简介：AtthebattleofSolferinoJosephvonTrotta,alieutenantintheSlovenianinfantry,iswoundedwhilesavingthelifeoftheyoungAustrianEmperorFranz-JosephI.TheEmperorrewardshimbyelevatinghiminsocietytoapositionquiteoutofkeepingwithhissocialrank,andwhichentirelyalienateshimfromhisfarmingbackground:Josephgetspromotedtotherankofcaptain,andismadeamemberofthenobility.YearslaterJosephvonTrottaaccidentallyfindsadescriptionofthebattlethatchangedhislifeinatext-bookbelongingtohissonFranz.Enragedattheover-emotional,patrioticandsentimentalwayinwhichtheEmperor'srescueatthehandsof"theHeroofSolferino"isdepicted,helodgesacomplaintattheImperialCourt.Duringanaudience,theEmperor,displayingacertaindegreeofresignation,attemptstoconvincehimthatmythsarebothjustifiableandnecessary.Joseph,however,discovers"thatitwasnothingelsebutcraftinessthatassuredtheexistenceof...…