Women's History Biography
Title of the book:
Marie AntoinetteName(s) of the author(s):
Antonia FraserWho is the book about?
Eighteenth century French Queen Marie Antoinette
Period:
1700s (18th century)Your opinion of book's accuracy
ExcellentReading Level (your take)
Adult ReadersFiction or non-fiction?
Non-fictionMy Review
This sympathetic recreation of Marie Antoinette's life has clearly been based on a close reading of the surviving documents, but at times it veers into wishing thinking. The recreation of court life is superb, the pressures on Marie are clearly outlined, and the problems Marie’s actions caused are highlighted. However, the reader is left with a nagging feeling something is missing, perhaps because the treatment of Marie’s negative aspects feels like gloss. Given that Marie has been lambasted then and misunderstood now, a corrective like this work is still more than welcome, but it’s not definitive.
