Retracing Sisi’s Footsteps: My Research for THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS
One of the greatest joys of reading Historical Fiction is, in my opinion, learning about another time and place. If done right, a great Historical Fiction novel will transport you to a new world. You have the opportunity to see this new and vivid world along with the compelling cast of characters who inhabit it.
It follows, then, that one of the most fun parts of writing Historical Fiction is that same thing—getting so deeply into another world that it becomes real and gripping and alive. And that all begins with the research.
As this is a novel set in the Habsburg Imperial Court, the drama and action unfolded primarily in Austria and Hungary. I really couldn’t learn about Sisi and her world without seeing it through my own eyes. I felt very strongly that, in order to bring Sisi to life, both in my imagination and on paper, I needed to first immerse myself into her world. I needed to visit her palaces, soak up her setting, and walk in her footsteps. This was all an integral part of the research process, and I was thrilled that that meant I would get to do some traveling. That’s not a bad part of the job, is it?!
It was in Vienna, years ago, that I first stumbled across the image of Sisi, so that was the first place I revisited. Vienna today still feels so grand and imperial. You can still feel Sisi and Franz Joseph and the stamp of imperial majesty on almost every boulevard of their capital. Their former homes, the Schönbrunn and Hofburg Palaces, are fantastic resources in which to learn about not only Sisi, but all of the Habsburgs. There, I spent time studying every detail of Sisi’s daily life. I studied the plates off of which she ate, the clothes in which she dressed, and the furniture on which she sat. I peeked at her journal entries to see her elegant cursive handwriting. I looked out over her grounds and gardens, staring through the same windows through which she took her own views of her land and her capital city. I walked down the same cathedral aisle by which she processed, as a girl of sixteen, on her way to marry Emperor Franz Joseph. In all of those places, Sisi came to life in my mind.
Next, it was off to Sisi’s other capital, the Hungarian city of Budapest. This is a place that, to me, feels more whimsical and unruly than grand and imperial Vienna. Walking around the Castle Hill and looking out over the Danube and the Chain Bridge, I could imagine why the romantic Sisi loved it there so much. I traveled the flat plains on which she loved to take off on horseback. I sat in her imperial box in Budapest’s cathedral. I visited the nearby imperial retreat, the country home to which she fled to when the pressures of public life overwhelmed her.
All of these places were hugely important locales in Sisi’s story, so I loved visiting them to learn about Sisi and, hopefully, to be able to recreate this world through my words.
Once I’d physically retraced her footsteps, it came time to take in as much information as possible. This involved reading…lots and lots of reading. And then some note-taking, and then some more reading. The names of the biographies and books I relied on are listed in the Acknowledgments Section at the back of my novel. I read not only about the characters but also about the world they inhabited and what their daily lives might have looked and felt like. I read about what food they would have eaten, what shows they might have seen at the Opera. I read about the weather and the clothing and the architecture. I hope that, in including these rich and evocative historical details, readers of The Accidental Empress will feel like Sisi and her world come to life. That is, after all, the true magic of reading—being transported to another world. And if I’ve done my job right, readers will feel not only like they’ve been to SIsi’s world, but that she’s become a dear friend in the process.
New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki follows up on her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Traitor’s Wife, with the little-known and tumultuous love story of “Sisi,” the Austro-Hungarian Empress and captivating wife of Emperor Franz Joseph.
The year is 1853, and the Habsburgs are Europe’s most powerful ruling family. With his empire stretching from Austria to Russia, from Germany to Italy, Emperor Franz Joseph is young, rich, and ready to marry.
Fifteen-year-old Elisabeth, “Sisi,” Duchess of Bavaria, travels to the Habsburg court with her older sister, who is betrothed to the young emperor. But shortly after her arrival at court, Sisi finds herself in an unexpected dilemma: she has inadvertently fallen for and won the heart of her sister’s groom. Intrigued by Sisi’s guileless charm and energetic spirit, not to mention her unrivaled beauty, Franz Joseph reneges on his earlier proposal and declares his intention to marry Sisi instead.
Plucked from obscurity and thrust onto the throne of Europe’s most treacherous imperial court, Sisi has no idea what struggles and dangers—and temptations—await her. Sisi upsets political and familial loyalties in her quest to win, and keep, the love of her emperor, her people, and of the world.
With Pataki’s rich period detail and cast of complex, compelling characters, The Accidental Empress offers a captivating glimpse into the bedrooms and staterooms of one of history’s most intriguing royal families, shedding new light on the glittering Habsburg Empire and its most mesmerizing, most beloved “Fairy Queen.”
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Giveaway!
Thanks to Allison Pataki and Simon & Schuster, one lucky winner will receive a $120 gift card to the ebook retailer of their choice (Amazon/B&N/iTunes)! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open internationally.
Tour Schedule:
Monday, February 9th - Reader Girls - Guest Post
Tuesday, February 10th - Sassy Book Lovers - Excerpt
Wednesday, February 11th - Fine Lines - Author Interview
Thursday, February 12th - Reading Reality - Guest Post
Friday, February 13th - Fiktshun - Author Interview
Monday, February 16th - The Maiden's Court - Guest Post
Tuesday, February 17th - Bewitched Bookworms - Author Interview
Wednesday, February 18th - Fire and Ice - Guest Post
Thursday, February 19th - Bookish - Author Interview
Friday, February 20th - Curling Up With A Good Book - Author Interview
Monday, February 23rd - Books and Things - Guest Post
Tuesday, February 24th - Books Glorious Books - Excerpt
Wednesday, February 25th - Sara In Bookland - Author Interview
Thursday, February 26th - Historical Fiction Obsession - Guest Post
Friday, February 27th - Library of a Book Witch - Author Interview
For more info about the tour visit the Tour Page
I would think that one of the best things about writing historical fiction of any kind is the research, immersing yourself in the world and then recreating that world for your characters. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHistorical Fiction has always seemed like one of the more difficult genres to write to me because if you don't nail your time period your story loses instant credibility even if it is fictional. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCarmel @ Rabid Reads
A big fan of historical fiction, The Accidental Empress sounds like my kind of read.
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one! I watched these movies about Sissi as a kid and loved the them. Did not understand one word as I could not read and did not understand German ...;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post! I would love to retrace her steps. What a great way to experience the past.
ReplyDeleteI have already been eyeing this book and I love well researched historical fiction!
ReplyDeleteI don't read much HF but it does have promise
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really cool you actually visited these places. I'd love to see how vividly it's incorporated in the book.
ReplyDeleteI love research, and discovering obscure facts about historical figures and events. Awesome guest post
ReplyDeleteI love reading about historical events and especially centered around little known characters or events. Thanks for sharing and congrats to Allison on the new release!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like my kind of read.
ReplyDeleteOh really interesting to discover how it was done. Thanks for sharing, I didn't know about the book.
ReplyDeleteNever read A. Pataki's books before, but this sounds like something I'd enjoy reading! Thank you for the reveal!
ReplyDeleteI need to read more historical fiction Melissa, I always find it fascinating, particularly in cases like this where I'm not familiar at all with the historical figures. Thanks so much for being a part of the tour!
ReplyDeleteI don't read historical fiction often but the authors attention to detail makes me curious.
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
Love the sound of the book, I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of the Emperor nor the Empress before. I really enjoy well researched historical fiction so I'll have to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteI'm slowly getting into historical fiction. I've been reading a series set at the Chicago World Fair and it really is amazing how it can transport you into another time/place. This one looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about this one. :)
ReplyDeleteIt must be so interesting to do all these reseaches for a book.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating guest post! I want to retrace Sisi's steps myself now. :-) Guess I should read the book before planning my plane tickets. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCentral European history is so complex. Sisi sounds like a colorful and helpful character to help us navigate it.
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