On 10th September 1898, Europe was shocked by the news: Empress Elisabeth of Austria assassinated! Elisabeth's tragic death was the end of an emotional, troubled and often misunderstood life of a remarkable person. It was a contributing factor in the creation of a myth which Elisabeth had cultivated during her lifetime by her unconventional lifestyle. Bearing little resemblance to the historical Elisabeth, just how did this "Sisi myth" arise?

The book sets out in search of the true historical persona aloof of legend and clich�. From the assassination, which plays a crucial role in the creation of the Elisabeth icon, Elisabeth's life is examined in detail: Her supposed love marriage to emperor Franz Joseph, her role as empress of Austria, her revolt against court life, running away from herself manifesting itself in a beauty cult, slimming fanaticism, high-performance sports and lyrical poetry. For the first time, results of latest research and previously unknown resources on Elisabeth are introduced which reveal a picture of the egocentric empress of which little was previously known.