An utterly riveting and intensely moving book by one of our finest biographers. This volume moves quickly, but not without the most interesting of historical detail, through the courts of austria and france. Furthermore, her writing style is unclear and she often mentions the numerous family and. Elena maria vidal em vidal is the author of trianon. Sena jeter naslund is the author of the novels four spirits and abundance, a novel of marie antoinette and a short story collection, the disobedience of water. Public perception was also aided in the twentieth century with the advent of movies based upon biographies of the queen, the most famous of them including the oscarnominated 1938 norma shearer feature marie antoinette based upon the 1932 book marie antoinette. Lauren willig, bestselling author of the pink carnation series. She has extensively researched european royalty and is a particular devotee of marie antoinette, as well as a classically trained professional actress with numerous portrayals of virgins, vixens.
Antonia fraser picked quite an interesting subject, when she wrote the historical biography, marie antoinette. Frances beleaguered queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused. Featuring personal correspondence, lavish illustrations, and a wealth of unpublished material, this handsome slipcased volume reveals an intimate portrait of marie antoinette, her personal. She has extensively researched european royalty and is a particular devotee of marie antoinette, as well as a classically trained professional actress with numerous portrayals of virgins, vixens, and villainesses to her credit.
The latest book prada plan 4 of the series is sold on stores since june 24, 2014. Catherine delors website of author catherline delors, author of mistress of the revolution. The first book, there were three of us in the relationship the secret letters of marie antoinette see marie antoinette s wikipedia page, in the further reading section at the bottom of the page was a translation of the secret letters of marie antoinette, her mother, empress maria theresa of. Some other novels about marie antoinette are versailles by kathryn davis and farewell, my queen by chantal thomas. Perhaps this passage in the epilogue best sums up the book. Ever wondered what marie antoinette ate for breakfast. Marieantoinette 17551793 continues to fascinate historians, writers, and filmmakers more than two centuries after her death. Update this biography complete biography of marie antoinette. Versailles presents marie as a woman with a sense of humor, while farewell is a more sober story narrated one of marie s serving. In may 1770, she set out for france to be married, escorted by 57 carriages, 117. Apr 15, 2016 rather it is a lovingly designed book full of rare illustrations, interesting facts and photographs from versailles and marie antoinettes life. She is to marry dauphin louis auguste, eldest grandson of king louis xv.
Marie antonia of vienna has her whole life mapped out ahead of her. She was born an archduchess of austria and was the penultimate child and youngest daughter of empress maria theresa and francis i, holy roman emperor. Beautifully written, with attention paid to even the smallest detail, becoming marie antoinette will leave readers wanting more. And in his account of the revolution, he describes her resolve during the failed escape to varennes, her imprisonment in the conciergerie and her final tragic destiny under the guillotine.
It is the basis for the 2006 sofia coppola film marie antoinette. Abundance, a novel of marie antoinette sena jeter naslund. By the way, the books by antonia fraser and stefan zweig are both nonfiction biographies rather than novels. Marie antoinette is a stage musical with music by sylvester levay and book and lyrics by michael kunze, the authors of elisabeth, mozart. Marie antoinette is her first book to be published in the united states. A 2000 book in the young adult the royal diaries series is about marie antoinette s journey to france as a teenager, marie antoinette. Although almost four hundred pages in length, this reader completed the book in three days, unable to leave the story until the very end. I havent read either, but both are supposed to be quite wellwritten, according to various critics. Marieantoinette helene delalex, alexandre maral, nicolas. The journey by antonia fraser is probably the most engaging biography in english, however i personally think that the author puts too much of her own opinions and 21st century interpretations on marie antoinette in the book. Marieantoinettes 30year romance with a swedish count. Amy young sebastien relates the life of marie antoinette as she goes from being a teenager devoted to him, her pug dog, to becoming the queen of france and mother to two children. Marie antoinette, queen consort of king louis xvi of france.
The best fiction featuring the illfated french queen, marieantoinette. She became a symbol of the excesses of frances aristocracy in the eighteenth century that helped pave the way to dissolution of the countrys monarchy. About the bookauthor marie antoinette the courageous end. Read the life of marie antoinette queen of france online. Marie antoinette was a child of fourteen when her mother, the empress of austria, arranged for her to leave her family and her country to become the wife of. Oct 05, 2016 throughout the story, we do get to learn a little bit more about marie antoinette, which is pretty interesting. The tragic story of marie antoinette s favourite son right after and gained a much clearer and concise overview of this event and the whole of the french revolution, for that matter. I did however want to highfive the author when she sarcastically referred to convents as the place to put queens and. Thankfully, i read deborah cadburys book the lost king of france. Lynn cullen, author, amy young, illustrator, illus. Zweig describes marie antoinette in the kings bedroom, in the enchanted and extravagant world of the trianon, and with her children.
This was my second antonia fraser book, the first being the wives of henry viii. Novels about the final queen of france, marie antoinette score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. As his wife, she will be called marie antoinette and will be the highest princess of france. Ashley antoinette is a very popular author for vh1, entering the television network with her single ladies novellas series. Quotations by marie antoinette, french royalty, born november 2, 1755. She was married in 1770 to the dauphin, who became king in 1774. The portrait of an average woman by stefan zweig and the 2006 kirsten dunst. It was applied with a heavy hand and in a circular pattern. I felt every emotion in this book, such as happy to sad, elated to angry, because the plot and characters are so relatable. The author succeeds brilliantly in describing how the oncevibrant marie and the decent. Memoirs of the court of marie antoinette, queen of france, complete being the historic memoirs of madam campan, first lady in waiting to the queen. Enjoy the best marie antoinette quotes at brainyquote.
The tragic life of marie antoinette, rich in conflicting detail, remains a biographers challenge, and antonia frasers richly human yet evenhanded account is a readers delight. Her name is associated with the decline in the moral authority of the french monarchy in the closing years of the ancien regime. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading marie antoinette. Frances beleaguered queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was the subject of ridicule and curiosity even before her death. Read the life of marie antoinette queen of france online by charles duke yonge at, the free online library full of thousands of classic books.
She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of holy roman emperor francis i and empress maria theresa. Marie antoinette was a child of only 14 years, delicately beautiful, with grayblue eyes and ashblonde hair. Brilliantly written, a work of impeccable scholarship. Frances beleaguered queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them.
Popular marie antoinette books meet your next favorite book. It was worn most lavishly on the day of a womans debut, when she was obliged to simulate the flush of the contrived orgasm bestowed by royal favour. Marie antoinette by stefan zweig, first edition abebooks. Never before has the life of marie antoinette been told so intimately and with such authority as in antonia frasers newest work, marie antoinette.
The libretto was written in english citation needed and then translated into japanese. Michelle moran, bestselling author of madame tussaud a lively and sensitive portrait of a young princess in a hostile court, and one of the most sympathetic portrayals of the doomed queen. We are the perfect friends, marie antoinette tells us, though her rapturous description of fersen as the most handsome, the most kind and good and lovingah, yes, above all, lovingman in the world all but demands us to wonder whether there is more to their bond than an ideal, platonic bond sealed by a bittersweet transcendence of. A captivating novel of rich spectacle and royal scandal, days of splendor, days of sorrow spans fifteen years in the fateful reign of marie antoinette, frances most. She lives in paris with her husband, maurice lever, the author of sade. Fraser mary queen of scots has written an exciting biography of a young austrian woman named marie antoinette, the future bride of a future king of france, during a period of increasing political unrest. List of books and articles about marie antoinette online. Juliet grey is the author of becoming marie antoinette and days of splendor, days of sorrow. Jul 01, 2016 marieantoinette 17551793 continues to fascinate historians, writers, and filmmakers more than two centuries after her death. For centuries since, she has been the object of debate, speculation, and the fascination so often accorded illustrious figures in history.
The journey by antonia fraser, becoming marie antoinette by juliet. Personally i found the writing of marie antoinette. Marie antoinette was the beautiful queen of france who became a symbol for the wanton extravagance of the 18th century monarchy, and was stripped of her riches and finery, imprisoned and beheaded by her own subjects during the french revolution that began in 1789. Marie antoinette and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Marie antoinette by stefan zweig, 9781906548308, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Marie antoinette, born an archduchess of austria, was dauphine of france from 1770 to 1774 and queen of france and navarre from 1774 to 1792. Although, as alender states at the end of the book, a lot of it is fiction anyways. Marie antoinette, princess of versailles kathryn lasky.
Her actions during the french revolution contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy in august 1792. Becoming marie antoinette is the first of the author s planned trilogy about the woman baptized as maria antonia josepha johanna of austria, but remembered and historically vilified as queen marie antoinette of france. Famously known as the eighteenthcentury french queen whose excesses have become legend, marie antoinette was blamed for instigating the french revolution. Feb 28, 2018 discover book depositorys huge selection of marie antoinette books online. Married in mere girlhood, this essentially lighthearted child was thrust onto the royal stage and. Marie antoinettes daughter, marietherese charlotte, madame royale, was born at versailles on 19 december 1778. The great material privileges she enjoyed and her glamorous role as an. I wrote about the french queens daily routine, which included lots of rules, many elaborate dress changes, and almost zero privacy, and mary anne yarde, author of the du lac chronicles, has. Oct 10, 2006 in a book that is at once the personal chronicle of a major work and a beautiful tribute to the potential of film, featuring elements of the directors own screenplay as well as captivating stills, the directors personal photos, and original designs for costumes and sets, marie antoinette is an essential companion for any lover of modern cinema. She is also the author of the worldfamous novel series the prada plan. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Frances iconic queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was alternately revered and reviled during her lifetime. Marie antoinette is probably the most famous and memorable lady in french history, bar none. Fersen, the queens discreet, devoted swedish lover, looms large.
Thorough research and minute attention to details is the clear mark of both. Marie antoinette hardcover october 10, 2006 by sofia coppola author. Antonia frasers most popular book is marie antoinette. The national bestseller from the acclaimed author of the wives of henry viii. Now you can read the life of marie antoinette queen of france free from the comfort of your computer or mobile phone and enjoy other many other free books by charles duke yonge. A books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. A life from beginning to end biographies of women in. A novel for fans of philippa gregory and michelle moran, confessions of marie antoinette blends rich historical detail with searing drama, bringing to life the first years of the french revolution and the final days of the legendary french queen.