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The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 6,646 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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)
Quotes
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“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
Awards
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Among shortlisted titles for Audie Award Finalist, 2006
The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette Listener Reviews
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" 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, 1/4/2014 -
" Though fictional an interesting read and take on the life of Marie Antoinette "
— Kersten, 1/4/2014 -
" This book was just flat out boring. Plus, I think it was inaccurate at times. It is one thing to dramatize events when writing historical fiction, but it is quite another to get the facts wrong in the first place. "
— Kat, 12/29/2013 -
" Interesting bit of fictional history. scary too! Especially how close society is to total chaos and bloodshed. I'll have to see what other scholars say about her life. "
— Rod, 12/29/2013 -
" This book was just flat out boring. Plus, I think it was inaccurate at times. It is one thing to dramatize events when writing historical fiction, but it is quite another to get the facts wrong in the first place. "
— Kat, 12/29/2013 -
" Interesting bit of fictional history. scary too! Especially how close society is to total chaos and bloodshed. I'll have to see what other scholars say about her life. "
— Rod, 12/29/2013 -
" I love European history and this was an entertaining look at Marie Antoinette and the Revolution from her perspective. "
— Annie, 12/8/2013 -
" I love European history and this was an entertaining look at Marie Antoinette and the Revolution from her perspective. "
— Annie, 12/8/2013 -
" I'm enjoying this book, but not nearly as much as The Last Wife of King Henry VIII. "
— Allison, 11/28/2013 -
" I'm enjoying this book, but not nearly as much as The Last Wife of King Henry VIII. "
— Allison, 11/28/2013 -
" I'm a sucker for historical novels and this one is one of my favorites. It details the life of marie antoinette from her side of the story up until the date of her execution. "
— Jenelle, 11/27/2013 -
" I'm a sucker for historical novels and this one is one of my favorites. It details the life of marie antoinette from her side of the story up until the date of her execution. "
— Jenelle, 11/27/2013 -
" The author calls this "historical entertainment". Too much of the book was iamginary people/places/events for me; I like my historical fiction a little closer to the real thing. "
— Joan, 11/27/2013 -
" The author calls this "historical entertainment". Too much of the book was iamginary people/places/events for me; I like my historical fiction a little closer to the real thing. "
— Joan, 11/27/2013 -
" Whatever I learned about history in school, I have forgotten. This was a wonderful book to reintroduce myself to Marie Antoinette. A few parts made me blush, and there were a few gruesome parts but it is real. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. "
— Maryahn, 11/22/2013 -
" Whatever I learned about history in school, I have forgotten. This was a wonderful book to reintroduce myself to Marie Antoinette. A few parts made me blush, and there were a few gruesome parts but it is real. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. "
— Maryahn, 11/22/2013 -
" I watched the movie a couple weeks ago and then i listened to this. Its really good and is pretty historically accurate. It made me more interested in the French Revolution and showed me the aristocratic piont of view, which I've never thought of before. "
— Kirby, 11/3/2013 -
" I watched the movie a couple weeks ago and then i listened to this. Its really good and is pretty historically accurate. It made me more interested in the French Revolution and showed me the aristocratic piont of view, which I've never thought of before. "
— Kirby, 11/3/2013 -
" If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a book for you. Very similar to Philippa Gregory books. "
— Ashley, 7/14/2013 -
" If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a book for you. Very similar to Philippa Gregory books. "
— Ashley, 7/14/2013 -
" I love to read a book where the journal entries are the stories...though it is fiction, I could see how easily marie antoinette could have written those pages and felt those feelings. It was a good book and in the end, i felt sorry for her demise. "
— Sandie, 6/24/2013 -
" I love to read a book where the journal entries are the stories...though it is fiction, I could see how easily marie antoinette could have written those pages and felt those feelings. It was a good book and in the end, i felt sorry for her demise. "
— Sandie, 6/24/2013 -
" You actually feel as though you're reading someone's diary, so masterfully was this handled. The reader keeps turning the pages, following Marie on her journey, with danger at every turn. Highly recommended. "
— Joyce, 5/18/2013 -
" You actually feel as though you're reading someone's diary, so masterfully was this handled. The reader keeps turning the pages, following Marie on her journey, with danger at every turn. Highly recommended. "
— Joyce, 5/18/2013 -
" This book was written as if Marie Antoinette wrote and chronicled her life from becoming queen to being overthrown. It was enjoyable to read, however, not sure how much is true. Too bad she didn't keep a real diary. "
— April, 5/16/2013 -
" This book was written as if Marie Antoinette wrote and chronicled her life from becoming queen to being overthrown. It was enjoyable to read, however, not sure how much is true. Too bad she didn't keep a real diary. "
— April, 5/16/2013 -
" I always love a great historical fiction book, and this was it! I recommend this to anyone who wants to read an awesome book about Marie Antoinette. "
— Jill, 5/2/2013 -
" I always love a great historical fiction book, and this was it! I recommend this to anyone who wants to read an awesome book about Marie Antoinette. "
— Jill, 5/2/2013 -
" I actually listened to this book on a long drive. It was mesmerizing with the details of the French court in its final days. "
— Maria, 1/31/2013 -
" Very interesting and entertaining "
— Cindy, 1/31/2013 -
" I actually listened to this book on a long drive. It was mesmerizing with the details of the French court in its final days. "
— Maria, 1/31/2013 -
" Very interesting and entertaining "
— Cindy, 1/31/2013 -
" Fun to read before going to Paris "
— Heidi, 4/29/2012 -
" Fun to read before going to Paris "
— Heidi, 4/29/2012 -
" Good historical fiction, even if all the characters weren't real. I enjoyed it. Quick read and gripping detail. "
— Carlee, 12/11/2011 -
" Good historical fiction, even if all the characters weren't real. I enjoyed it. Quick read and gripping detail. "
— Carlee, 12/11/2011 -
" Love getting to know more about historical fiction. "
— Megan, 11/20/2011 -
" Love getting to know more about historical fiction. "
— Megan, 11/20/2011 -
" I thought this book was very good, because I love history! It was very interesting to read about it, in her own words! Not some special history dude, but the woman who experianced it herself! Very intersting and very good of a book to read! "
— Madeline23, 7/23/2011 -
" I thought this book was very good, because I love history! It was very interesting to read about it, in her own words! Not some special history dude, but the woman who experianced it herself! Very intersting and very good of a book to read! "
— Madeline23, 7/23/2011 -
" it was great! love the whole set up of the book. it gave a feel that I found this diary somewhere and was let in on this incredible secret story. "
— Alyson, 6/9/2011 -
" it was great! love the whole set up of the book. it gave a feel that I found this diary somewhere and was let in on this incredible secret story. "
— Alyson, 6/9/2011 -
" Interesting perspective of a woman who has been vilified in history.<br/> "
— Allison, 5/15/2011 -
" Interesting perspective of a woman who has been vilified in history.<br/> "
— Allison, 5/15/2011 -
" A sympathetic portrait of Marie Antoinette that I really enjoyed. I'd like to read another book by Carolly Erickson. "
— Jeanne, 4/22/2011 -
" A sympathetic portrait of Marie Antoinette that I really enjoyed. I'd like to read another book by Carolly Erickson. "
— Jeanne, 4/22/2011 -
" Really well done, great pacing, an extremely interesting yet reasonable way to examine her life. I really was surprised by how much I liked it. Very recommended. "
— Carissa, 3/29/2011 -
" Really well done, great pacing, an extremely interesting yet reasonable way to examine her life. I really was surprised by how much I liked it. Very recommended. "
— Carissa, 3/29/2011 -
" 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, 3/16/2011
About Carolly Erickson
Carolly 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.
About Maggi-Meg Reed
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.