Author: Barry Denenberg
Series: The Royal Diaries
Publication: New York: Scholastic
Publication Date: 2003
ISBN: 0-439-26644-0
Pages: 151
Summary: A diary-style story about Princess Elisabeth, set in the years 1853 and 1854. It describes her engagement and marriage to her cousin, Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria.
Major Characters: Elisabeth (future Empress of Austria-Hungary), Franz Joseph I (Emperor), Duchess Ludovica (Elisabeth's mother), Archduchess Sophie (Elisabeth's aunt and Franz Joseph's mother)
Comments: Half the book is a fictional account of a period in Elisabeth's life, while the other half is a biographical sketch of the Empress. This section includes a biography, illustrations, a family tree, and other interesting items. I liked this part of the book much more than the diary part. It is obvious that the author has taken time to make sure that the story is historically accurate, but the diary is written in modern language, so I feel like all of that effort has been wasted. The style of the writing just sounds like someone pretending to be from the 1800s. Elisabeth also never talks about her first kiss, which all girls write about in their diaries, so I never felt like I was reading an actual diary. The Dear Canada Series accomplishes this effect much better.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 10-15
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