Joseph II. and His Court: An Historical Novel

Set against the glittering yet turbulent courts of mid‑eighteenth‑century Vienna, the novel opens with a young Archduke Joseph navigating the expectations of his mother, Empress Maria Theresa, and the ambitious statesman Prince Kaunitz. Amid lavish ceremonies, whispered conspiracies, and the everyday rituals of court— from the Empress’s toilette to a diplomatic conference—Joseph begins to sense the weight of the empire he will inherit.

In the first act, the narrative weaves together intimate moments and political manoeuvres: a charged letter that hints at reform, a marriage that balances personal desire with dynastic duty, and the rising tension between tradition and the Enlightenment ideas sweeping Europe. Through vivid dialogue and keen observation, the story brings to life the personalities that shaped the Habsburg realm, from the charismatic young soldier to the formidable mother who still commands the throne.

The novel promises a richly textured portrait of power, family, and the early stirrings of change, inviting listeners to step into a world where history and human drama unfold side by side.