Marie antoinette, princess of versailles is a wonderful edition of the royal diary series. This is a fine book and a very good read desmond seward daily mail in marie antoinette, fraser s superb gifts of narrative, characterisation and eye for salient detail are deployed to greater effect than ever before mark bostridge independent on sunday. Jun 17, 2001 marieantoinette antonia fraser weidenfeld. Is philanthropy an essential part of the royal role. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read marie antoinette. Antonia fraser s lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the listener not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, but also in the unraveling of an era. The journey by antonia fraser and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Should she have tried to influence louis xvi more or was she correct to let history take its own course. Frances beleaguered queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused. One of the most wellknown and appraised biographies of marie antoinette is antonia frasers marie antoinette.
Marie antoinette was a patron of the arts and a nature enthusiast. Antonia frasers most popular book is marie antoinette. She began life as the daughter of an austrian queen. Antonia fraser the concentration in my book on marie. On that same day, 217 years ago, marie antoinette or maria antonia josepha johanna 17551793 was executed by guillotine. Nov 12, 2002 antonia fraser s lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the reader not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, but also in the unraveling of an era. Marie antoinette by antonia fraser read by lindsay duncan. Frances iconic queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was alternately revered and reviled during her lifetime. The book, which was relaunched to coincide with the release of the related film, has had considerable success. Memoirs of the court of marie antoinette, queen of france, complete by mme. The most famous line in gastronomic history, let them eat cake, turns out to have been an eighteenthcentury cliche. Antonia fraser offers instead a picture of a courageous woman, more sinned against than sinning. Antonia fraser examines her influence over the king, louis xvi, the accusations and sexual slurs made against her, her patronage of the arts which enhanced french cultural life, her imprisonment, the death threats made against her, rumours of lesbian affairs. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the reader not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, buaimedt also in the unraveling of an era. Marie antoinette was put into the care of constance weber, wife of a magistrate. Antonia fraser examines her influence over the king, louis xvi, the accusations and sexual slurs made against her, her patronage of the arts which enhanced french cultural life, her imprisonment, the death threats made against her, rumours of lesbian affairs, her trial during which her young son was forced to testify to sexual abuse by his. Read marie antoinette the journey by antonia fraser available from rakuten kobo. View the profiles of people named antoinette antoinette. Famously known as the eighteenthcentury french queen whose excesses have become legend, marie antoinette was blamed for instigating the french revolution. This is a fine book and a very good read desmond seward daily mail in marie antoinette, frasers superb gifts of narrative, characterisation and eye for salient detail are deployed to greater effect than ever before mark bostridge independent on sunday. Antonia fraser writes beautifully, with impressively shrewd judgement. Shortly after midnight on june 20, 1791, a small group of people left the tuileries. The journey, by antonia fraser april 26, 2011 by monitor staff. Marie antoinette ebook by antonia fraser 9781400033287. Famously known as the eighteenthcentury french queen whose excesses have become legend, marie antoinette was. The most famous line in gastronomic history, let them eat cake, turns out to have been. December 2002 famous for her personal indulgences, as well as her vanity, frances controversial queen gets a break in frasers bestselling biography.
Nov 12, 2002 frances iconic queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was alternately revered and reviled during her lifetime. The national bestseller from the acclaimed author of the wives of henry viii. 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. Fascinating guardian beautifully paced, impeccably written. May 30, 2002 marie antoinette by lady antonia fraser, 9780753858, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Reading guide for marie antoinette by antonia fraser. Antonia fraser is obviously a fan of marie antoinette, her detailed biography of the former queen of france made me see marie antoinette in a different light. Now she crosses the channel to limn the life of frances unhappiest queen, bringing along her gift for fluent storytelling, vivid characterization, and evocative historical background. Brilliantly written, a work of impeccable scholarship. Memoirs of the court of marie antoinette, queen of france. It is the basis for the 2006 sofia coppola film marie antoinette. The story of the gunpowder plot, and perilous question. Marie antoinette is probably the most famous and memorable lady in french history, bar none. It has also been translated into french, been awarded the enid mcleod literary prize, received widespread critical success and been described as definitive by british historian, amanda foreman. Novelist and historian fraser faith and treason, 1996, etc. John knox the winter of 1542 was marked by tempestuous weather throughout the british isles. Antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the listener not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, but also in.
Fascinating guardianbeautifully paced, impeccably written. Born maria antonia, marie antoniette was the daughter of the empress maria theresa of habsburg. These all happened at the height of the french revolution 17891799. She is the widow of the 2005 nobel laureate in literature, harold pinter 19302008, and prior to his death was also known as lady antonia pinter. Marie antoinette by antonia fraser houston chronicle. December 2002 famous for her personal indulgences, as well as her vanity, frances controversial. Born in 1755, the tiny archduchess of austria was sent to france at 14 to marry the sulky dauphin. In the past, antonia frasers bestselling histories and biographies have focused on people and events in her native england, from mary queen of scots to faith and treason. I have read every single book published in england about marie antoinette, and i think antonia fraser has done the impossible. Nine months prior to that her husband, king louis xiv was executed. Antonia frasers superb life of marieantoinette depicts a woman driven over.
Antonia fraser quotes from the concentration in my book on marie antoinettes childhood and on her family influences. Lady antonia margaret caroline fraser, ch, dbe, frsl nee pakenham. Lady antonia fraser discusses why marie antoinette has fascinated people throughout history. Marie antoinette by antonia fraser books hachette australia. A biography of a queen who never said, as legend has it, let them eat cake. In the past, antonia fraser s bestselling histories and biographies have focused on people and events in her native england, from mary queen of scots to faith and treason. Antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie. Antonia fraser is the author of many internationally bestselling historical works, including love and louis xiv, marie antoinette, which was made into a film by sofia coppola, the wives of henry viii, mary queen of scots, faith and treason. Antoinettes story isnt really a tragedybut fraser somehow makes it seem like one. Marie antoinette by lady antonia fraser, 9780753858, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. While antoinette never made the oftrepeated line to peasants seeking bread, she was a spendthrift, a trait that helped do her in when the revolutionary lawyers made their case against her.
She was awarded the medlicott medal by the historical association in 2000 and was made a dbe in 2011 for services to literature. Married in mere girlhood, this essentially lighthearted child was thrust onto the royal stage and. For centuries since, she has been the object of debate, speculation, and the fascination so often accorded illustrious figures in history. It is surprising how some books actually start with her arrival in france. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Antonia fraser s most popular book is marie antoinette. Apr 15, 2016 antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the reader not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, but also in the unraveling of an era. Marie antoinette remains one of the most poignant and illfated characters in history. The young archduchess antonia had no idea of her fate until the last few years of her life, and as a result of the way this book is. It is the basis for the 2006 sofia coppola film marie antoinette the book, which was relaunched to coincide with the release of the related film, has had considerable success.
Antonia fraser s lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the reader not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, buaimedt also in the unraveling of an era. Marie antoinette by antonia fraser houston chronicle subscribe. In the past, antonia frasers bestselling histories and biographies have focused on people and events in her native. The journey is a sympathetic 2001 biography of archduchess marie antoinette, the queen of france 17741792 by antonia fraser. All men lamented all men lamented that the realm was left without a male to succeed. Antonia fraser has 107 books on goodreads with 215389 ratings. With marie antoinette, lady antonia fraser has written one of the more memorable biographies of recent years. The book is at times dense because the author really goes into some of the politics, she involves important names and dates and many times i found myself googling people, events and.
It has also been translated into french, been awarded the enid mcleod literary prize, received widespread critical success and been described as. 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 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. Constance, according to her son joseph weber, who later wrote his memoirs, was famed for her beautiful figure and an even greater beauty of soul. Every other book is written in the shadow of the guillotine.
Clearing up some misconceptions about a woman who was, in reality, surprisingly compassionate, fraser paints a compelling. 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. Pretty marie was raised to further the hapsburg familys political ambitions, as defined by her dominating mother, empress maria theresa of austriahungary. The journey is a sympathetic 2001 biography of queen marie antoinette of france, by lady antonia fraser. In 1770, marie antoinette, aged 14, wed the awkward 16yearold who in 1774 became louis xvi. Frances iconic queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was alternately r. Aug 01, 2002 antonia fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. This book takes the reader on a journey through an incredible life, causing me to laugh, cry and at one point throw the book i was so incensed at the injustices love love love. The tragic life of marie antoinette, rich in conflicting detail, remains a biographers challenge, and antonia fraser s richly human yet evenhanded account is a readers delight. In this stunning biography, antonia fraser, one of the worlds leading biographers and historians, brings to life this controversial figure whose extraordinary story continues to arouse mixed emotions. Mary, queen of scots by antonia fraser, paperback barnes. Never before has the life of marie antoinette been told so intimately and with such authority as in antonia fraser s newest work, marie antoinette. She has taken a woman who had been turned into a caricature, a posterchild for a typical example of reactionary, frivolous royalty, and turned her into a real, and sympathetic, human being. Marie antoinette by lady antonia fraser waterstones.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. 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. The tragic life of marie antoinette, rich in conflicting detail, remains a biographers challenge, and antonia frasers richly human yet evenhanded account is a. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
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