Synopsis "A Walk on Broken Glass: Elisabeth, Empress of Austria (in English)"
Elizabeth, Empress of Austria and Hungary, was the acknowledged beauty of her society. At 17, she married the Emperor Franz Joseph. He adored her. Her subjects loved her and she was deeply loved by several men. This was only the surface of her life. Like Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth was a troubled woman. She was a free spirit trapped in a repressive society, a woman ahead of, and out of step with, her time. Living in a court society that was shallow, jealous and greedy for position and power, Elizabeths strength of character, her determination, her skill as a horsewoman and love of travel allowed her to endure her life and gave her freedom from her domineering mother-in-law Tragedy haunts the pages of her life, but she lives again, beautiful, charming and strong, in Allans novel. Through all her troubles, Elizabeth remained true to herself, to her husband and to what she believed would be her place in history. Her love of Hungarians and mastery of their language helped to influence the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
