The Court in Vienna under Emperor Francis Joseph was not only Europe's most illustrious and refined, it was also a huge economic enterprise, serving as both home and workplace for just under 2,000 people. The author reveals multitudinous facets of Emperor Francis Joseph's court and displays them in highly entertaining fashion, the court truly comes alive again. She takes the reader through a typical day in the life of the emperor, from his early morning toilette to the evening ceremonies; she tells tales of glittering ceremonies, receptions and audiences; she provides insights into the private and the family life of the emperor.

An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple act of friendship can change the course of history. Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god. He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. He has never once touched his lord. He has never called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation. One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world. Lays of the Hearth-Fire #1.

Excerpt from Napoleon at Home: The Daily Life of the Emperor at the Tuileries Right arm, which he twists, while he twitches the cuff of his coat with his hand. He gives himself no trouble to ascertain if the secretary can follow with his pen. That is his affair. The secretary cannot be expected to grasp all that is dictated literally, but he notes the characteristic expressions and the salient points, so as to reproduce the leading idea, doubtless in a form less full of imagery, and losing much of the heat Of improvisation. Napoleon only looks to ideas, and the expres sions which render them most forcibly are for him the best. He does not hesitate, therefore, to go to extremes in this first sketch, to blurt out a word plain and blunt, to add force to the energy Of his ideas by an overstatement. In some of the rough drafts dictated by him one is sensible Of the scansion which his. Walking gives to the phrase, the sudden stops at the end Of the cabinet, and the jerking out Of the words in his going and coming. We hear him speak, and the written words. Have the sound of his voice. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

In this lively and concise biography Karl Galinsky examines Augustus' life from childhood to deification.