Archduchess Marianne’s visit to one of the potential ‘crime scenes’ in the Augustinian Church required a considerable amount of preliminary research on my part. Curiously enough, even guiding her through her own home proved quite a challenge. Hofburg Palace served as the residence of the Habsburgs for centuries, and every era left its mark on […]
Ernestine Countess Strassoldo (1695–1766) was the longest-serving matron in Marianne’s circle, holding the post of Fräuleinhoffmeisterin — the supervisor of the young unmarried maids of honour (namely Juliana and Leontine), responsible in particular for their conduct, duties, and — last but not least — their potential marriage prospects. In her recent past, the year 1746 […]
Drumroll, please! After several chapters with little overt action, we have reached the very heart of the intrigue — a great tangle of raw material that Marianne must patiently unravel and analyse.All the rumours, hints, and facts presented in this chapter have been drawn from a variety of sources, differing widely in type and historical […]
So, another seemingly cosy day at Marianne’s court, sipping tea? Far from it. By now, I believe the reader is well immersed in the spirit and routines of courtly life, and it is time to introduce the young ladies belonging to Marianne’s entourage in the spring of 1757. Their names — only occasionally appearing in […]
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 […]
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