Empty Theatre: A Novel: or The Lives of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and Empress Sisi of Austria (Queen of Hungary), Cousins, in Their Pursuit of Connection and Beauty...

"Being royalty seems great from far away – all jewels, banquets, and balls. Closer up, the pressures on royalty make it look far less appealing. At the end of every gilded hall lies a heavy price: the pressure to marry to form an alliance, to produce an heir, to navigate a court full of rumors. This novel beautifully captures the dichotomy of the royal lives of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and Empress Elizabeth of Austria in the late 19th century. By turns amusing and heartbreaking, it’s a captivating story rooted in bizarre reality, but told in a fresh format."