Political intrigue or passions too violent to survive? Whatever led to the double suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his young mistress, Mary Vetsera, at Mayerling in January 1889 will never be fully known. Framed by the bleak and secret funeral of a court cover-up, Kenneth MacMillan’s penetrating interpretations of the events portrays a Prince trapped in an unwanted and loveless marriage, implicated in political intrigue and finally dependent on the solace of morphine.

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