Her Serene Highness: A Novel

"Her Serene Highness: A Novel" by David Graham Phillips is a story about art, love, and the clash between different social worlds, set in the time of European nobles. It tells the tale of Frederick Grafton, an American who loves art, and his unexpected involvement with a Duke and his interesting niece, Erica. The book starts with Grafton chasing after a painting he really wants, which brings him to Zweitenbourg, where he meets the Duke and Erica. As Grafton learns about the ways of the aristocracy, he meets Erica by chance, starting a connection that grows despite rules and responsibilities. This beginning suggests a developing love and the struggles that come with wanting something personal while dealing with tradition and duty in a royal family.