Author Description

This biography follows the life of the Empress Zita, one of the most remarkable royal women of recent times. After the assassinations at Sarajevo in 1914, Zita's husband became heir to the Habsburg monarchy. By 1916 the 24-year-old Zita was Empress of Austria-Hungary. Only two years later she witnessed the crumbling of the 650-year-old monarchy. The couple were exiled and Zita's husband died in 1922. Although two unsuccessful attempts to wrest back the crown were made, Zita did not return until she was 90 years old when, after over 60 years of exile, she was allowed to return to Austria.