The Confessions of the Celebrated Countess of Lichtenau, Late Mrs. Rietz Now Confined in the Fortress of Gloglau as a State-prisoner

"The Confessions of the Celebrated Countess of Lichtenau, Late Mrs. Rietz" by Heinrich Husen is a captivating historical biography about a woman’s unlikely rise to power in the 18th century. The story traces Minna Encke's journey from being a simple trumpeter's daughter to becoming the Countess of Lichtenau and a king’s mistress, highlighting her strategic mind and complex relationships amidst the backdrop of European aristocracy. The narrative focuses on her cunning maneuvers, romantic affairs, and the ruthless decisions she made to protect her influential position. It also shows the expectations and limits placed on women during that time, eventually leading to her downfall and imprisonment, painting a picture of the fleeting nature of power and the price of ambition.