Marie antoinette is her first book to be published in the united states. 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 the. Abundance, a novel of marie antoinette paperback book. Princess of versailles, austria france, 1769 by kathryn lasky, becoming marie antoinette by juliet grey. Juliet grey is the author of becoming marie antoinette and days of splendor, days of sorrow.
She has extensively researched european royalty and is a particular devotee of. 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. Becoming marie antoinette is a well researched and interesting novel. For me, its a fine example of what good historical fiction should beit sticks to the facts and just uses the fiction genre to fill in emotions and conversations. Fraser makes no attempt to hide the queens shortcomings.
Becoming marie antoinette by juliet grey, paperback barnes. Sena jeter naslund has divided her novel into five acts, like a shakespearean play. If you read one book about marie antoinette, let it be sena jeter naslunds. This beautifully illustrated little book tells marie antoinettes story and takes readers on a tour of sites associated with her life.
Marie antonia of vienna has her whole life mapped out ahead of her. I highly recommend becoming marie antoinette by juliet grey. Marie antoinette was a child of fourteen when her mother, the empress of. Drawing on a wealth of family letters and other archival materials, antonia fraser successfully avoids the hagiography of some the french queens admirers and the misogyny of many of her critics. 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. She is to marry dauphin louis auguste, eldest grandson of king louis xv. Lady antonia fraser, author of a biography of the french queen, believes the quote would have been highly uncharacteristic of marieantoinette, an intelligent woman who donated generously to. Becoming marie antoinette audiobook by juliet grey. The portrait of an average woman by stefan zweig translated from the german by eden and cedar paul, with a chronology of stefan zweigs life and a bibliography of works by and about stefan zweig in english by randolph klawiter. Katie daynes has written oodles of books for usborne, from lifting the flaps on germs and poo, through things to spot in the sea and at school, to the life stories of nelson mandela and marie antoinette.
Oh, well im not really marie antoinetteim actually maria swift from the future, from this place called new york. It is actually the first of a series of six books written by dumas with marie antoinette featured, called the marie antoinette novels, in which. Versailles presents marie as a woman with a sense of humor, while farewell is a more sober story narrated one of marie s serving. It is based on the life of queen marie antoinette in the years. This is the number one book recommended by users on goodreads and amazon about the queen of france, and i am certainly going to read it as soon as i can. How historically accurate is kirsten dunsts marie antoinette. At the end of the book, she is fifteen, dauphine of france, and wife of the future louis xvi, who comes complete with a bad complexion. A novel of marie antoinette by meghan masterson, marie antoinette. As his wife, she will be called marie antoinette and will be the highest princess of france. Aug 31, 2018 lady antonia fraser, author of a biography of the french queen, believes the quote would have been highly uncharacteristic of marie antoinette, an intelligent woman who donated generously to. Brilliantly written, marie antoinette is a work of impeccable scholarship. Marie antoinette, queen consort of louis xvi king of france.
Apr 15, 2016 i love reading historical fiction, but to my own surprise, i have yet to read anything about marie antoinette, except for bits and pieces from french history books and encyclopaedias. 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. 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. This book is at once a detective story, a courtroom drama, and a study of credulity and selfdeception in the age of enlightenment. And marie antoinette, who features prominently in fiction of all kinds, is certainly no stranger to books aimed at younger readers. Sign me up to get more news about historical fiction books.
Does marie antoinette achieve the stature of a tragic protagonist at the end of the novel. 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. Two of the most recent of her thirteen non fiction books are marie antoinette. A novel of marie antoinette audiobook, by sena jeter naslund. She lives in paris with her husband, maurice lever, the author of sade evelyne lever. Her relationship with louis xvith and her personality in the movie do not match with historical accounts, but, in a way, this is done on purpose.
It is based on the life of queen marie antoinette in the years leading up to the french revolution. Becoming marie antoinette by juliet grey, paperback. I havent read either, but both are supposed to be quite wellwritten, according to various critics. 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 the fifteenyearold dauphin, the future king of france.
What marie antoinette wore to the revolution by caroline w. Granted, becoming marie antoinette is simply book 1 in a series, but i had. Coming of age in the most public of arenas, she warmly embraces. Princess of versailles, austria france, 1769 by kathryn lasky, becoming marie antoinette by. The national bestseller from the acclaimed author of the wives of henry viii. You see, i was in the library writing up a report on marie antoinette when i opened this book a crazy librarian handed me and before i could ask anything about it, she ran off. Fiction historical abundance, a novel of marie antoinette trade pb.
After eight years of marriage, marie antoinette gave birth to marie therese, the first of her four children. Antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie. Wellresearched and lovingly written with sparkling detailsthis new trilogy is not one to be missed by any lover of historical fiction or marie antoinette centered works. Adams beck page images at hathitrust marie antoinette and her son, by l. The story of marie antoinette holds reasonably closely to the known facts of history while accepting the fictional adjuncts in conversation, interpretation and occasional distortion of characterization.
Furthermore, her writing style is unclear and she often mentions the numerous family and. Its worth reading even if youre not planning to go to paris. As the title suggests, becoming marie antoinette is biographical fiction inspired by the life of the illfated queen of france, who lost her head to the guillotine during the french revolution. The most famous historical fiction which features marie. The journey 2001, 2002, which has been made into the film marie antoinette 2006, directed by sofia coppola, with kirsten dunst in the title role, and love and louis xiv.
Originally published in 1932 and for decades since one of stefan zweigs most popular biographies, this. Abundance, a novel of marie antoinette paperback by sena jeter naslund. In this new account, john hardman redresses the balance and sheds fresh light on marieantoinettes story. It was released in the united states on 20 october 2006, by columbia pictures. A winner of the harper lee award and the southeastern library association fiction award, she is the author of eight previous works of fiction. Seven fictional marie antoinette books for younger readers. At sixteen, she is one of marie antoinettes newest undertirewomen, and in awe of the glamorous queen and her opulent palace life.
This book is the diary of marie antoinette, from the time she is, known as antonia, and only archduchess of the holy roman empire. Marie antoinette is a 2006 historical drama film written and directed by sofia coppola and starring kirsten dunst. She was mistrusted and reviled in her own time, and today she is portrayed as a lightweight incapable of understanding the events that engulfed her. Two of the most recent of her thirteen nonfiction books are marie antoinette. Some other novels about marie antoinette are versailles by kathryn davis and farewell, my queen by chantal thomas. Upon the death of the king, she will become queen marie antoinette. Hardman goes farther and makes the case that marie antoinette was also a political player who sincerely attempted to reach a compromise with certain revolutionaries, which might have produced a constitutional monarchy that would have spared the french people much of the coming bloodshed. I adore historical fiction that goes into great detail about what people wore and ate and bathed and thought about. Sign up for bookperkdaily bookish finds, fantastic deals, giveaways, and more. Marie antoinette, queen, consort of louis xvi, king of france, 17551793 fiction. Marie antoinette ebook by stefan zweig 1230000186828. Versailles presents marie as a woman with a sense of humor, while farewell is a more sober story narrated one of maries serving.
Abundance, a novel of marie antoinette paperback book passage. Abundance, a novel of marie antoinette by sena jeter naslund isbn. Well this was a english project i had to do in november called nano wrimo. Sofia coppolas marie antoinette isnt actually meant to be historically accurate. Mar 14, 2014 this includes nonfiction books which represent a unique, overlooked or niche point of view as well as fiction or nonfiction about marie antoinette, the french revolution, and 18th century france. She wrote my first chess book after being taught by her son, joe birks, who became the british under 9 chess champion in 2017. We basically had to write a novel about anything we wanted i chose to write about a modern day girl who is forces to go back in time and become the fabulous queen, marie antoinette in 1 month.
Its a bomc, history book club, literary guild and qpb selection. A growing percentage of the population came to dislike her, with the french libelles accusing her of being profligate, promiscuous, harboring sympathies for frances perceived enemiesparticularly her native austriaand her children of being illegitimate. Abundance, a novel of marie antoinette sena jeter naslund. Having no prior knowledge of marie antoinette i may not be the best historically accurate judge, but as far as most historical novels go the author seemed to own up to add libs eric for example all in all a good read for fans of historical fiction.
As the burgeoning rebellion reaches the palace gates, marie antoinette finds her privileged. 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. The third installment of greys marie antoinette trilogy, following days of splendor, days of sorrow, captures the final years of louis xvis reign through the eyes of the legendary austrian. Coming of age in the most public of arenas, she warmly embraces her adopted nation and its citizens. A 2000 book in the young adult the royal diaries series is about marie antoinettes journey to france as a teenager, marie antoinette. Reading guide abundance, a novel of marie antoinette by sena jeter naslund isbn.
Thankfully, i read deborah cadburys book the lost king of france. Stiletto storyline becoming marie antoinette is a well researched and interesting novel. Abundance is written from the narrow respective of marie antoinette herself and therein lies much of the book s strengh or weakness, according to your prespective. Meghan masterson its giselle aubrys first time at court in versailles. Marie antoinette, princess of versailles kathryn lasky.
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