From the New York Herald, October 20th, 1898
SEQUEL TO A ROYAL ROMANCE.
A Novel Shortly to Be Published by Frau Otto Brucks, of Munich.
AUSTRIAN IMPRESS' NIECE.
At Her House, When Countess Larisch, Prince Rudolf First Met the Baronesse Vetsera.
[From the "Berliner Tageblatt."]
Despatches from Munich announce that the wife of Herr Otto Brucks, the Court Opera singer, will shortly publish a novel under the title of "Ein Konigsmärchen" ("A Royal Romance"), the scene of which will be laid in the highest circles of society. This literary announcement opens up a prospect of a sensational publication, when one remembers who the authoress is and what the subject of the book—to judge from the title—will be.
For Frau Brucks is herself the heroine of a romance. Last year an immense sensation was caused in Vienna when it was known that the Countess Marie Larisch, the wife of the wealthy Silesian landowner Count Larisch, had been divorced after twenty years of married life, and had married the Court Opera singer Herr Otto Brucks, leaving behind her, in the house of the count, her five children, of whom the youngest was only three years old.
A ROYAL AUTHORESS.
This would, of course, only be a private family affairs, were there not other circumstances in the case which cause the greatest interest to be taken in the forthcoming book. The former Countess Larisch and present Frau Brucks was niece of the late Empress Elizabeth of Austria, assassinated a few weeks ago in Geneva. She was the Empress's favorite, and it was due to Her Majesty's influence that she married Count Larisch at Gödöllö on October 20, 1877.
But after the death of the Crown Prince Rudolf, the Empress' interest in her waned, in fact, she was even obliged to leave Vienna and pass the next few years with her husband at Schönstein Castle. It was an open secret why Countess Larisch had lost her Royal aunt's favor. She was said to have had a hand in the intrigues which ended with the death of Prince Rudolf. It is now supposed there are good grounds for believing that Frau Brucks, in her novel, "A Royal Romance," will give all the details of that catastrophe.
The life of the authoress, as we have said, has been itself a romance. She was, as stated, a niece of the Empress Elizabeth, but not of equal rank, not a princess of the blood. The eldest brother of the Empress. Duke Ludwig in Bavaria, was twice married, each time with actresses. His first wife was Fraulein Henriette Mandel, who received the title of Countess of Wallersee. A year after her death, when he was sixty-one years old, he married Fräulein Antonie Barth, now Frau von Bartolf. This is why Duke Ludwig had to transfer his rights as eldest son to his younger brother, Duke Karl Theodor, the well known oculist. At the funeral of the Empress Elizabeth, Duke Ludwig came incognito to Vienna, and, though present at a funeral ceremony in the Capuchins' Church, did not take part as a chief mourner.
DAUGHTER OF DUKE LUDWIG.
Frau Brucks is a daughter of Duke Ludwig by his first marriage with Henriette Mandel, and until her marriage was known as Baronesse Marie Wallersee. In her youth she was celebrated for her beauty and charming character. One of her chief characteristics was a wonderful head of golden hair. When she was about sixteen years old her father presented her to his sister, the Empress Elizabeth, who formed a great affection for her. She accompanied the Empress to Vienna, where she soon became one of the beauties of the Imperial Court.
This was in the seventies, when Her Majesty was in the best of health, and one of the most enthusiastic followers of the Imperial staghounds at Gödöllö. One of the most daring riders in the Imperial hunt was the Baronesse Wallersee. Thanks to her beauty and the favor of the Empress she soon found numerous suitors, and eventually married Count Georg Larisch, of the Austrian line of Larisch-Mönnich.
She remained, however, Maid of Honor, of the Empress, and was decorated with the Wanderungs Order and the Bavarian Order of Theresia. She played an important role in aristocratic society, and her house was the rendezvous of the pleasure-loving members of the Viennese Court. The Crown Prince Rudolf was a frequent guest, even after his marriage with the Princess Stephanie, who, however, was never on intimate terms with the young countess. It was at the house of Countess Larisch in Vienna that the Crown Prince first met the Baronesse Vetsera, and she is supposed to have been in the secret of their "liaison" from the first.
When the catastrophe of Meyerling took place, it was on Countess Larisch that the greatest part of the responsibility fell. When she saw the opinion that was held regarding her share in the misfortune she desired to defend herself, and wanted to make certain revelations regarding the affair. She is said to have written a book on the subject and the manuscript was actually put in the hands of a publisher. This was, however, bought back, and the authoress received compensation for its non-publication. In addition a yearly allowance was made to her after the Empress had broken off all relations with her.
IN EXILE.
For some years afterwards she lived in retirement in her castle in Silesia, and it is rumored that she was forbidden ever to return to Vienna.
Her divorce and marriage with Herr Brucks again brought her before the public a year ago. She was now no longer a countess and was domiciled beyond the dominions of the Emperor. It was even said that she had the intention of going to America. with her husband. It is not known whether she still draws the allowance she received as Countess Larisch.
And now comes the news from Munich, that she has again the intention of publishing a book, a novel, A Royal Romance, the scene of which is to be laid in "the highest circles of society." Is it perhaps only a new version of the former manuscript ? Such questions suggest themselves and in Vienna the publication of the book is awaited with the greatest interest— if it is not again suppressed at the last moment.
Invitation à la lecture
J'invite les lectrices et lecteurs que l'histoire des Habsbourg et des Wittelsbach passionne à découvrir les textes peu connus consacrés à mon ami le prince héritier Rodolphe réunis dans Rodolphe. Les textes de Mayerling (BoD, 2020).
Voici le texte de présentation du recueil (quatrième de couverture): Suicide, meurtre ou complot ? Depuis plus de 130 années, le drame de Mayerling fascine et enflamme les imaginations, et a fait couler beaucoup d'encre. C'est un peu de cette encre que nous avons orpaillée ici dans les fleuves de la mémoire : des textes pour la plupart oubliés qui présentent différentes interprétations d'une tragédie sur laquelle, malgré les annonces répétées d'une vérité historique définitive, continue de planer le doute.
Comment s'est constituée la légende de Mayerling? Les points de vue et les arguments s'affrontent dans ces récits qui relèvent de différents genres littéraires : souvenirs de princesses appartenant au premier cercle impérial, dialogue politique, roman historique, roman d'espionnage, articles de presse, tous ces textes ont contribué à la constitution d'une des grandes énigmes de l'histoire.
Le recueil réunit des récits publiés entre 1889 et 1932 sur le drame de Mayerling, dont voici les dates et les auteurs :
1889 Les articles du Figaro
1899 Princesse Odescalchi
1900 Arthur Savaète
1902 Adolphe Aderer
1905 Henri de Weindel
1910 Jean de Bonnefon
1916 Augustin Marguillier
1917 Henry Ferrare
1921 Princesse Louise de Belgique
1922 Dr Augustin Cabanès
1930 Gabriel Bernard
1932 Princesse Nora Fugger
Le dernier récit, celui de la princesse Fugger, amie de la soeur de Mary Vetsera, est pour la première fois publié en traduction française. Il n'était jusqu'ici accessible qu'en allemand et en traduction anglaise.
Luc-Henri Roger, Rodolphe. Les textes de Mayerling, BoD, 2020. En version papier ou ebook (ebook en promotion de lancement).
Commande en ligne chez l'éditeur, sur des sites comme la Fnac, le Furet du nord, Decitre, Amazon, etc. ou via votre libraire (ISBN 978-2-322-24137-8)
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