Publisher's Synopsis
In 1892 a young Englishwoman was appointed as governess to Wanda Badeni, daughter of the governor of Austrian Poland. Three years later she accepted a similar post and for the same length of time in charge of Archduchess Elizabeth of Austria, daughter of Crown Princess Stephanie, whose husband Crown Prince Rudolf had died by his own hand at Mayerling. She published her memoirs in 1916, during the First World War. Though they appeared anonymously, her name has been partly identified from two facsimile letters reproduced in the book as Miss May T, or possibly May F.These recollections tell of the time she spent in Poland, Austria, Italy and Hungary. There are several glimpses of the imperial family, some amusing, some poignant, including not only the little Archduchess but also her grandparents, Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth. She also writes of her audience with Pope Leo XIII, a memory she always treasured, being a fervent Roman Catholic. These are supplemented by letters to her family at home in England.Although England and Austria were on opposite sides of the war when she came to tell her story, she remains unfailingly generous about those whom she met during this interesting part of her life.
