"Die häßliche Herzogin: Roman" by Lion Feuchtwanger is a historical novel published in 1923. Margarete, daughter of the Duke of Tyrol, is destined to rule but struggles with her appearance in a world that prizes beauty. Locked in rivalry with the admired Agnes von Flavon, Margarete navigates political betrayals, failed marriages, and the brutal costs of power. As conspiracies unfold and those closest to her meet dark fates, she must decide how far she'll go to maintain control of her inheritance.