A really well researched fascinating read on the life of the Empress Sissi. She really was the Princess Diana of her day, as she couldn't stand the formality of the Viennese court. My own take after reading this book is that she suffered from some sort of psychological personality disorder, which seemed to be a trait of the Wittlesbach family, witness her cousin known as Mad King Ludwig. Her behavior and problems seem strikingly contemporary, despite her being a product of a very Victorian world. At the end of the day, the story of Sissi, as well as her family, is one that is very sad.