Two hundred years after the death of marie antoinette, i found the experience of being asked to don white gloves to inspect the tiny swatches in her wardrobe book at the archives nationales both appropriate and affecting, the pinpricks made by the queen to indicate her choice of the days costume being still visible. Novelist and historian fraser faith and treason, 1996, etc. Marie antoinette by antonia fraser books the guardian. Never before has the life of marie antoinette been told so intimately and with such authority as in antonia frasers newest work, marie antoinette. Austria and france rather than a matter of the heart marie antoinette entered into a life at court marked by scandal. May 30, 2002 marie antoinette by lady antonia fraser, 9780753858, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The journey is a sympathetic 2001 biography of archduchess marie antoinette, the queen of france 17741792 by antonia fraser. The book, which was relaunched to coincide with the release of the related film, has had. Antonia fraser s most popular book is marie antoinette. Antonia fraser has an amazing knack for writing biographies that are both impeccably researched and absolutely entertaining to read, and marie antoinette is no exception. I found myself rooting for marie antoinettes escape even though i knew what the ending would ultimately be. The story of the gunpowder plot, and perilous question.
Once the french revolution started, marie antoinette could probably have escaped by herself, or with her little son disguised as a girl. Fraser takes us into the life of the young antoine, the daughter of the strong, handson empress of austria, mariateresa, who has raised all her children to be rulers and. Book club books book lists books to read my books the journey book marie antoinette movie best biographies kirsten dunst sofia coppola 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 by antonia fraser book club reads, books.
Nov 12, 2002 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. Famously known as the eighteenthcentury french queen whose excesses have become legend, marie antoinette was blamed for instigating the french revolution. 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. 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. It reads more like a novel than an academic biography. The journey antonia fraser, 2001 knopf doubleday 544 pp. An utterly riveting and intensely moving book by one of our finest biographers. Frasers sizable new portrait avoids the saccharine romance of evelyne levers recent marie antoinette, balancing empathy for the pleasureloving queen with an.
Aug 23, 2002 if you are passing through a british airport this summer the chances are you will see antonia fraser s latest book, a biography of marie antoinette, prominently displayed in the bookshops. 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. 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. Frances beleaguered queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused. Marie antoinettes own account of her daily routine, written to her mother in july 1770, makes it clear that this constant element of the privateperformedinpublic was present from the very beginning. Antonia fraser was born on august 27, 1932 in london, england as antonia margaret caroline pakenham. Net login register for bookmarks and favorites menu login. See all books authored by antonia fraser, including marie antoinette. This is a fascinating book but no more than i would expect from antonia fraser. My copy of lady antonia frasers marieantoinette, the journey anchor books, 2002 sports on its cover the round face of kirsten dunst which, as anyone who has studied portraits of marieantoinette knows, is in sharp contrast to the lovely oval countenance of the real queen. Book club books book lists books to read my books the journey book marie antoinette movie best biographies kirsten dunst sofia coppola. Is philanthropy an essential part of the royal role.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Jul, 2001 marie antoinette antonia fraser 499pp, weidenfeld. 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. Marie antoinette is probably the most famous and memorable lady in french history, bar none. Its no mean feat to talk us through this book the narrator does this well. Antonia fraser has 108 books on goodreads with 215026 ratings.
Frances iconic queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was alternately revered and reviled during her lifetime. Antonia fraser feast of all saints 2000 chapter one. Shortly after midnight on june 20, 1791, a small group of people left the tuileries. Marie antoinette a much maligned woman, treated with compassion by antonia fraser and given voice by eleanor bron. Her unrivalled mixture of erudition and enthusiasm has been a constant inspiration during the five years i worked on this book. It is the basis for the 2006 sofia coppola film marie antoinette. 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. Never before has the life of marie antoinette been told so intimately and with. Pretty marie was raised to further the hapsburg familys political ambitions, as defined by her dominating mother, empress maria theresa of austriahungary. Antonia fraser picked quite an interesting subject, when she wrote the historical biography, marie antoinette. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Antonia fraser books list of books by author antonia fraser. The national bestseller from the acclaimed author of the wives of henry viii.
Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Marieantoinette, the journey by antonia fraser my copy of lady antonia frasers marieantoinette, the journey anchor books, 2002 sports on its cover the round face of kirsten dunst which, as anyone who has studied portraits of marieantoinette knows, is in sharp contrast to the lovely oval countenance of the real queen. 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. Lady antonia margaret caroline fraser, ch, dbe, frsl nee pakenham. Jeff guinn go down together the true untold story of bonnie and clyde part 02 audiobook duration. Marie antoinette 175593 emerges in frasers sympathetic portrait as a goodhearted girl woefully undereducated and poorly prepared for the dynastic political intrigues into which she was thrust at age 14, when her mother, empress maria theresa, married her off to the future louis xvi to further austrias interests in france. Antonia frasers most popular book is marie antoinette. If you are passing through a british airport this summer the chances are you will see antonia frasers latest book, a biography of marie antoinette, prominently displayed in. Married at the age of 14 to louis xvi an act of diplomacy between austria and france rather than a matter of the heart marie antoinette entered into a life at court marked by scandal, tragedy and violence, as political upheaval swept through france. Married in mere girlhood, this essentially lighthearted child was thrust onto the royal stage and. Brilliantly written, a work of impeccable scholarship. She is a writer, known for jemima shore investigates 1983, tales of the unexpected 1979 and armchair thriller 1978. Antonia fraser marie antoinette part 02 audiobook youtube.
The journey, published in 2001, also addresses their affair. Reading guide for marie antoinette by antonia fraser. Marie antoinette was a patron of the arts and a nature enthusiast. I found myself rooting for marie antoinette s escape even though i knew what the ending would ultimately be.
Sent from her family in her early teens marie antoinette is left to find her own way around the closed french court. Reading guide for marie antoinette by antonia fraser discussion guide for book clubs. Married in mere girlhood, this essentially lighthearted child was thrust onto. 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. Guillotined by history biography books the guardian. 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.
I visited versailles earlier in the year and was anxious to know a bit more about the unfortunate marie antoinette. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For centuries since, she has been the object of debate, speculation, and the fascination so often accorded illustrious figures in history. 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.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read marie antoinette. Somehow antonia fraser writes in a no nonsense way yet allows the reader to hear the music, and the swish of marie antoinette s skirts as she walked through versailles. 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. If you read only one book about marie antoinette, let it be this one. 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. A fine and rewarding book douglas johnson spectator fraser is at her best here, lucid, authoritative and compassionate miranda seymour sunday times fraser sets out to rescue marie antoinette from the shadow of the guillotine, and she does this with resounding success ruth scurr the times in marie antoinette, frasers superb. However, as fraser acknowledges in the book, there was no. A biography of a queen who never said, as legend has it, let them eat cake.
Marie antoinette 175593 emerges in fraser s sympathetic portrait as a goodhearted girl woefully undereducated and poorly prepared for the dynastic political intrigues into which she was thrust at age 14, when her mother, empress maria theresa, married her off to the future louis xvi to further austrias interests in france. The book, which was relaunched to coincide with the release of the related film, has had considerable success. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. In 1770, marie antoinette, aged 14, wed the awkward 16yearold who in 1774 became louis xvi. Biography audiobooks antonia fraser marie antoinette part 02. Antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of. Sep 30, 2018 biography audiobooks antonia fraser marie antoinette part 02. She was previously married to harold pinter and hugh charles patrick joseph fraser. The tragic life of marie antoinette, rich in conflicting detail, remains a biographers challenge, and antonia frasers richly human yet evenhanded account is a. Great book this biography by antonia fraser is very entertaining and interesting. Summary 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 by antonia fraser book club reads. 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. With marie antoinette, lady antonia fraser has written one of the more memorable biographies of recent years.
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