English

An interview with Barbara Káli-Rozmis about her work and her first book

Introduction: HERE * References: HERE *

My Book: HERE

Barbara Káli-Rozmis

Researcher of Empress Elisabeth of Austria

“The Book of the Year Award 2022” in the historical non-fiction category

Since childhood, Barbara Káli-Rozmis has been interested in the world of aristocracy, especially the life of Empress and Queen Elisabeth and her family, which she has been researching for more than one and a half decade. She has been publishing articles on the subject since spring 2015, and since 2018 she has been giving public and private lectures on the imperial-royal family both in Hungarian and English. Her first book, Queen Elisabeth and the Hungarians – Friendship or Love? was published in 2021 and won the „Book of the Year 2022” award in the historical non-fiction category, based on reader votes. The second volume was published on 9 October 2023 under the title (the following is the English translation of the original) Passion in the Captivity of Rank – Sisi in the Circle of Friends and Family. (The language of the books: Hungarian.) Read more about the new book HERE.

Photo right: „The Book of the Year 2022” Award. (Photo byMárk Széchenyi)

Both books were reviewed by historian Patricia Zita Pálinkás.

Art historian Dániel Borovi provided professional assistance in the illustrations of the second volume. The author’s conversations with Count János Seremetyeff-Papp, a relative of the Hungarian branch of the Habsburg family, contributed to the authentic revival of the period.

Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1854-1898) and Queen consort of Hungary (1867-1898) was surrounded by love and worship in Hungary during her lifetime, which increased after her tragic death. This interest and admiration towards her have not decreased over more than one hundred and twenty years.

The Empress might not have been aware of the fact that it was also her, although unintentionally, who created a mysterious atmosphere around herself. She did not allow any photos taken of her after she reached thirty years old (read about it more TEMPT), and soon she refused to have herself portrayed. How did she become a legend? Read about it: TEMPT Princess.

„Authentic paintings have never been made of Mama. (…) And it will happen to everything that is said or written about her,” wrote Marie Valerie, Elisabeth’s daughter in her diary on 31 December 1898. The aim of the TEMPT – The Empress Memory Team is to keep the memory of Elisabeth alive and make an attempt to present her as trustworthy as possible.

Thanks to one of my videos, the Hungarian branch of the Habsburg family got to know my work and contacted me. Through Count János Seremetyeff-Papp, who is close to the family, they received several of my articles and short films and decided to open their family archives, which had been closed to outsiders. In recognition of my work, Archduke Michael von Habsburg-Lothringen, great-great-grandson of Queen Elisabeth, wrote a recommendation for my book, emphasising that I present authentically the life of Queen Elisabeth and her role in the Hungarian history.

Barbara Káli-Rozmis

Researcher of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary

Archduchess Marie Valerie with her husband and family. Austrian National Library, No.: Pf 14519:D(14)

Anita Potvorszki, Melinda Vilman, Barbara Káli-Rozmis and Viktória Vas. Dresses: fashion designer Mónika Czédly

Table of Contents (click onto the titles)

TEMPT – The Empress Memory Team
Introduction – Barbara Káli-Rozmis
My books
References
Articles written by Barbara Káli-Rozmis
Videos by Barbara Káli-Rozmis
Programs
Imperial exhibitions relating to Empress Elisabeth
The Royal Palace of Gödöllő
Fashion designer Mónika Czédly – Authentic replicas of Empress and Queen Elisabeth’s dresses
Empress Elisabeth on Facebook
Contacts

Would you like to support my research?

You can support my work and read my exclusive posts on Patreon – EXCLUSIVE POSTS ABOUT EMPRESS ELISABETH OF AUSTRIA (SISI).

You can support my work via PayPal as well: azigazisisi@gmail.com (Please, do not write to this mailbox, it is used only for the PayPal.) If you want to contact me, write here:

Email – barbara.kali.rozmis@tumag.hu

Read my introduction HERE.