The Dream King : Ludwig II of Bavaria

Fascinating account of the life of Ludwig II, who built the famous, fairylandish castle of Neuschwanstein, the one all fairy princesses wish to live in! Ludwig's life was not hardly a fairy story, though. A fish out of water his whole life, it would be true to say he was a very misunderstood misfit. The biographical facts are very interesting, including the fact that his castles, for which he was vilified during his lifetime, are now the main draw for tourists to Bavaria and provide the major income for the region.The photos are lavish and wonderful. I only wish that the front cover was different. It somehow implies that the contents will be juvenile, which they are not. HIGHLY recommended.

An evocative picture of a character unique in history. One cannot help but wonder if Ludwig had had a different family, a different upbringing, how would the history of Germany, of Europe been different? I am using this along with other books on this fascinating character to write a paper on the madness of creativity as it shapes the lives of truly unique characters. If Ludwig had not supported Richard Wagner, would we have had The Ring Cycle? The question of how the Universe brings people and purpose together is always fascinating to me.

If you have any curiosity at all about the man who built those famous, fairytale castles in Germany, this is an excellent overview. It pairs a good, basic biography with loads of images and pulls the reader into Ludwig's world in a way a less well-illustrated biography might not. The images are, in fact, the strongest part of this book since the narrative, though good, isn't what you'd call a comprehensive study of Ludwig's life. If you want depth, you'll have to look elsewhere. But for a better understanding of the king and the time and place in which he lived, this is an excellent beginning.

Great book at a nice price. I have been trying to find a book that would give me the real history of Ludwig II. The photo's were nice. His story well written.

Interesting book full of illustrations. Recommend highly.

This is a beautiful book. Arrived quickly and was as described. Thank you

This book was a replacement copy of original lost in Super Storm Sandy.

out more about the Ludwig/Wagner relationship. Surely nobody in the history of European monarchies was less suited to being king. Ludwig wasn't insane--just bored by anything resembling affairs of state.

On the showing in Wilfrid Blunt’s excellent 1970 biography, Ludwig II of Bavaria had a life that might sometimes have looked humorous from the outside but clearly was more like hell to live through. And it’s all here: Ludwig’s castle-building, his nocturnal sleigh-rides with baroque out-riders, his generous (almost superhuman) support of Wagner, his popularity with his subjects and unpopularity with his ministers, his sad and unfulfilled romantic life and the bitterly almost-comic circumstances of his deposing. Illustrated throughout and boasting a useful essay appendix on ‘Ludwig and the Arts’ by Dr. Michael Petzet, this book takes a well-paced look at Ludwig’s life and times, with enough historical background to keep the reader up to speed.Ludwig is not always a sympathetic figure and not even Wilfrid Blunt’s advocacy managed to convince this reader that the popular title ‘Mad King Ludwig’ was completely unfair, but this is a model biography.

Great coffee table book, brilliant illustrations but not any depth, just a glossy overview but well worth having!

Arrived in decent condition - slight tears around edges of jacket. But otherwise OK.

Excellent history, well illustrated, and now available second hand at a very reasonable price. Essential to understand Ludwig's relationship with Wagner if that is your interest, and I learnt much from this bookk which I hadn't picked up by reading some of the more standard Wagner biographies.Also makes you think about the nature of some mental illness, the treatment/acceptance in different eras, and if eccentric behaviour is really mental illness at all.

Brilliant book , superb illustrations and engrossing text.