Description
In nineteenth-century Europe, two empresses—Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France—rewrote what it meant to rule. Nancy Goldstone delivers a vivid, fast-moving portrait of their rise to power and the personal and political risks they took as they challenged rigid court traditions, navigated scandal and intrigue, and confronted tragedy with fierce independence. Blending courtly glamour with hard-won authority, this compelling narrative explores how influence is exercised behind palace doors—and how public image, family loyalty, and political conviction can collide. With Goldstone’s historian’s eye for detail and narrative momentum, the story becomes a thrilling study of rebellion, resilience, and the enduring impact of women who refused to be confined by expectation.
Available Editions
paperback
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Published Feb 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781399604000
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Details
First Published
2019
Language
eng
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.