Now Read This: 'The Accidental Empress' by Allison Pataki

For this month's book review, I'm back to my favorite genre: historical fiction. Former New York Gov. George Pataki's daughter, Allison, was inspired by her family's deep roots to write a book about Hungary. She also is co-founder of the not-for-profit organization ReConnect Hungary. "The Accidental Empress" is historical fiction based on some very sound facts.

In 1853, the Hapsburgs are Europe's most powerful ruling family. Franz Joseph is young, rich and ready to marry 15-year old Elisabeth (Sisi), the duchess of Bavaria, who is chosen over her older sister. She has an energetic spirit and is an unrivaled beauty. However, Franz's overbearing and controlling mother, the archduchess Sophie, makes Sisi's life miserable.

Sisi has no privacy and every intimate detail of her life is observed and remarked upon by court spies. Immediately after Sisi gives birth to her children, Sophie whisks them away and keeps them from their mother, naming and raising them herself. After becoming ill, Sisi leaves court for four years. During those years, her only solace is spending hours having her long hair washed and coifed. Her mother-in-law also tries to prevent her from getting involved in politics. While she is away, Sisi falls in love with the ruler of Hungary as well as the land itself, and that relationship helps to broker peace between Austria and Hungary. She lives out the rest of her life in Hungary.

This story gives the reader a glimpse into the bedrooms and state rooms of one of history's most intriguing royal families. In the back of the book, there is an interview with the author and discussion guide questions for a book club.

An e-book copy of "The Accidental Empress" is available through the library's online catalog or through the MOLIB2GO website. The library also owns a copy of Pataki's book "The Traitor's Wife," a story about Benedict Arnold's wife. Three of the similar titles that NoveList recommends are "The Twentieth Wife" by Indu Sundaresan, "Dark Angels" by Karleen Koen and "Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China" by Jung Chang. The library owns copies of all of these titles.

Another way to look for titles by the same author or on the same topic is to click on the blue hot links on the catalog entry.

Happy readings!

About Betty

Betty Martin is director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library.