The short reign of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico (1864-67), is one of those beguiling historical asterisks that are completely improbable but true. Mexico, like the US, faced a civil war in the mid-19th century between the Liberals (headed by Benito Juarez and inspired by the US and its republican ideals) and the Conservatives (heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic Church). The Conservatives hatched a plan to enhance their legitimacy by inviting a bona fide European prince to serve as Emperor of Mexico, and managed not only to persuade Napoleon III of France (who looked to expand French influence, and curb US influence, in the Americas) to back the scheme with money, arms, and troops, but to enlist one of Europe's most prominent princes, Maximilian von Habsburg (younger brother of the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef) to accept the ersatz crown. The scheme was probably doomed from the start, since it's unlikely that the US would have tolerated a European backed monarchy on its border for very long, but was obviously distracted by the Civil War. In addition, the book makes a convincing case that Napoleon III imposed such crushing financial conditions on the new empire that it was doomed to failure from the start. But Maximilian himself undoubtedly deserves his share of the blame for his own downfall, as he immediately turned on his Conservative sponsors by adopting liberal positions--never a good idea to cross your base--and paying more attention to frivolous matters like court etiquette than getting his precarious fiscal house in order.
This book does a good job of telling this interesting story, primarily for a generalist audience. I didn't think there was anything particularly novel or noteworthy about the scholarship, and it's definitely got much more of a European than a Mexican focus, which probably reflects a presumed market in Europe and the USA, as opposed to Mexico. I think it would have been interesting to provide a little more context on the Mexican Civil War, but I suppose many readers would have found that boring and unnecessary. This is a quick read and a great introduction to a seeming mashup of world history, where a French emperor and an Austrian prince were improbably lured into a Mexican political struggle. A solid four stars.

<I>This book has been provided by the editor via NetGalley for the purpose of a review.</I>

As an Austrian and more importantly an Austrian who has worked as a guide in the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna during my university years, I already knew my share about the Habsburgs, including Emperor Francis Joseph I (1830-1916) and his brother, archduke Maximilian. Yet I had never looked closely at the latter’s life and luckless career as short-lived Emperor of Mexico. I just remember thinking “Who in their right minds would want to leave this heavenly place?” the last time I visited the cosy coastal Miramare Castle he had himself built near Trieste, Italy (for those who love travelling: both Trieste and the Castle are truly worth a visit).

That’s why I requested this book, and I can say it turned out the interesting and satisfying read I was hoping for. I learned a whole lot more about Maximilian’s ambitions, the boredom that had seeped into his and his wife Charlotte of Belgium’s up-to-then eventless lives, their genuine political naiveté—and dare I say ineptitude?—, their hapless dreams and aspirations, their later illusions and delusions. I also got all the confirmation I needed concerning the upstart French Emperor Napoleon III’s reckless scheming, his cunning manipulations, and his subsequent betrayal (I admit, I’ve never been a huge fan of the whole Bonaparte clan, historically speaking).

This book tells the story of this unique path that led a second son of an illustrious lineage from the golden-spoon-in-mouth youth as an Austrian archduke living in the splendid palaces of his family to the subservient role as rather powerless Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia (of his brother’s grace) to Emperor of Mexico who only ever ruled over and controlled bits and patches of that huge country. It inevitably (or so it seems) leads to this man’s tragic and gory death in Querétaro, Mexico, in 1867, where he was executed by a Republican firing squad at the age of only 34.

All is told in detail, yet not overwhelmingly so. For example, I find the description of battles, even though they’re often very important, a rather dull reading experience; yet here, I didn’t get bored one second. I also always say that good history-telling demands the same talent as good story-telling, and the author has that talent. He spins his (historical) yarn skilfully and entertainingly. What I could see perfectly well was the ludicrous character the whole Mexico-enterprise had from the start, the wobbly base upon which the empire was built, the unsavoury helpers and builders of that scheme, and the helpless credulity of both Maximilian and his wife, who (and that can maybe only be understood after the facts, of course) were doomed from the start.

A very good book anyone interested in that period should read.

I've read quite a few books about this period in Mexican history. This was one of the most comprehensive, well written, and highly readable. I felt as though I was reading a novel, with all the historical facts presented in a well researched, accurate manner.