Ludwig II, Volume 2

Ludwig II - Bunkoban Edition #2

by You Higuri

バイエルン王国がドイツ帝国に併合された19世紀半ば。自分ひとりのためだけに歌劇や芝居を上演させ一生独身を通した、美貌のバイエルン王・ルートヴィヒII世は豪奢な夢の結晶・ノイシュバーンシュタイン城の中でひとり、夢と現のはざまを彷徨っていた。「私はすべてにおいて永遠の謎でありたい」そう遺したルートヴィヒII世の物語は、いま終演の時を迎える──。

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Historical Fiction, Yaoi, Historical, Romance

290 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2007

About the author

You Higuri (氷栗優) is a Japanese shōjo and yaoi manga artist. She is known especially for her drawings of beautiful fantasy men in romantic storylines set in historical Europe, such as Gorgeous Carat in early 20th-century France and Cantarella during the Italian Renaissance.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[S. Wigget · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's intrugueing to read different accounts/ versions/interpretations of Ludwig's life & death. This second volume includes his death but omits more recent info that has me convinced he was assassinated. But at least it doesn't stick with the suicide assumption. Also, while I thought the first volume might confuse people who have never read a biography (let alone many!) on Ludwig, this volume ties it up.

(FYI, I used to assume Ludwig committed suicide by drowning, but some years ago I read an article disclosing that the coat he was wearing when he died had bullet holes & was replaced with another coat. Now I believe he was assasinated.)
The art in this series is really good. It includes architectural drawings based on palaces and probably photos of palaces, & images of an ornate sleigh of Ludwig's.

Reading this series brings up so many memories of my visit to Bavaria (back in 1988, 102 years after Ludwig's death) and of what I've read about Ludwig. Plus a play I saw in San Francisco that was partially about Ludwig--I forget the title.

Biographies on Ludwig I recommend:
The Mad King: The Life and Times of Ludwig II of Bavaria by Greg King
Ludwig II of Bavaria: The Man and the Mystery Katerina Von Burg
The Dream King: Ludwig II of Bavaria by Wilfrid Blunt (lots of full color photos of castles)

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ludwig II, the Manga, Vol. 1 & 2
These were historical fiction, focusing mostly on King Ludwig's relationship with his main stable boy, Horing, but also seemed quite informed on political happenings and facts of his life-at least, it fit almost exactly with all the details in the Italian movie we watched on Ludwig. :p Many, many similarities. The author does make excuses for Ludwig in every instance though-that is, making him out to be as good, smart, etc. as possible while still not going against facts. (Except he stayed attractive throughout his whole life, which apparently, was not the case at all).
I did enjoy these two books quite a bit. An interesting take on the person Ludwig was.