The Rebel Empresses

Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France, Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe

By: Nancy Goldstone

Narrated by: Tamsin Kennard

From the acclaimed author of In the Shadow of the Empress comes the thrilling chronicle of two of the most influential and glamorous women in nineteenth-century Europe—Elisabeth, empress of Austria, and Eugénie, empress of France—and their efforts to rule amid the scandal, intrigue, tragedy, and violence of their era.

When they married Emperors Franz Joseph and Napoleon III, respectively, Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France became two of the most famous women on the planet. Not only were they both young and beautiful—becoming cultural and fashion icons of their time—but they played a pivotal role in ruling their realms during a tempestuous era characterized by unprecedented political and technological change.

Fearless, adventurous, and independent, Elisabeth and Eugénie represented a new kind of empress—one who rebelled against tradition and anticipated and embraced modern values. Yet both women endured hardship in their private and public lives. Elisabeth was plagued by a mother-in-law who snatched her infant children away and undermined her authority at court. Eugénie’s husband was an infamous philanderer who could not match the military prowess of his namesake. Between them, Elisabeth and Eugénie were personally involved in every major international confrontation in their turbulent century, which witnessed thrilling technological advances, as well as revolutions, assassinations, and wars.

With her characteristic in-depth research and jump-off-the-page writing, Nancy Goldstone brings to life these two remarkable women, as Europe goes through the convulsions that led up to the international landscape we recognize today.

Power, Pain, and Politics

A compelling and richly detailed retelling of the lives of two strong-willed, often misunderstood women who challenged societal norms and reshaped the world around them. The Rebel Empresses not only brings their personal struggles and triumphs to life but also highlights the broader political and cultural ripple effects of their resistance. A must-listen for anyone drawn to powerful women and European history.

Comprehensive but not boring

I really enjoyed this book. It explained the backgrounds of both Elisabeth and Eugénie, vividly I felt. I really got the sense of who they were, the time they lived in. But I was never compelled to skip a section and never felt bored. Fascinating women, both who had their own triumphs and tragedies.

Page-turner historical biography for the rest of us

The 19th century in Europe was socially, politically, culturally chaotic. Empires and monarchies squabbled endlessly among themselves, gave way to violent revolutions, then sketchy and aspirational republics, and back again. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans died. Even among the privileged, only the strongest and most intelligent survived. Among these were Empress Sisi of the Austrian Empire and Empress Eugénie of the Third Napoleonic Empire. As females of their time and class they might have been expected to play the part of transactional, powerless pawns, sold to a royal stranger for breeding purposes and political alliances. Not these two! Nancy Goldstone shapes these extraordinary women into lively personalities full of energy, confidence, intellect, and not just a little luck. At times wry, always direct, never dull, the author employs research ranging from contemporary tabloid gossip to personal letters and a deep familiarity with the complex historical events and movements of mid-19th-century Europe to present a breathtaking portrait of these two females, their unusual upbringings and their struggles to employ their intellectual powers to the fullest in a society ready to dismiss them out of hand. Never dry or dull, this is one of the most entertaining histories I have ever read. Although the two rebel empresses are always the focal points, I also gained an understanding of this turbulent time of European history that had eluded me until now. Wow, just Wow.

Never a dull moment

This book was an amazing read. It was filled with wit, intrigue, and great story telling. It kept me interested until the last words. The reader, Tamsin Kennard, gave a nuanced performance that enhanced the story line. It's always exciting to read a book that works so well on multiple levels. This is my fourth Nancy Goldstone book and I can't wait for her next one.

Solid Read for Sissi and/Or Eugenie Fans.

Information was factual but easily digestible. Storyline flowed well throughout for both monarchs. Similarities were very interesting, in a tragic and sad manner they do.