Death by Fame: A Life of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria

by Andrew Sinclair

A biography of the tragic Austro-Hungarian empress follows the winding, often lonely path that led the daughter of German royalty from a pampered life to an unhappy marriage to Emperor Franz-Josef

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Royalty, European History

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Andrew Sinclair was born in Oxford in 1935 and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. After earning a Ph.D. in American History from Cambridge, he pursued an academic career in the United States and England. His first two novels, written while he was still at Cambridge, were both published in 1959: The Breaking of Bumbo (based on his own experience in the Coldstream Guards, and later adapted for a 1970 film written and directed by Sinclair) and My Friend Judas. Other early novels included The Project (1960), The Hallelujah Bum (1963), and The Raker (1964). The latter, also available from Valancourt, is a clever mix of Gothic fantasy and macabre comedy and was inspired by Sinclair’s relationship with Derek Lindsay, the pseudonymous author of the acclaimed novel The Rack (1958). Sinclair’s best-known novel, Gog (1967), a highly imaginative, picaresque account of the adventures of a seven-foot-tall man who washes ashore on the Scottish coast, naked and suffering from amnesia, has been named one of the top 100 modern fantasy novels. As the first in the ‘Albion Triptych’, it was followed by Magog (1972) and King Ludd (1988).

Sinclair’s varied and prolific career has also included work in film and a large output of nonfiction. As a director, he is best known for Under Milk Wood (1972), adapted from a Dylan Thomas play and starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Sinclair’s nonfiction includes works on American history (including The Better Half: The Emancipation of the American Woman, which won the 1967 Somerset Maugham Award), books on Dylan Thomas, Jack London, Che Guevara, and Francis Bacon, and, more recently, works on the Knights Templar and the Freemasons.

Sinclair was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1972. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting biography but it does spend a fair amount of time on the people around her rather than Elisabeth herself

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a short biography about Empress Elisabeth in the periodical, History Today, I was fascinated but it was difficult for years to find any material on her until recently. Now she is the subject of many biographies and Sinclair's text set a standard many years ago. The biggest plus for this reviewer, was that the author did not let her husband, Emperor Franz Josef, or her son, the chief character in the Mayerling tragedy, take over the text.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Death by Fame" was really,(I thought)was a expose on the life of anybody famous.It shows how when you are famous you will have to tolerate the opinions of others.You will always be in the public eye.Some handle it better than others.
As for Elisabeth herself,she was born in the wrong place ,at the wrong time,to the wrong group of people.She had a wonderlust in her.She was not allowed to "grow up" at her own.She was forced at an early age to understand politics,and court life.She was always under the microscope of all those around her.
In short,you really feel sorry for Elisabeth.She didn't deserve the hand life dealt her,nor the death she suffered.I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.I think that you will really enjoy this book!

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Empress Elisabeth, or Sisi, is a potentially fascinating book character. This book did no justice to her. It was confusing, and followed no timeline or order. The author is blame for my rating, not the subject! This is the only book my library has on her, so I was hoping for so much more. I am dying to read a really good biography. I wish one of great goodreads authors would write a historical fiction based on her!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. The writing was boring and focused on boring details instead of her character which I am quite fascinated by. It skipped the exciting bits of her life and it left gaps in the chronology that really made it hard to follow.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the life of Elisabeth of Austria. I have read a lot of books on her, but I thought this one was very well-written and researched.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit superficial but informative. Interesting parallels between Sissi and Diana.

[Sanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read a bit more about Elisabeths hunting trips, but other than that this book wasn't as good as other I have read about her.