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Harding, Bertita : Phantom Crown: The Story of Maximilian and Carlota of Mexico

Ediciones Tolteca, Mexico, 1953

Original publisher's beige leather binding. A beautiful book with raised bands, gilt lettering, and gilt decorative lines on the spine and marble endpapers. 5 3/4" x 8." Printed and bound in Mexico. Pages and covers are very clean and intact. Binding is tight. An unworn copy but two corners are darkened. Minimal age wear and scratch marks on covers. Bertita Harding (1902-1971) was a royal German biographer. She was a popular author and known for her easy, sometimes humorous writing style. Phantom Crown was gained much acclaim and was later turned into a screenplay by John Huston for the film, Juarez (1939). Phantom Crown is a biography about Maximilian I (1832-1867) and Carlota (1840-1927). Maximilian began as Archduke of Austria; Carlota, the Princess of Belgium and Archduchess of Austria. During the French occupation of Mexico, Napoleon III offered Maximilian the Mexican crown. Maximilian accepted and he and his wife, Carlota, went to Mexico City to declare themselves Emperor and Empress of Mexico. President Benito Juarez refused to recognize their rule, and he and the Mexican Republicans fought against French military forces and Maximilian's imperial troops. The reign of Maximilian I and Carlota of Mexico came to an end after Napoleon III retreated and the United States provided military aid to Juarez and the Republicans. Maximilian was eventually captured and executed by Republicans, and Carlota returned to Belgium where some accounts say she fell into mental disrepair after the loss of her husband.. Book. Book Condition: Fine. Binding: Hardcover

1st Mexican Edition

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