Best Selling Books by Allison Pataki

The New York Times best-selling author of The Traitor''s Wife fictionalizes the little-known and tumultuous love story of "Sisi," the 19th-century Austro-Hungarian empress and captivating wife of Emperor Franz Joseph.

“An inspiring, intimate memoir about faith, resilience and the tenacity of love.”—People “In this emotional tale, a young couple see their lives changed in the blink of an eye—and learn to find love again.”—US Weekly Five months pregnant, on a flight to their “babymoon,” Allison Pataki turned to her husband when he asked if his eye looked strange and watched him suddenly lose consciousness. After an emergency landing, she discovered that Dave—a healthy thirty-year-old athlete and surgical resident—had suffered a rare and life-threatening stroke. Next thing Allison knew, she was sitting alone in the ER in Fargo, North Dakota, waiting to hear if her husband would survive the night. When Dave woke up, he could not carry memories from hour to hour, much less from one day to the next. Allison had lost the Dave she knew and loved when he lost consciousness on the plane. Within a few months, she found herself caring for both a newborn and a sick husband, struggling with the fear of what was to come. As a way to make sense of the pain and chaos of their new reality, Allison started to write daily letters to Dave. Not only would she work to make sense of the unfathomable experiences unfolding around her, but her letters would provide Dave with the memories he could not make on his own. She was writing to preserve their past, protect their present, and fight for their future. Those letters became the foundation of this beautiful, intimate memoir. And in the process, she fell in love with her husband all over again. This is a manifesto for living, an ultimately uplifting story about the transformative power of faith and resilience. It’s a tale of a man’s turbulent road to recovery, the shifting nature of marriage, and the struggle of loving through pain and finding joy in the broken places. Praise for Beauty in the Broken Places “Bold and commendable . . . A strength of this memoir is [Allison Pataki’s] scrupulous honesty.”—USA Today “A memoir about . . . determination and gratitude, and the value of putting one foot in front of another during a crisis.”—The Washington Post “Heart-wrenching.”—Women’s Health “Powerful and immersive . . . Pataki delivers an insightful look at how two people faced a life-altering test as a team ‘fighting to make the dreams of our future possible.’”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Marvelous . . . I just had to be there with the Post cereal heiress through every twist and turn.”—Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls “New-money heiress Marjorie Post isn’t content to remain a society bride as she remakes herself into a savvy entrepreneur, a visionary philanthropist, a presidential hostess, and much more.”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine. Marjorie’s journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father’s barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post’s Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy. And yet Marjorie’s story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love. Bestselling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process.

A riveting historical novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, the cunning wife of Benedict Arnold and mastermind behind America’s most infamous act of treason... Everyone knows Benedict Arnold—the Revolutionary War general who betrayed America and fled to the British—as history’s most notorious turncoat. Many know Arnold’s co-conspirator, Major John André, who was apprehended with Arnold’s documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. But few know of the integral third character in the plot: a charming young woman who not only contributed to the betrayal but orchestrated it. Socialite Peggy Shippen is half Benedict Arnold’s age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as military commander of Philadelphia. Blinded by his young bride’s beauty and wit, Arnold does not realize that she harbors a secret: loyalty to the British. Nor does he know that she hides a past romance with the handsome British spy John André. Peggy watches as her husband, crippled from battle wounds and in debt from years of service to the colonies, grows ever more disillusioned with his hero, Washington, and the American cause. Together with her former love and her disaffected husband, Peggy hatches the plot to deliver West Point to the British and, in exchange, win fame and fortune for herself and Arnold. Told from the perspective of Peggy’s maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistress’s affairs even when it could cost her everything, The Traitor’s Wife brings these infamous figures to life, illuminating the sordid details and the love triangle that nearly destroyed the American fight for freedom.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A sweeping historical novel that tells the dramatic story of Sisi, the empress of Austria-Hungary who fought for her family, her people, and her empire in a changing world “Irresistible—completely impossible to put down . . . Allison Pataki reimagines the reign of the nineteenth-century Princess Diana in this stunning book.”—Michelle Moran, bestselling author of Rebel Queen Married to Emperor Franz Joseph, Elisabeth—fondly known as Sisi—captures the hearts of her people as their “fairy queen,” but beneath that dazzling persona lives a far more complex figure. In mid-nineteenth-century Vienna, the halls of the Hofburg Palace buzz not only with imperial waltzes and champagne but with temptations, rivals, and cutthroat intrigue. Feeling stifled by strict protocols and a turbulent marriage, Sisi finds solace at her estate outside Budapest, where she rides her beloved horses and enjoys visits from a man with whom she’s unwittingly become enamored. But tragic news brings the empressout of her fragile seclusion, forcing her to return to her capital and a world of gossip, envy, and sorrow where a dangerous fate lurks in the shadows. Through love affairs and loss, dedication and defiance, Sisi struggles against conflicting desires: to keep her family together, or to flee amid the collapse of her suffocating marriage and the gathering tumult of the First World War. In an age of crumbling monarchies, the empress fights to assert her right to the throne beside her husband, to win the love of her people and the world, and to save an empire. But in the end, can she save herself? Featuring larger-than-life historic figures such as Bavaria’s “Mad King Ludwig” and the tragic Crown Prince Rudolf, and set against many of Europe’s grandest sites—from Germany’s storied Neuschwanstein Castle to England’s lush shires—Sisi brings to life an extraordinary woman and the romantic, volatile era over which she presided.

A rich and sweeping novel of courage, duty, sacrifice, and love set during the French Revolution from New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki and her brother Owen Pataki Three years after the storming of the Bastille, the streets of Paris are roiling with revolution. The citizens of France are enlivened by the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The monarchy of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette has been dismantled--with the help of the guillotine--and a new nation is rising in its place. Jean-Luc, an idealistic young lawyer, moves his wife and their infant son from a comfortable life in Marseille to Paris, in the hopes of joining the cause. Andr , the son of a denounced nobleman, has evaded execution by joining the new French army. Sophie, a young aristocratic widow, embarks on her own fight for independence against her powerful, vindictive uncle. As chaos threatens to undo the progress of the Revolution and the demand for justice breeds instability and paranoia, the lives of these compatriots become inextricably linked. Jean-Luc, Andr , and Sophie find themselves in a world where survival seems increasingly less likely--for themselves and, indeed, for the nation. Featuring cameos from legendary figures such as Robespierre, Louis XVI, and Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, Where the Light Falls is an epic and engrossing novel, moving from the streets and courtrooms of Paris to Napoleon''s epic march across the burning sands of Egypt. With vivid detail and imagery, the Patakis capture the hearts and minds of the citizens of France fighting for truth above all, and for their belief in a cause greater than themselves. Praise for Where the Light Falls "Compulsively readable . . . a compelling tale of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and bravery . . . a sweeping romantic novel that takes readers to the heart of Paris and to the center of all the action of the French Revolution."--Bustle "Succeeds in forcefully illustrating the lessons of the French Revolution for today''s democratic movements."--Kirkus Reviews "Devotees of Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo will devour this tale of heroism, treachery, and adventure."--Library Journal "This is a story of the French Revolution that begins with your head in the slot watching how fast the blade of the guillotine is heading for your neck--and that''s nothing compared to the pace and the drama of what follows."--Tom Wolfe

A “sweeping” (Entertainment Weekly) novel of America’s forgotten leading lady, the central figure of a movement that defined a nation—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post “Whether exploring Margaret’s remarkable friendships or delving into her crucial legacy as a journalist, writer, and feminist, Finding Margaret Fuller promises to transform every reader it touches.”—Marie Benedict, co-author of The Personal Librarian Young, brazen, beautiful, and unapologetically brilliant, Margaret Fuller accepts an invitation from Ralph Waldo Emerson, the celebrated Sage of Concord, to meet his coterie of enlightened friends. There she becomes “the radiant genius and fiery heart” of the Transcendentalists, a role model to a young Louisa May Alcott, an inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne and the scandalous Scarlet Letter, a friend to Henry David Thoreau as he ventures out to Walden Pond . . . and a muse to Emerson. But Margaret craves more than poetry and interpersonal drama, and her restless soul needs new challenges and adventures. And so she charts a singular course against a backdrop of dizzying historical drama: From Boston, where she hosts a salon for students like Elizabeth Cady Stanton; to the editorial meetings of The Dial magazine, where she hones her pen as its co-founder; to Harvard’s library, where she is the first woman permitted entry; to the gritty New York streets where she spars with Edgar Allan Poe and reports on Frederick Douglass. Margaret defies conventions time and again as an activist for women and an advocate for humanity, earning admirers and critics alike. When the legendary editor Horace Greeley offers her an assignment in Europe, Margaret again makes history as the first female foreign news correspondent, mingling with luminaries like Frédéric Chopin, William Wordsworth, George Sand and more. But it is in Rome that she finds a world of passion, romance, and revolution, taking a Roman count as a lover—and sparking an international scandal. Evolving yet again into the roles of mother and countess, Margaret enters the fight for Italy’s unification. With a star-studded cast and sweeping, epic historical events, this is a story of an inspiring trailblazer, a woman who loved big and lived even bigger—a fierce adventurer who transcended the rigid roles ascribed to women and changed history, all on her own terms.

A sweeping novel about the extraordinary woman who captured Napoleon’s heart, created a dynasty, and changed the course of history—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor''s Wife, The Accidental Empress, and Sisi “I absolutely loved The Queen’s Fortune, the fascinating, little-known story of Desiree Clary—the woman Napoleon left for Josephine—who ultimately triumphed and became queen of Sweden.”—Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls As the French revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the life-altering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone and it’s fallen on her to save her family from the guillotine. A chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ambitious and charismatic young military prodigy, provides her answer. When her beloved sister Julie marries his brother Joseph, Desiree and Napoleon’s futures become irrevocably linked. Quickly entering into their own passionate, dizzying courtship that leads to a secret engagement, they vow to meet in the capital once his career has been secured. But her newly laid plans with Napoleon turn to sudden heartbreak, thanks to the rising star of Parisian society, Josephine de Beauharnais. Once again, Desiree’s life is turned on its head. Swept to the glittering halls of the French capital, Desiree is plunged into the inner circle of the new ruling class, becoming further entangled with Napoleon, his family, and the new Empress. But her fortunes shift once again when she meets Napoleon''s confidant and star general, the indomitable Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. As the two men in Desiree’s life become political rivals and military foes, the question that arises is: must she choose between the love of her new husband and the love of her nation and its Emperor? From the lavish estates of the French Riviera to the raucous streets of Paris and Stockholm, Desiree finds herself at the epicenter of the rise and fall of an empire, navigating a constellation of political giants and dangerous, shifting alliances. Emerging from an impressionable girl into a fierce young woman, she discovers that to survive in this world she must learn to rely upon her instincts and her heart. Allison Pataki’s meticulously researched and brilliantly imagined novel sweeps readers into the unbelievable life of a woman almost lost to history—a woman who, despite the swells of a stunning life and a tumultuous time, not only adapts and survives but, ultimately, reigns at the helm of a dynasty that outlasts an empire.

In the City of Lights, where can you go to find the brightest light of them all? Find out in this spunky introduction to Paris shown through the eyes of a curious child. Paris is the City of Lights. Poppy should know—she lives there. Each morning, she wakes up to the sound of church bells ringing Ding! Dang! Dong! Each morning, she buys fresh flowers from Madame LesFleur, who has the most brilliant blooms in the city. Each morning, she eats delicious pastries from Monsier LePain’s bakery. But one morning, she wakes up with a burning question: what light shines the brightest in a city full of them? She and her dog Baguette are about to find out.

Complete with new beginnings and the promise of happy endings, the Howard Books Spring 2013 Fiction eSampler has an array of debut authors and perennial favorites for you to try out and enjoy. Step back in time with our historical fiction, fall in love with our inspirational romance, and enjoy our contemporary stories. If you would like to learn more about any of our authors or the titles featured, please visit us at HowardBooksOnline.com, follow @Howard_Books, or like us at Facebook.com/HowardBooks and sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter to stay informed of all of Howard’s fiction releases. With chapter excerpts from the following Spring 2014 new releases: Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner Friend Me by John Faubion The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki The Thief by Stephanie Landsem Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo The Shepherd’s Song by Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury Fearless Hope by Serena Miller Sing for Me by Karen Halvorsen Schreck Fair Play by Deaanne Gist Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt Visit HowardBooksOnline.com for more on these and other authors.

Complete with new beginnings and the promise of happy endings, the Howard Books Spring 2015 Fiction e-sampler has an array of debut authors and perennial favorites for you to try out and enjoy. Step back in time with our historical fiction, fall in love with our inspirational romance, and enjoy our contemporary stories. If you would like to learn more about any of our authors or the titles featured, please visit us at HowardBooksOnline.com, follow @Howard_Books, or like us at Facebook.com/HowardBooks and sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter to stay informed of all of Howard’s fiction releases. With chapter excerpts from the following Spring 2015 new releases: Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury The Tomb by Stephanie Landsem Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd A Kiss Is Worth a Thousand Words by Beth Vogt Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson Tiffany Girls by Deeanne Gist Snow Wolf by Glenn Meade Valley of Decision by Lynne Gentry

The Big Apple may be hiding in the place you least expect it in this spunky introduction to the best parts of New York. Nelly lives in New York, the greatest city in the world. Every morning, she wakes up to the rumble of the subways and the honking of cars. Every morning, she can smell the food cart downstairs and hear the rat-a-tat-tat of the street musicians outside. Every morning, she goes outside to be in the city she knows like the back of her hand—or does she? One morning, Nelly and her dog Bagel decide to find out what New York is really about—or more specifically, why a city that has nothing to do with apples is the Biggest Apple of them all. Could there really be a giant apple somewhere in New York? And where is it hiding?

Três anos após a queda da Bastilha, Paris fervilha com os ideais da Revolução Francesa iniciada em 1789. A Monarquia foi deposta, a aristocracia, desmantelada, e ergue-se uma nova nação do povo e para o povo. Inspirado pelo senso de dever patriótico, Jean-Luc, um advogado jovem e idealista, muda-se para a capital com o filho e a esposa, Marie. André, filho de um antigo nobre, foge de seu passado privilegiado para lutar no exército republicano francês junto do irmão. Sophie, uma bela e jovem viúva aristocrática, sobrinha de um poderoso e vingativo general, embarca em sua própria luta pela independência. Mas a promessa de esperança começa a ser ameaçada pelo medo quando a busca incessante por justiça se converte em fanatismo e gera instabilidade, transformando compatriotas em inimigos e alimentando a sede de sangue nas ruas. Na luta para impedir que o caos desfaça todo o progresso da Revolução, as vidas de Jean-Luc, André e Sophie se entrelaçam, e eles são forçados a questionar os sacrifícios feitos em nome da nova República. Com participação de figuras lendárias como Robespierre, Luís XVI e Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, 1789 – O romance da Revolução Francesa é um romance admirável, que se desenrola das ruas e salas de audiências de Paris até a épica marcha de Napoleão pelas areias do Egito. Com detalhes vívidos, os Pataki capturam corações e mentes dos cidadãos da França, lutando pela verdade acima de tudo e pela crença em uma causa maior.

Francia, 1794. La Revolución ha dejado estragos por todo el país y la vida de Désirée Clary, hija de un rico comerciante marsellés, ha dado un giro: el mundo que conoció y amó se ha ido. Sin embargo, un encuentro fortuito con el ambicioso y carismático Napoleón Bonaparte cambiará de nuevo su destino. Cuando su hermana Julia contrae matrimonio con el hermano de Napoleón, las vidas de Désirée y el joven militar se entrelazan irrevocablemente. Pronto sucumben en un tórrido romance que termina cuando aparece en escena la estrella emergente de la sociedad parisina: Josefina de Beauharnais. A pesar de ello, Désirée ahora es miembro de la familia Bonaparte, pero su vida da un nuevo vuelco cuando conoce a uno de los militares más destacados del imperio: el indomable general Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. Las diferencias entre él y Napoleón no tardan en emerger al punto de convertirlos en férreos rivales. ¿Podrá Désirée elegir entre el amor a su patria y a su emperador, y la fidelidad a su nuevo esposo y el reino que le ofrece? El destino de una reina rescata del olvido la increíble vida de una mujer que supo adaptarse a un presente incierto y turbulento confiando en sus instintos y en su corazón, convirtiéndose en la piedra angular de la dinastía que sobrevivió a uno de los imperios más poderosos de la historia.

A "Rainha Encantada", a mulher mais linda do mundo: a figura da Imperatriz Elisabeth da Áustria-Hungria, carinhosamente chamada de Sissi, sempre desperta fascínio e comoção por onde passa, mas sob tanto deslumbramento vive uma mulher muito mais complexa, que se sente sufocada pelo casamento turbulento e pelos rigorosos protocolos que ditam a vida na corte. Casada com o Imperador Franz Joseph, amada e odiada por seu povo, Elisabeth é uma das mulheres mais poderosas e influentes do mundo na Viena de meados do século XIX, onde os luxuosos salões do Palácio de Hofburg fervilham não só com valsas imperiais, champanhe e assuntos de Estado, mas também com tentações, rixas e desavenças acirradas. Espírito livre e sensível, Sissi só encontra paz quando vai para longe das intrigas palacianas e, assim, nasce uma chama que a consumirá por toda a vida: a paixão pelas viagens, que a leva para lugares remotos, onde pode cavalgar livremente e interagir com plebeus. Mas a vida de um monarca não pertence a ele mesmo, e sempre que o dever se impõe à liberdade de escolha, Sissi é obrigada a voltar à reclusão de seu círculo social, rodeada de fofocas, inveja e tristeza. Grande parte da excelente imagem mundial da Áustria-Hungria depende do carisma de Sissi, e ela precisa fazer a sua parte para salvar o Império. Mas, no final, ela poderá salvar-se?

Con cinco meses de embarazo y durante su último viaje antes de ser mamá, Allison Pataki volteó a ver a su esposo. «No veo nada con el ojo derecho», dijo él, un segundo antes de perder el conocimiento. Después de un aterrizaje de emergencia, descubrieron que Dave, un cirujano y atleta de treinta años, había sufrido un derrame cerebral potencialmente mortal. Acto siguiente: Allison está sentada a solas en la sala de emergencias de un hospital, sin saber si su pareja sobrevivirá esa noche. Dave perdió la memoria y Allison tuvo que hacerse cargo de él y de su recién nacido. Como una manera de enfrentar el dolor, hallar resiliencia y sanar, ella comenzó a escribirle cartas a su esposo. No solo trataba de encontrar algo de sentido dentro del caos que la rodeaba: le proporcionaría a Dave los recuerdos que él no podía tener por sí mismo. Aquellas cartas componen una historia real desde el lugar más oscuro de la vida: sufrir por la enfermedad y la posible pérdida de nuestros seres queridos. ¿Se puede amar a través del dolor y encontrar alegría en los lugares rotos?

Napoleon, das Kaiserreich und die Krönung einer Liebe. Marseille, 1794: Die Revolution hält ganz Frankreich in Atem. Désirée Clary trifft den charismatischen und ehrgeizigen Napoleon Bonaparte. Als ihre Schwester Julie seinen Bruder Joseph heiratet, wird auch Désirées eigene Zukunft unwiederbringlich mit der des jungen Generals verbunden. Napoleon macht Désirée heimlich den Hof, aber sein Versprechen, in Paris auf sie zu warten, hält er nicht ein – und nur wenige Jahre später ist er nicht nur einer der mächtigsten Männer Europas, sondern auch ihr politischer Feind ... Von der Bestsellerautorin von »Sisi – Kaiserin wider Willen«: der mitreißende Roman über die Frau, die Napoleons Herz eroberte – und zur Mutter einer Dynastie wurde.

Sisi už ví, že vládnout není jednoduché ani po boku mocného manžela Františka Josefa, který jí dává najevo, jak moc ji potřebuje. Milovanou „královnu víl“ dusí přísná pravidla na vídeňském dvoře, plném rivality a intrik. Touží po volnosti, po jízdě na koních a po milující náruči. Čím víc se cítí osamělá, tím častěji prchá z Vídně. Jenže kam utéct před osudem?

UN SUCCESSO DEL PASSAPAROLA PER MESI IN TESTA ALLE CLASSIFICHE AMERICANE ------------------- Succede come in una favola: l''imperatore d''Austria per la prima volta posa gli occhi sul suo bel viso e la vita di Sissi cambia in un istante. È il 1853 ed Elisabeth ha appena quindici anni quando lascia gli amati boschi della Baviera per accompagnare la madre e la sorella Helene alla corte degli Asburgo. È Helene, infatti, la prescelta, colei che, secondo il volere dell''Arciduchessa madre, sposerà il cugino Franz Joseph. Ma il destino ha altri programmi e presto Sissi si ritrova all''altare, sepolta sotto un vestito magnifico troppo imponente per la sua figura, la morsa impietosa del corsetto a toglierle il fiato. Al suo fianco c''è l''uomo dei sogni: giovane quasi quanto lei, ricco e potente oltre ogni immaginazione, irresistibile nell''alta uniforme. La piccola Sissi diventa imperatrice e milioni di sudditi impazziscono per lei. Per il suo vitino da vespa, per i suoi capelli lunghissimi, per la sua risata cristallina. Ma la Corte di Vienna non è il mondo delle fiabe, e il "vissero felici e contenti", forse, è un miraggio. Perché l''impero è in fermento e l''Arciduchessa non vuole rinunciare al predominio sul figlio. Perché essere imperatrice significa sacrificare ogni libertà, compresa quella di crescere i propri figli. Perché Franz è alle prese con doveri più grandi di lui. Perché la morte non guarda in faccia nessuno, neppure i principi di sangue blu. Perché non bastano le mille candele dei saloni dorati di Schönbrunn a far brillare un amore che si spegne un po'' ogni giorno. Il popolo la acclama: Lunga vita all''imperatrice! Lunga vita a Sissi! Lei alza la mano guantata nel saluto di protocollo. Se solo sapessero... Il mio nome è Sissi rivisita il mito dell''imperatrice più amata sulla scorta di un''approfondita ricerca storica, restituendoci - per la prima volta in forma di romanzo - tutto il fascino e la complessità di un personaggio indimenticabile. «Un romanzo irresistibile. Me ne sono innamorata all''istante.» - Mary Higgins Clark «Amori, intrighi e tradimenti: Sissi è tutto questo e molto di più.» - M.J. Rose, autrice de Il libro dei profumi perduti «Romantico, sensuale e appassionante.» - Juliet Grey, autrice di Maria Antonietta. I segreti di una

Der Roman über Sisi – Rebellin ihrer Zeit und große Liebende. Österreich, 1853: Ohne darauf vorbereitet zu sein, wird die junge bayerische Prinzessin Sisi Kaiserin am Hof der mächtigen Habsburger, dem Zentrum der politischen Intrige und feudalen Ränkespiele. Die Ehe mit Kaiser Franz Joseph wird aus Liebe geschlossen, und es gelingt der freien, naturverbundenen Frau, die Zuneigung ihres Volkes zu gewinnen. Doch schon bald muss Sisi sich fragen, wie sie die Rolle der Monarchin erfüllen kann, ohne sich selbst zu verlieren – und ohne die Liebe zu Franz Joseph aufs Spiel zu setzen ... Eine epische Geschichte über Macht, Liebe und eine der spannendsten Epochen der Geschichte Europas. »Ein wunderbarer Roman über eine missverstandene Herrscherin, der den rebellischen, glamourösen Geist Sisis heraufbeschwört.« C. W. Gortner.

La vie passionnée de l''impératrice d''Autriche Épouse de l''empereur François-Joseph Ier, Elisabeth – dite Sissi – a su gagner l''affection de son peuple. Mais, dans la Vienne du milieu du XIXe siècle, les couloirs du palais Hofburg ne résonnent pas seulement de la clameur des valses et du tintement des coupes de champagne : rivalités et intrigues de cour rythment la vie impériale. Jamais Sissi ne s''y est sentie à sa place. Étouffant entre un protocole strict et un mariage houleux, elle se ressource dans sa propriété près de Budapest, où elle monte à cheval et retrouve le comte Andrassy, dont elle est tombée éperdument amoureuse. Lorsque la tragédie frappe, Sissi est soudain confrontée à un dilemme. Doit-elle rentrer à Vienne et tout faire pour conserver une famille unie ? Ou, n''écoutant que son cœur, rester en Hongrie, pays qui l''a adoptée et l''adule ? Bientôt, Sissi n''aura d''autre choix que de sauver la couronne et son peuple. Au prix de sa liberté.

Marsiglia 1794, gli anni del Terrore in Francia. Anni in cui può accadere che un giovane della haute bourgeoisie, come Nicolas Clary, venga arrestato con l’unica colpa di essere l’erede di un ingente patrimonio. Commerciando in seta, sapone e caffè, i Clary sono tra i cittadini più ricchi del Sud della Francia, di gran lunga più ricchi di molti aristocratici condotti alla ghigliottina. Nicolas corre perciò un grave pericolo. La giovane Désirée Clary, sua sorella, non esita dunque a recarsi al municipio e a inoltrare una petizione in suo favore, sperando in un miracolo. Miracolo che non tarda a manifestarsi sotto le spoglie di un còrso dal volto scuro e dal sorriso gentile. Si chiama Giuseppe Buonaparte, e lui e suo fratello Napoleone godono dell’amicizia e dei favori di Robespierre. Per i Clary, l’alleanza con i fratelli Buonaparte rappresenta un’insperata via di fuga dal Terrore, soprattutto quando tra Désirée e il giovane Napoleone nasce un sentimento tanto intenso da portare l’ambizioso garçon prodige ad annunciare il loro fidanzamento nell’aprile del 1795. Gli impegni, tuttavia, conducono Napoleone lontano da Marsiglia, a Parigi, dove l’incontro con l’affascinante Giuseppina di Beauharnais e l’accresciuta ambizione politica lo convincono del fatto che il matrimonio con una provinciale non è di grande giovamento per la sua carriera. Désirée, però, non si perde affatto d’animo. Raggiunge a sua volta Parigi, dove conosce e sposa il confidente di Napoleone, l’affascinante e altrettanto ambizioso Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, destinato a una vertiginosa ascesa politica... Impeccabilmente documentato e con una prosa brillante, Il destino di una regina racconta la straordinaria vita di Désirée Clary, la donna che stregò Napoleone e divenne regina di Svezia e Norvegia.

Když kladli Sisi na hlavu první korunu, netušila, co to obnáší. Při druhé korunovaci chce být královnou hodnou obdivu lidu. Stane se sice milovanou vládkyní země, ale ne milovanou manželkou. Její život řídí tchyně – a manžel František Josef I. je pro ni zklamáním. Láska do jejího srdce vstoupí s hrabětem Andrássym. Jenže na císařském dvoře není pro city místo...

1853. Au Palais des Habsbourg, à Vienne, l''empereur François-Joseph Ier peut s''enorgueillir de la puissance de son empire, dont le pouvoir s''étend de l''Autriche à la Russie, en passant par l''Allemagne et la Hongrie. À la tête de la famille la plus puissante d''Europe, François-Joseph est riche, jeune, et prêt à se marier. Elisabeth, qu''on surnomme Sissi, duchesse de Bavière, n''a que quinze ans quand elle est introduite à la cour des Habsbourg en compagnie de sa soeur aînée, promise à l''empereur. Mais ce dernier, attiré par la beauté saisissante de Sissi, son charme rafraîchissant et son esprit vif, décide que c''est elle, en réalité, qu''il veut épouser... Sissi doit d''abord faire face à un dilemme avant d''être brusquement mise sur le devant de la scène royale. Mais la jeune fille n''a aucune idée des épreuves qui l''attendent... Le premier volet d''un dyptique retraçant le destin tragique de Sissi, impératrice à 16 ans, mère de quatre enfants, souveraine dépressive assassinée à 60 ans.

La tumultuosa, romántica y trágica historia de una mujer que luchó por liberarse de la jaula dorada en que la habían encerrado. Sissi, emperatriz rebelde es la segunda parte de Sissi, emperatriz accidental, las novelas sobre la emperatriz de Austria-Hungria quehan enamorado a las lectoras de Estados Unidos, de la autora best seller de The New York Times, Allison Pataki. Verano de 1868. Tras su apoyo a la causa húngara, que culminó con su coronación como reina de Hungría, la emperatriz Isabel de Austria -conocida por todos como Sissi- ha encontrado su propia voz, como mujer y como soberana del Imperio más antiguo y vasto de Europa. Instalada en el palacio de Gödöllo, a las afueras de Budapest, por primera vez puede disfrutar de uno de sus hijos, la pequeña Valeria, y recibir al conde Andrassy, el hombre del que está secretamente enamorada. Hasta que unas cartas que llegan de Viena la obligan a enfrentarse de nuevo a su eterno dilema: mantener a su familia unida y salvar el Imperio, o huir de un matrimonio y unas obligaciones sofocantes. Ignora que las sombras de un futuro turbulento la acechan. Un alma inquieta y viajera, que huía permanentemente de la rígida corte vienesa, donde acechaban los rumores, las envidias y las intrigas. Un espíritu libre, adelantado a su tiempo, que encontró su propia voz y defendió su derecho a vivir sin tener que ser un objeto decorativo. Una mujer a la que golpeó la tragedia mientras luchó sin descanso por salvar un Imperio. Una lectura maravillosa, que nos transporta a un mundo y una época deslumbrantes y ya desaparecidos. Reseña: «Una novela conmovedora sobre un gran personaje.» BookPage

Inocente, fascinante, hermosa, compleja... La novela sobre la emperatriz Isabel de Austria-Hungría que ha enamorado a las lectoras de Estados Unidos, de la autora best seller de The New York Times. Agosto de 1853. Tres mujeres descienden del carruaje que las ha traído desde su palacio a las orillas del lago Starnberg, en Baviera, hasta la Alta Austria. Elena, de dieciocho años, ha venido con su madre y su hermana menor, su principal apoyo. Todas ellas esperan que, en los próximos días, se formalice su compromiso con su primo, el emperador de Austria. Y sin embargo, no es la seria y formal Elena sino Isabel, Sissi como la llaman familiarmente, esa otra prima de quince años, bellísima, independiente, de espíritu libre y que ha sido educada en el ambiente liberal de la residencia de los duques de Baviera la que hechiza a Francisco José I. Nunca estuvo planeado que fuera emperatriz. Pero por una vez en la rígida y estricta corte austríaca el amor triunfó. « Sissi fue una mujer con una personalidad muy compleja que vivió en un período histórico fascinante. Esposa, madre, nuera. Activista por los derechos humanos, viajera incansable, entusiasta de Shakespeare, de la poesía, de la filosofía y de las lenguas extranjeras. Con una vida tumultuosa, teñida de momentos felices y otros trágicos y perturbadores. Su historia es tan buena e intrigante que posee todos los ingredientes necesarios para convertirla en una novela apasionante.» Allison Pataki Reseñas: «Una novela absolutamente cautivadora. Me encantó.» Mary Higgins Clark «Un matrimonio por amor que cambió el curso de la historia. [...] Pataki merece unaplauso por haber escogido tan bien a su protagonista, la vida de Sissi es la materia prima ideal para una novela.» Kirkus Reviews «Un retrato memorable de una de las figuras más complejas e incomprendidas entre los Habsburgo, y también de un matrimonio turbulento en una era convulsa.» Juliet Grey «Allison Pataki describe de modo tan vívido la corte de los Habsburgo, que casi sentirás el roce de la seda de los vestidos de Sissi en tus dedos cuando pases con avidez las páginas de esta novela. Una mujer adelantada a su tiempo e inmersa en él a la vez, Sissi resulta un personaje cautivador, y rara vez un escritor ha capturado con tanta sensibilidad la tragedia exquisita de conseguir aquello que pedías.» Greer MacAllister «Tenía la sensación de haber sido transportada a Austria. Una historia hermosa y desgarradora, con un gran cuidado por los detalles históricos y las intrigas políticas. Totalmente fascinante.» M.J. Rose

Tre anni dopo la caduta della Bastiglia, le strade di Parigi sono ancora in fermento per la Rivoluzione. I cittadini di Francia sono animati dagli ideali di libertà, uguaglianza e fraternità. La monarchia di Luigi XVI e Maria Antonietta è stata smantellata - con l’aiuto della ghigliottina - e al suo posto sta sorgendo una nuova nazione. Jean-Luc, un giovane avvocato idealista, si trasferisce con la moglie e il figlio da Marsiglia a Parigi, nella speranza di unirsi alla causa. André, figlio di un nobile denunciato, è sfuggito all’esecuzione unendosi al nuovo esercito francese. Sophie, una giovane vedova aristocratica, intraprende la sua lotta per l’indipendenza contro il suo potente e vendicativo zio. Mentre il caos minaccia di annullare i progressi della Rivoluzione e la richiesta di giustizia genera instabilità e paranoie, le vite di questi personaggi si incrociano. Jean-Luc, André e Sophie si troveranno a dover unire le forze in un mondo in cui la sopravvivenza sembra molto difficile, la loro e quella della Nazione stessa.

Ses début dans la vie 1853, Vienne. Au Palais des Habsbourg, l''empereur François-Joseph peut s''enorgueillir de la puissance de son empire, qui couvre une grande partie de l''Europe. Jeune, riche et séduisant, il est en âge de se marier. Elisabeth, que l''on surnomme Sissi, n''a que quinze ans lorsqu''elle rencontre pour la deuxième fois son cousin François-Joseph, à qui sa soeur aînée est promise. Mais l''empereur, aimanté par la beauté saisissante de Sissi, son charme et son esprit, décide de porter sur elle son dévolu. C''est elle et elle seule qu''il épousera ! La jeune femme n''a alors aucune idée des épreuves qui l''attendent à la cour... Avec ce roman, Allison Pataki fait découvrir sous un jour nouveau sa tumultueuse histoire d''amour. Première édition : l''Archipel, 2017