At a certain point in my research, I realised that the logic of the narrative required a minor sideline about herbal remedies. Tea as a medicine offered the perfect opportunity for Archduchess Marianne to encounter Doctor von Störck, the renowned chemist. Her conversation with him becomes part of her investigation and, moreover, will also support […]
Although war looms in the background, the Emperor and Archduchess Marianne turn to more pleasant subjects. For many centuries, hunting had been the principal leisure activity of the Viennese aristocracy, as the city was surrounded by vast, game-rich forests. Most of the Emperors, including Karl VI and Franz Stephan, were passionate hunters. The ladies of […]
To highlight Archduchess Marianne’s family connections and help the reader understand her background and motives, it is time to introduce her father, the Emperor. Marianne was very much her father’s daughter, bearing a strong resemblance to him in both appearance and personality, and sharing his scientific and intellectual interests. On the foundation of these shared […]
The logic of the narrative requires Archduchess Marianne to come slowly to an understanding of how receptive people could be to superstition. Without this, the nature of the gossip surrounding Princess Schwarzenberg — and the broader reactions to her behaviour — would remain incomprehensible. Once again, the educated and trusted Father Franz is the best […]
When trying to enter the spirit of a historical period or to grasp what sort of ideas were in the air, an author or historian should begin by understanding what people commonly read. Religious instruction, moral guidance, intellectual nourishment and popular novels — all kinds of books that shaped people’s mental world. So, about a […]
So — with Amalia’s message to Marianne, the strange matter concerning Princess Schwarzenberg seems settled, does it not? And yet, for an attentive mind, subtle anomalies begin to surface, allowing the intrigue to take its first, tentative step forward. However, in the spring of 1757 there were two Princesses of Schwarzenberg (both deceased) to whom […]
As the reader will notice, I am not an author who rushes to advance the plot. Since I intend to stay with my protagonist for more than one case, I have time. Aside, this chapter also reflects my own aversion to horror stories. Vampires? Dark forces? Please! Based on everything I have come to understand […]
Now that the name of Princess Schwarzenberg has been spoken, can we expect the intrigue to ignite? Hardly. What would your reaction have been to such a silly, childish tale? Would you have taken it seriously? I suspect not — and neither does Marianne. Instead, the two sisters settle themselves comfortably to read some fairy […]
Archduchess Marianne, still confined to bed, receives her next amiable visitor. Half-secretly, her younger sister Amalia — affectionately nicknamed Mali — slips away from her lessons to see her admired elder sister. Of all the siblings, these two share the closest bond. Eleven-year-old Amalia bore a strong resemblance to Marianne in her lively, curious and […]
The aspiration to depict a historical personality in all their ambiguity and ambivalence is unquestionably a challenge for an author. Fortunately, Archduchess Marianne receives a visitor — her confessor, Father Franz — who, in addition to gently acquainting her with recent political developments, brings comfort and reassurance to his ward. Having endured a serious crisis, […]
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