The Cactus Throne: The Tragedy of Maximilian and Carlotta

The story of Maximillian and Carlotta of Austria and their adventure in Mexico which led to the former's death at the hands of a firing squad and the latter's descent into insanity is one of the strangest stories of modern history. One can only wonder at the folly of setting an Austrian Prince onto the throne of Mexico. Any reading of the ill fated endeavour, and many books have been written of this period, can only lead one with the impression that Maximillian was very foolish and, whilst not deserving of his tragic fate, it was almost inevitable. The 1939 Hollywood film about Maximillian and Carlotta, staring Bette Davis as Carlotta and a stone-faced Paul Muni as the Mexican leader Juarez, is a good introduction to the story. show more O'Connor's book is a pedestrian account and worthy as such. show less

This work relates the story of Maximilian and Carlotta in a sympathetic light. Readers interested in royalty or dynastic events will certainly find this book of interest. The work fails to present Maximilian and Carlotta as imperialist interlopers who, as the tools of Napoleon III, prolonged the supression of liberty among the Mexican people.