Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Rebel Empresses:
More than just pretty faces.
Quick synopsis:
The lives of Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France.
Fact for Non-History People:
Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was Austrian. His reign went as badly as you would expect.
Fact for History Nerds:
Sisi (Elisabeth) was a big supporter of Hungarian autonomy.
My Take on The Rebel Empresses:
Sure, some people may be wary of The Rebel Empresses by Nancy Goldstone. It’s history. It’s over 500 pages. I realize a dual biography of two women not known to the general public may be a big ask. Who knows all that much about Elisabeth of Austria (better known as Sisi) and Eugénie of France? For the non-believers, allow me to quote from Goldstone completely out of context:
“Gondrecourt, who despised weakness, even in six-year-olds, took to the task with the brisk dedication of a future psychopath torturing a puppy.”
I’m not going to explain any of that previous sentence, but can we all agree it is intriguing if not totally *chef’s kiss*? Goldstone has enough here for both the history nerd (which is me) and the person who loves a little bit of smack talk mixed into their non-fiction (also me!).
For the history purists worried this is some pop culture abomination, have no fear. Goldstone’s research is impeccable while being interesting. The length of the book is barely felt as the story seamlessly bounces between the two women and doesn’t ever get bogged down in extensive or extraneous detail. Admittedly, the first few chapters felt like drinking from a fire-hose, but once you get into the groove of the narrative it all feels natural.
The choice of a dual biography is also inspired. These two women occupied the same time and space in Europe. They were in many ways polar opposites and then somehow at times mirrors of each other. Goldstone plays with this dichotomy and allows the reader to really know these women. She is generally positive about their legacies, but is not shy about calling them out when they deserve it. To put a fine point on it, I loved this book and think everyone should read it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company.)
Verdict:
Flawless. Buy it here!
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