Prater Violet was one of the most nostalgic films of the Vienna of the Hapsburgs, with a flowergirl and a Crown Prince masquerading as a student. However, for Mr Isherwood, the author of this book, the more important were the people who made it. Throughout the book Isherwood goes into detail on the expert men and women lighting, directing and shooting such a film, with not only insight and charisma, but also a fair bit of humour as well.