For more than two centuries Marie Antoinette has been vilified as the heartless, frivolous queen who spent lavishly while her people starved. Now, in the tradition of The Birth of Venus and The Other Boleyn Girl, this moving novel tells her side of the story. Imagine that, on the night before she is to die under the blade of the guillotine, Marie Antoinette leaves behind in her prison cell a diary telling the story of her life—from her privileged childhood as Austrian Archduchess to her years as glamorous mistress of Versailles to the heartbreak of imprisonment and humiliation during the French Revolution. Carolly Erickson takes us deep into the psyche of France's doomed queen: her love affair with handsome Swedish diplomat Count Axel Fersen, who risked his life to save her on the terrifying night the Parisian mob broke into her palace bedroom intent on murdering her and her family; her harrowing flight from France in disguise, her recapture and the grim months of harsh captivity; her agony when her beloved husband was guillotined and her beloved son was torn from her arms, never to be seen again. Erickson brilliantly captures the queen's voice, her hopes, her dreads, her suffering. We follow, mesmerized, as she reveals every detail of her remarkable, eventful life, from her teenage years when she began keeping a diary to her final days when she awaited her own bloody appointment with the guillotine.
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"I enjoyed this story of Marie Antoinette....I was surprised at how sad I was that she dies at the end....as obviously, I knew it was coming. I didn't get all worked up over historical acuracy....I enjoyed the story and the characters...real or not. I will look for more from this author. "
— Shelli (4 out of 5 stars)
“With her intelligent use of research and creative license, Erickson weaves a fascinating story…Erickson makes Marie someone we can feel compassion for and fills her story with awareness of her heartbreak and the great tragedy of her death.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars)The old ‘let them eat cake' myth has once and forever been exploded, yet the author resists the temptation to sentimentalize or simplify the maddeningly complex character of Marie Antoinette.
— Robin Maxwell, author of The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn" An engaging read but too simplistic at times. So interesting to read something from the viewpoint of royalty. "
— Kelly, 2/9/2014" An engaging read but too simplistic at times. So interesting to read something from the viewpoint of royalty. "
— Kelly, 2/9/2014" This book read like it was written by a 12 year old. "
— Erin, 2/1/2014" This book read like it was written by a 12 year old. "
— Erin, 2/1/2014" Marie is one of my three favorite women from history: Cleopatra, Josephine Bonaparte and of course, Marie Antoinette. They're all fascinating. I actually listened to this book, but it was fantastic. "
— Katie, 1/27/2014" Marie is one of my three favorite women from history: Cleopatra, Josephine Bonaparte and of course, Marie Antoinette. They're all fascinating. I actually listened to this book, but it was fantastic. "
— Katie, 1/27/2014" This really made me want to write my next book in diary format "
— Elizabeth, 1/21/2014" This really made me want to write my next book in diary format "
— Elizabeth, 1/21/2014" 3.5 stars. It was really intriguing to learn about the life of Marie Antoinette. I realize the author was not trying to be as historically acurate as she was in trying to bring Marie Antoinette to life. I believe she succeeded in this. I was glad I listened to this on audio so I could be hearing the correct pronunction of all the French words! "
— Skeetoid, 1/17/2014" 3.5 stars. It was really intriguing to learn about the life of Marie Antoinette. I realize the author was not trying to be as historically acurate as she was in trying to bring Marie Antoinette to life. I believe she succeeded in this. I was glad I listened to this on audio so I could be hearing the correct pronunction of all the French words! "
— Skeetoid, 1/17/2014" Though fictional an interesting read and take on the life of Marie Antoinette "
— Kersten, 1/4/2014Carolly Erickson is the bestselling author of many distinguished works of nonfiction and a series of historical entertainments, blending fact and invention. Her historical biographies include The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, The First Elizabeth, Her Little Majesty, and Alexandra. She lives in Hawaii.
Maggi-Meg Reed has performed as an actress and singer both on and off-Broadway. She is a narrator of many popular audiobooks, including A Very Long Engagement and The Time Traveler’s Wife. She is the winner of several AudioFile Earphones Awards.