Archduke Leopold Wilhelm was born on 5 January 1614. He was the brother of Emperor Ferdinand III and thus the paternal uncle of Emperor Leopold I. Throughout his life, Leopold Wilhelm’s professional engagements were shaped by family traditions and dynastic needs, as well as by his own personal inclinations. As a younger son, he was […]
Archduchess Marianne is, without doubt, an unusual investigator. She began her efforts with no belief whatsoever that any offence had been committed. Moreover, she was rather reluctant to cast suspicion on any of the people involved; indeed, she had every reason to interpret the evidence and circumstances in their favour. Then, just as she reaches […]
The reader’s patience will be rewarded in Chapter 22, which finally breaks the ice. In a half-dream, Archduchess Marianne stumbles upon an insight buried deep within her subconscious and allows herself to be carried away by its thrilling force. Already agitated, she then receives a letter from Mademoiselle Leontine. An unimaginable, breathtaking announcement suddenly lends […]
As the first half of the novel draws to a close, a responsible author – seeking their readers’ approval – should prepare them for an imminent, unexpected twist. However, before a fresh impulse re-ignites Archduchess Marianne’s full engagement, let us enjoy a moment of anticipation and join an after-supper entertainment in her salon. Beyond great […]
This chapter serves as a bridge between two psychologically distinct phases. Although Archduchess Marianne has declared the case closed, her mind has not entirely left the mystery behind. Moreover, new pieces of information continue to reach her. Princess Schwarzenberg signed her last will a week before her death. The only published citation reads as follows: […]
Throughout the narrative, I have been sketching Archduchess Marianne’s psychological portrait and her strenuous family relations. This chapter brings that subject fully into focus. In the presence of her confessor, she pours out all the anxiety that has gathered in her heart. At first glance, one might consider this a minor sideline with no direct […]
Poor Father Franz! He is on his way to visit Archduchess Marianne, full of enthusiasm about the latest scientific news he hopes to share with her. The concept of heliocentrism has been removed from the list of forbidden ideas! Now he may finally introduce the model of the universe to his curious pupil. The famous […]
As the perceptive reader may guess, the anticipated departure from the Hofburg is about to alter Archduchess Marianne’s daily routine. The change of residence in itself was nothing exceptional in noble circles — least of all at the Imperial court, which regularly alternated between the palaces of the Hofburg and Schönbrunn. The latter became comparable […]
Until now, as the narrative has unfolded, little has been said about Archduchess Marianne’s strained relationships with her mother, Empress Maria Theresa, and with some of her siblings — aside from the occasional hint here and there. In this chapter, the reader finally begins to glimpse these tensions more clearly. Before anything else, however, the […]
Unsurprisingly, the scholars of the Enlightenment era were keen to uncover the mechanisms by which folkloric superstition might exert a lethal impact on both the mind and the physical body. Far from being ignorant or dogmatically constrained, they approached the phenomenon with a progressive spirit and sought rational explanations. Michael Ranff, for example, in De […]
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