No, it is neither a Polish nor a Czech surname. It is a Hungarian last name. It means “from Patak” by adding the vowel “i” or a “y” ending. Patak is a village [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patak,_Hungary ] in Hungary in Nógrád county [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B3gr%C3%A1d_County ].

Pataki is a Hungarian name

Many countries are on course to repeat the sins of the past. Racism & bigotry is on the rise, and thus being used by those in power to their own ends.

Pataki is as far as I know it, a Hungarian name. It is derived from the word “patak’ and Pataki means of the brook. But the women who wrote it, also wears a secondary name, which was also a noble house in Europe, so I suppose she would know.
Re the times and blame. History always goes through various changes. In our time, we might not have aristocrats and kings in most places, but even in very rich countries there is a vast difference between the rich–the ‘aristocrats’ of our times, and the poor. The poor are numerous, and without opportunity. One must read history to realize that these differences existed, although in modern times they have not been as sever. Most of the world was in the pattern of monarchic power, and it was an annointed king usually who got the legitimacy for power, rather than a voting system.

Completely agree with you! Recently finished both in audiobook firm and they were amazing. Pataki thoroughly researched her books and made specific creative decisions about relationships, chronology and facts. It’s the author’s prerogative and I believe they were strong decisions.

I am also interested in these diaries. They are said to have been in the possession of a certain Mr. Kalogeropoulos, who lived on Corfu. Unfortunately, the National Archives in Corfu as well as the UK Archives could not help me with my query about Frederic Barker.

I once read that these diaries still do exist, however, they are still undisclosed.

Kind regards from Vienna
Stefan

It seems there is little known about him other than that he was a member of a well-known Anglo-Levantine family of Barkers (of which John Barker (1771-1849), British Consul General in Egypt was one) who may have been a great uncle or grandfather of Frederick.

My aim is to track down any information on Frederick either before, during or after his time with Elisabeth and to locate his “Unpublished Diaries – 1891-1898”.

The diaries were cited in the “newspaper sources” of “The Lonely Empress” a rather critical biography of Elisabeth of Austria by Joan Haslip published by Phoenix Press, an imprint of the Orion publishing group. However she doesn’t say where she found the diaries and although people on different forums seem to have read them I’ve been unable to locate them.

I know Frederick was a young man in 1891 but don’t have much information of him other than he lived in Alexandria before working for Sisi and referred to himself as “Anglo-Oriental” and his mother may have been Greek. Any information would be welcome. Thanks.