The Rebel Empresses

Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France, Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe

From the acclaimed author of In the Shadow of the Empress comes the thrilling chronicle of two of the most influential and glamorous women in nineteenth-century Europe—Elisabeth, empress of Austria, and Eugénie, empress of France—and their efforts to rule amid the scandal, intrigue, tragedy, and violence of their era.

When they married Emperors Franz Joseph and Napoleon III, respectively, Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France became two of the most famous women on the planet. Not only were they both young and beautiful—becoming cultural and fashion icons of their time—but they played a pivotal role in ruling their realms during a tempestuous era characterized by unprecedented political and technological change.

Fearless, adventurous, and independent, Elisabeth and Eugénie represented a new kind of empress—one who rebelled against tradition and anticipated and embraced modern values. Yet both women endured hardship in their private and public lives. Elisabeth was plagued by a mother-in-law who snatched her infant children away and undermined her authority at court. Eugénie’s husband was an infamous philanderer who could not match the military prowess of his namesake. Between them, Elisabeth and Eugénie were personally involved in every major international confrontation in their turbulent century, which witnessed thrilling technological advances, as well as revolutions, assassinations, and wars.

With her characteristic in-depth research and jump-off-the-page writing, Nancy Goldstone brings to life these two remarkable women, as Europe goes through the convulsions that led up to the international landscape we recognize today.

Page-turner historical biography for the rest of us

The 19th century in Europe was socially, politically, culturally chaotic. Empires and monarchies squabbled endlessly among themselves, gave way to violent revolutions, then sketchy and aspirational republics, and back again. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans died. Even among the privileged, only the strongest and most intelligent survived. Among these were Empress Sisi of the Austrian Empire and Empress Eugénie of the Third Napoleonic Empire. As females of their time and class they might have been expected to play the part of transactional, powerless pawns, sold to a royal stranger for breeding purposes and political alliances. Not these two! Nancy Goldstone shapes these extraordinary women into lively personalities full of energy, confidence, intellect, and not just a little luck. At times wry, always direct, never dull, the author employs research ranging from contemporary tabloid gossip to personal letters and a deep familiarity with the complex historical events and movements of mid-19th-century Europe to present a breathtaking portrait of these two females, their unusual upbringings and their struggles to employ their intellectual powers to the fullest in a society ready to dismiss them out of hand. Never dry or dull, this is one of the most entertaining histories I have ever read. Although the two rebel empresses are always the focal points, I also gained an understanding of this turbulent time of European history that had eluded me until now. Wow, just Wow.

Excellent book!

I’m a huge fan of Nancy Goldstone’s books, and this one is no exception! Sissi has been an interest of mine for many years, so learning Empress Eugenie’s story and the parallels between Austria and France during this period is as so interesting.

2 young Empresses

Definition of anarchy inaccurate- it is not necessarily about assassins or violent overthrow of the “established order” as is promoted by capitalist ideology.

It occurred in Spain in the ‘20s & ‘30s and was guided by consensus and common ownership of factories and businesses by the workers. They “owned” the means of production.

AVIS is an example today-it is owned & managed by employees of AVIS. Hardly assassins.

I like the writing.

there are a lot of insights, There is a lot of history in the book. Not just about the main character but about the times and people and people and events happening which gives context and helps explain the character and their actions.

The Sumptuousness of the characters.

Author made me interested in the tale of these women where I was not before.