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Becoming Marie Antoinette: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,824 listener ratings
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This enthralling confection of a novel, the first in a new trilogy, follows the transformation of a coddled Austrian archduchess into the reckless, powerful, beautiful queen Marie Antoinette. Why must it be me? I wondered. When I am so clearly inadequate to my destiny? Raised alongside her numerous brothers and sisters by the formidable empress of Austria, ten-year-old Maria Antonia knew that her idyllic existence would one day be sacrificed to her mother’s political ambitions. What she never anticipated was that the day in question would come so soon. Before she can journey from sunlit picnics with her sisters in Vienna to the glitter, glamour, and gossip of Versailles, Antonia must change everything about herself in order to be accepted as dauphine of France and the wife of the awkward teenage boy who will one day be Louis XVI. Yet nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen. Filled with smart history, treacherous rivalries, lavish clothes, and sparkling jewels, Becoming Marie Antoinette will utterly captivate fiction and history lovers alike. Praise for Becoming Marie Antoinette “A thoroughly enjoyable novel, brimming with delightful details. Grey writes eloquently and with charming humor, bringing ‘Toinette’ vividly to life as she is schooled and groomed—molded, quite literally—for a future as Queen of France, an innocent pawn in a deadly political game.”—Sandra Gulland, bestselling author of Mistress of the Sun and the Josephine Bonaparte trilogy “In her richly imagined novel, Juliet Grey meticulously recreates the sumptuous court of France's most tragic queen. Beautifully written, with attention paid to even the smallest detail, Becoming Marie Antoinette will leave readers wanting more!"—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.”—Lauren Willig, bestselling author of the Pink Carnation series “Wonderfully delectable and lusciously rich, an elegant novel to truly savor. Juliet Grey’s Marie Antoinette is completely absorbing.”—Diane Haeger, author of The Queen’s Rival “[A] sympathetic take on the fascinating and doomed Marie Antoinette.”—Publishers Weekly
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"I flew through this book; the author did a fantastic job bringing Marie Antoinette to life. You can't help but pity the poor 14-year-old girl as she is molded into a princess acceptable to the vapid, conceited, ambitious French court. This was a young woman who would have preferred to spend her days painting, spending time outdoors and pampering babies; instead, she is confined within a rigid society that dictated how she would dress, how she must walk, who would help dress her, etc. Easily impressionable, you can just see how this young woman with good intentions and a kind soul will become corrupted by the world around her, to her grave peril. But that's the next book."
— Karen (4 out of 5 stars)
Becoming Marie Antoinette Listener Reviews
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" This was an interesting look at Marie Antoinette and although it is listed as historical fiction, I do hope she at least really did start out as sweet as she seems in the book. I really enjoyed the novel and plan on reading the rest in the trilogy. "
— Sadie, 2/10/2014 -
" It was way better than the biography. It wasn't the greatest thing I read, but a good, quick history lesson. I will read the next two in the triology even though I know how it ends for poor Marie Antoinette. I will enjoy reading the perspective from MA's point of view considering I read the civilians perspective in Madame Tussaud, Michelle Moran. "
— Amy, 1/29/2014 -
" One of many books about Marie Antoinette that have been written. Somehow this one seemed different and perhaps more realistic. It is the first of three books in a trilogy and I look forward to the other books when they come out. "
— Maureen, 1/9/2014 -
" I liked it and was enjoyable enough. It did have an abrupt ending and didn't get into as much detail as some of the other books I have read for this time period. "
— Kim, 12/29/2013 -
" I just finished this book. I read it in a matter of days because I couldn't put it down. Its so refreshing to see a book put into marie's voice. She was always portrayed as a horrible person through out history. The thing I loved about it was that , it showed her in a sympathetic light which I wish more books did. its the first part of a trilogy and gives her early beginning of the princess she was made to becoming queen. It conveys the message of how hard it must have been for someone so young. If you like marie antoinette you'll love this book. If you dont like her, you probably feel sorry for her after you're done reading it. "
— Bellesroom, 12/8/2013 -
" Loved it!!! Great story about her life up until she becomes queen. Only downside is that the next book in the trilogy isn't out until summer 2012 so I was left wanting more!!! "
— Marcy, 11/19/2013 -
" Totally not my pick of genres, but 5 chapters in and I'm thinking it's not the worst thing I've ever read. How's that for a glowing endorsement?!?! "
— Kathy, 11/18/2013 -
" Great Historical Fiction....cannot wait for the 2nd of the trilogy to come out next summer:-) "
— Kelly, 10/19/2013 -
" This is a story of a very young Marie. An easy read, with just enough history in it to make it a good story as well as a learning exprience. The book ends as she and her hubby become King and Queen of France. There is a sequel coming out and I look forward to continuing their story. "
— Nancy, 8/20/2013 -
" Very well done. I never gave much thought to Marie Antoinette's life before she arrived in France. This makes me want to read up on the non fiction aspect to her childhood. "
— Jennifer, 3/21/2013 -
" Beautifully written, researched more thoroughly than some strictly non-fiction novels. This book does a great job of capturing these historical figures. I enjoyed it so much I am immediately picking up the next book in the trilogy! "
— Stacie, 2/24/2013 -
" Muwah. Kinda frivoulous, not substance or depth to the book. It would have been a 2 except the rich historical detail, that was the only interesting thing about the book. Otherwise it was just weak. Not my kind of story. "
— Feathzzz, 11/3/2012 -
" it was quite good!! I enjoyed this book! I'm excited for the 2nd one (: "
— Leor, 10/27/2012 -
" A very sympathetic portrayal of a young Marie Antoinette from her childhood at the Imperial court in Austria to the death of Louis XV told in her own words. Nicely done (apart from the occasionally faulty German...), looking forward to the next part! "
— Denise, 9/9/2012 -
" Love this book and looking forward to the second in the trilogy. "
— Eva, 8/2/2012 -
" Eh. I felt like I was reading ( well, listening to) a wiki article. Gray's little girl/young MA voice was grating. Others raved over this book and the middle to end did make up for the so-so begining. Maybe my training as a historian leaves me a bit jaded towards historical fiction, who knows. "
— Jen, 8/2/2012 -
" Like many historical fictions, this book made me want to learn more about Marie Antoinette. I really enjoyed it and look forward to getting into the sequel. "
— Jennifer, 7/9/2012 -
" I liked this book because I haven't read much about Marie Antoinette and it made me like her. However, I felt it dragged some and it was a lot of pages for as far as we got in Marie's life story. I don't know if I'll pick up the next one in the series. Perhaps a 2.5 star for me. "
— Jaime, 7/5/2012 -
" I had a stack of 5 books that I needed to read in 3 weeks. I figured this would be the "hardest" read due to its historical context. I found this book fascinating and easy to read. I cannot wait for the next installment to the trilogy. "
— Sandy, 11/7/2011 -
" This is a story of a very young Marie. An easy read, with just enough history in it to make it a good story as well as a learning exprience. The book ends as she and her hubby become King and Queen of France. There is a sequel coming out and I look forward to continuing their story. "
— Nancy, 10/8/2011 -
" I typically love the historical novels but this one was hard for me to get through. I thought it was boring and was a very slow read. <br/> <br/> "
— Stephanie, 9/29/2011 -
" Really enjoyed Marie's story from "her own" perspective, even if fictionalized. She has definitely gotten a bad wrap in many historical accounts and needed someone to help bring history into perspective...glad this is a series, cant wait for the next installment! "
— Monet, 9/29/2011 -
" I was actually excited to read this and learn more about Marie Antoinette. It was pretty dull though. Not much happened and when it did, it usually took place in French which was annoying. "
— Elia, 9/10/2011 -
" a different perspective on the queen. Historical fiction yet well researched- the author puts the reader there- Marie's life from age 12-17... If you have even a remote interest in what it was like to be a royal in the late 1700s this book's for you. "
— Carol, 9/8/2011 -
" Great Historical Fiction....cannot wait for the 2nd of the trilogy to come out next summer:-) "
— Kelly, 8/30/2011 -
" Oh the poor misunderstood Marie Antoinette. "
— Belinda, 8/30/2011