and in fact felt sorry for him. This comes out very forcefully in some of her poems (see Hamann page 482). At most, she teased him for being attracted to young women. She actually introduced him to Katharina Schratt and did her utmost to support and encourage the relationship.

I don't think I have ever read anything by George Markus, although the name seems familiar to me for some reason. I have never heard anything about a so-called 'Gewissensehe' (marriage based on conscience). Franz-Joseph and Katharina Schratt had a very close relationship over many years. She was extremely loyal and although she survived the Kaiser by about a quarter of a century, she never once revealed any details of their time together, although it is said that she was offered large sums of money to do so.

[aor]

For some reason it seems a little off. As much as he was opposed to other 'morganatic' marriages within his own family and the destruction this attitude caused, it simply does not ring true that he himself would have contracted such a marriage.
The other book I read by George Markus is about the 'grave digging' of Mary Vetsera and it was written well, sources named etc., but I am not certain what to think about this book. It is tedious reading.
I do not believe however that the relationship was soley platonic. A lot of letters between them have been destroyed and it seems as only the 'tame' letters survived, although asking someone to be received in their bedroom makes me go ummmmmm.....

[historylover]

Thank you for explaining a secret marriage, Aor.

It is interesting that Sisi wanted Katherina and Emperor Joseph to marry.

[aor]

I am about halfway through this book and George Markus does have some amazing documents in regards to this marriage. I do not find the booke easy to read, I have to sit by myself with no distractions to follow along.
He also mentioned that Kaiser Karl introduced Kaiserin Zita to Madame Schratt and not vice versa as would be appropriate according to etiquette. This happened on the day the old Kaiser died and the family was gathered and Madame Schratt joined them in the family quarters. Whatever happened I hope the old boy had some happy years at the end of his life. I am not a big fan of Emperor Franz Jozeph, but he did not have an easy road to travel.

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

I know a book about Sissi titled "Vals Negro" by Ana Maria Moix as you can see it's
in Spanish, I haven't read it.

[prinzheinelgirl]

A book on Joseph II, Leopold II , Maria Amalia,  Maria Caroline, and Marie Antoinette for release in December: In Destiny's Hands (Five Tragic Rulers, Children of Maria Theresa) by Justin C. Vovk.....

http://justincvovk.wordpress.com/

The author said it'll have an early release (originally scheduled for February 2010).  It seems very interesting!  I am so looking forward to it.

 

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

The Spanish writter Angeles Caso wrote a book about Empress Sissi,
Elisabeth, empress of Austria-Hungary



I want to read it very much, but here in Mexico is nearly imposible to get sthg.
like this

[historylover]

I'll have to stick to the books written in English, unfortunately.

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

I added them because someone would be interested, unfortunately I haven't had the oportunity to
read them:-(

[Alejandro Spain]

Are there coffee table books, about the Habsburges?

Brigitte Hamann, Elisabeth. [i]Portraits of an Empress [/i] (the one Robert Hall mentioned I assume)
Gabriele Praschl-Bichler, Das Familienalbum von Kaiser Franz-Joseph und  Elisabeth (out of print)
Gabriele Praschl-Bichler, Das Familienalbum von Kaiser Karl und Kaiserin Zita
Gabriele Praschl-Bichler, Historische Photographien aus den Alben des Kaiserbruders Erzherzog Ludwig Viktor
Johannes Thiele, Elisabeth - Bilder ihres Lebens
Hellmut Andics, Die Frauen der Habsburger
Helfried Seemann, Christian Lunzer, Das österreichisch-ungarische Kaiserhaus 1860-1918
Gerda Mraz, Ulla Fischer-Westhauser, Elisabeth-Wumschbilder oder die Kunst der Retouche
Brigitte Vachta, Die Habsburger. Eine europäische Familiengeschichte.
Karl Vocelka, Lynn Heller, Die private Welt der Habsburger. Leben und Alltag einer Familie
Karl Vocelka, Lynn Heller, Die Lebenswelt der Habsburger. Kultur-und Mentalitätsgeschichte einer Familie

Do you know if this book is a "photo-book"?

Regards!

[Dan Willis]

Over the past couple of years this forum has had some wonderful discussion and a lot of information provided about the "secret" marriage of Archduke Ernst (1824-1899) and Laura Skublics de Velike et Besenyö. With the excpetion of the descent from their daughter Clotilde, pretty much everything that is known about this family is a result of my research (and subsequent repeating of the material on various websites).

This story has so fascinated me, I have decided to devote an entire book to it. The primary focus of the book will be the lives of the Ernst and Laura, their children and grandchildren. Of course there will be an indepth look at the court case which came about after Ernst's death regarding acknowledgment of his surviving children as heirs. I will be including a detailed genealogy of all the descednants as well.

I have no idea when this book will be published as I am still heavily in the research phase, but I am setting aside several projects and devoting most of my time to this one. I would love to be able to have it out in two years time, but I'll have to see if that is feasible or not.

Dan Willis

P.S. My most recent book, "The Romanovs in the 21st Century" is now available via Amazon.de (or for a discounted price for a limited at my website: www.dan-willis.com)

[Madame-Sisi]

Are there coffee table books, about the Habsburges?

Brigitte Hamann, Elisabeth. [i]Portraits of an Empress [/i] (the one Robert Hall mentioned I assume)

Do you know if this book is a "photo-book"?

Regards!

yes it is.. i have that book..i even had it double but i sold one :p

[Rani]

http://www.amazon.de/K%C3%B6nig-Ukraine-geheimen-Wilhelm-Habsburg/dp/3552054782/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1254244362&sr=8-3-fkmr0


It´s really interesting. I think I will read it.

[prinzheinelgirl]

For those who are interested, the book on 5 of Empress Maria Theresa's children (Joseph, Leopold, Maria Carolina, Marie Antoinette, and Maria Amalia) In Destiny's Hands: Five Tragic Rulers, Children of Maria Theresa by Justin Vovk  is already out...... It's available at the publisher (Lulu), Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The link of the book at Lulu and the table of contents.......

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/in-destinys-hands-five-tragic-rulers-children-of-maria-theresa/6245676

[historylover]

Thank you.  I certainly intend to buy it!