Customer Reviews
Good but not outstanding - By: Klaus Meyer, 18 Jan 2008 
Joan Haslip (1912-1994) was an author of historical books, often focussing on European royalty. Her books were generally regarded as accurate & fairly complete although at times falling prey to "outdated interpretations".
Her biography on the Empress Elizabeth reflects very much that reputation. I liked very much that she tries to get away from the romantic attitude & endless talk about the Elizabeth's beauty. She tries to get to the personality of this being. This is indeed difficult as she was very contradictory which tends to cofuse people. I liked the word "lonely" as it captures much about the Empress. Allin all I feel it is a book worth reading, not an authorative beiography & not the great classic but one (of them many books on Sisi) worth reading. But it dit not match Brigitte Haman's "Elisabeth - Kaiserin wider Willen" which is simply superb.
A serious book but vivid and easy to read. - By: , 03 Jul 2001 
Haslip's writing is a joy to read. Her narrative skill, combined with the power of the tragic but romantic life she describes, makes the book hard to put down. I can't help agreeing with Edward Crankshaw, who said 'Haslip writes with vividness & immediacy...a serious book which is highly readable'.
