A fundamental biography of Ludwig II, the most famous and popular king of Bavaria, patron of the arts, patron of the composer Richard Wagner, creator of such architectural masterpieces as Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee palaces. Ludwig II, as he wanted, remained for his contemporaries and future generations "an eternal mystery for himself and others." There are still many rumors and legends around the personality of the king. Some are born of folk fantasy. The book finally debunks the myths about madness, strange behavior, homosexuality, apoliticality, the mysterious death of the monarch. The pacifist Ludwig II was involved against his will in the wars for the unification of Germany, however, he contributed to the creation of the German Empire, which brought him great suffering, and why he increasingly moved away from the outside world and built his own dream world, becoming "a shadow king without power which he didn't want to be.
