ARCHDUKE OF SARAJEVO FRANZ FERDINAND AUSTRIA BIOGRAPHY

ARCHDUKE OF SARAJEVO

The Romance and Tragedy of Franz Ferdinand of Austria

Hard to Find Out of Print Book by Gordon Brook-Shepherd

Archduke of Sarajevo immediately conjures up images of the Serbian bullet that ended Archduke Franz Ferdinand's life and triggered World War 1. Behind this most pivotal assasination of our century is a life story full of drama - a story of forbidden romance and political intrigue. Archduke of Sarajevo is the long awaited first English language biography of Francis Ferdinand, heir apparent to the Austrian throne.

The romance of Francis Ferdinant and his beloved Sophie is one of the great forbidden royal romances of our time. For five years the Archduke courted Sophie Chotek, a mere countess and therefore an utterly unsuitable consort for theheir. His unswerving ardor finally won. The two were married, but Sophie was barred from most Court functions, and their children had to renounce all claim to the throne. Yet the romance survived, and Sophie died by her husband's side - felled by one of the bullets meant for the Archdule.

Although his wife and family may have been foremost in his life, the Archduke has ambitious plans to reconstruct the dislocated Hapsburg Empire and to form alliances from both Russia and England. Some even speculate that had he lived longer, he might have prevented World War I. With exclusive access to the Archduke's private papers, and through interviews with surviving relatives, Gordon Brook-Shepherd recreates the unquenchable devotion bewteen Sophie and Francis Ferdinand, the cruel social and poltical hierarchies of the royal court, and the energy with which the Archduke revolutionzed his army, established a modern navy, and tried to diffuse the power keg that was early twentieth century Europe. In a conclusion that bristles with suspense - even though its violent end is clear - he relives the tragic last day of the Archduke and his Sophie. This biography is an unforgettable portrait of waht truly was the crumbling of an era.

• Hardcover Book with Dust Jacket
• Former Library Book Covered in Plastic
• Scarce and Valuable Title
• First Edition 1984
• Size 16cm W x 24cm H
• 301 Pages in Good Condition

ISBN 0316109517

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