Veronica Buckley is the author of two previous historical biographies, Christina, Queen of Sweden and The Secret Wife of Louis XIV. She has also written on art, theater and travel, and has adapted children's stories for performance with orchestra. With her husband Philipp Blom, she has published books on imperial Russian history and Viennese museum collections. Her books are published in many languages, and she has translated work for stage, radio, TV, and print media. She was born in New Zealand, has lived in many cities around the world, and now makes her home in Vienna. She is herself one of seven sisters.