The Crown of Mexico: Maximilian and His Empress Carlota [Hardcover]

Joan Haslip (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 1971

Crown of Mexico, The: Maximilian and His Empress Carlota by Haslip, Joan

Product Details

• Hardcover: 531 pages
• Publisher: Holt, Rinehart and Winston; Unabridged, First Edition edition (June 17, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0030865727
• ISBN-13: 978-0030865725
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 2.1 x 5.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of history's great tragedies., October 12, 2001

By 

Jesse Monteagudo "book nook" (Plantation, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crown of Mexico: Maximilian and His Empress Carlota (Hardcover)

I am sorry that this book is out of print, because the story of Maximilian and Carlota is one of history's great tragedies. Haslip obviously sympathizes with the imperial couple, especially Maximilian, who was too idealistic to be a good ruler and too trustful for his own good. Anyone with any sense would have realized that Napoleon III was not to be trusted; that most Mexicans supported Juarez and those that didn't just wanted to get their lands back; and that the United States would not have allowed a monarchy in Mexico. Haslip also shows that Carlota's madness did not happen all of a sudden but it was the result of years of disappointment and Carlota's own suspicious nature. Haslip ends her narrative with Maximilian's funeral in 1867, thus leaving out almost six decades of Carlota's half-life in Belgium.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, informative and entertaining, September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crown of Mexico: Maximilian and His Empress Carlota (Hardcover)

When we think of the history Mexico, we generally think of the Aztec Empire and its demise and then we jump to the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Very few people know that Mexico was once a Monarchy. This book offers a detailed insight of Maximillian's and Charlotte's plight, and all the intrigues behind the Mexican Crown: the secret intentions of the Catholic Church; the political plans of the Mexican aristocracy; Napoleon III's greedy ambitions and many more. The unanimous support of the European Monarchs towards this staggering undertake, to make an European Monarchy out of Mexico and their sudden change of heart marks the beginning of a tragic conclusion. Written with exceptional detail and an engaging style, I think this book is an excellent account of the events that happened in Mexico during the 1860's. A must-read!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting, informative account of a failed empire, December 22, 2006

By 

Alberto Leon (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The crown of Mexico: Maximilian and his Empress Carlota (Paperback)

When we think of the history Mexico, we generally think of the Aztec Empire and its demise and then we jump to the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Very few people know that Mexico was twice a Monarchy.Frst under Agustin de Iturbide, Emperor of the Mexicans, (1822-23) and then under the rule of Maximillian and Charlotte (1864-67).

This book offers a detailed insight of Maximillian's and Charlotte's plight, and all the intrigues behind the Mexican Crown: the secret intentions of the Catholic Church; the political plans of the Mexican aristocracy; Napoleon III's greedy ambitions and many more, including the uncooperating Mexican military and Benito Juarez who dislikes the monarchy.

The unanimous support of the European Monarchs towards this staggering undertake,and their sudden change of heart marks the beginning of a arduous, short lived reign. Maximillian and Charlotte were doomed from the begining.

Franz Joseph, jealous of his brother magnetism, entices him to accept a crown at the other side of the world.
Napoleon III coveting the silver mines in Sonora, sponsors the Mexican monarchy.
Maximillian, a dreamer, wants to make an ideal empire and spread European culture throughout Mexico.
Charlotte firmly believes that they have been chosen by a divine mandate to rule a great empire.

Written with exceptional detail and an engaging style, this book is an excellent account of the events that happened in Mexico during the 1860's during the years of the unfortunate reign of Maximillian. A must-read!

P.S. As a boy, we visited the Palace of Chapultepec, the residence of the unfortunate monarchs. The gilded carriages are still there. Gowns worn by the empress are still in display, as well as many fantastic military uniforms worn by Maximillian and many of his officers. Crystal chandeliers hang from the center of every room and there are priceless portraits and tapestries hanging from almost every wall. I could only imagine the splendor when it was all new.

From the palace, built on a hill of the same name, the view of Mexico City is amazing. Below the hill, the gardens of Xochimilco are still blooming just as they were in the times of Maximillian.