Marie Antoinette Information

Grade 7-10– This serviceable biography, Marie Antoinette: And The Decline Of French Monarchy, covers the famous French queen’s life from birth to execution. There are numerous engravings and fine-art reproductions, minus David’s famous drawing of Marie Antoinette on her way to the guillotine.There are no maps of Europe and of Paris and its environs or genealogical charts of the Austrian and French royal families. The writing is pedestrian and often awkward; a number of unfamiliar terms aren’t defined. There are some errors, typos, and a number of unexplained or confusing references–such as how many children Maria Theresa had and why there was so much contention among French royals. Not outstanding in any way.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

Gr. 9-12. YAs who associate Marie Antoinette with frivolous excess may be surprised by the positive portrayal in this biography. Divided at age 14 from her Austrian homeland and forced to marry the “awkward, lumbering” heir to the French throne, the young dauphine faced indisputably tough circumstances. Unfortunately, the authors present the queen as the innocent target of a restive public’s ire without consistently offering supporting evidence.

Though the more sympathetic view is widely accepted by modern historians (many of whose own analyses are listed in the concluding bibliography), neglecting to support one’s conclusions and acknowledge surmise where it occurs does a disservice to young readers. Despite imperfections, though, this entry in the new European Queens series provides an engaging point of entry into the history of the French Revolution. Moreover, for YA appeal, it’s hard to beat a historical figure whose story features a controversial diamond necklace, public speculation about the royals’ troubled sex life, and, of course, a tragic, bloody conclusion. Jennifer Mattson

Maria Theresa of Austria by J. ALEXANDER MAHAN. PREFACE: In this brief biography of Maria Theresa of Austria, the author addresses himself to general readers who are assumed to be unfamiliar with the details of European history. Care has been used to explain associated characters and events as they are mentioned in the narration, and two explanatory chapters have been introduced dealing with the Holy Roman Empire of the Germans, the Austrian Monarchy, and the contemporaries of the queen. We have aspired to make this book such that the average American reader may be able to understand and enjoy the text from beginning to end without the use of reference books.

But the author also hopes this work may be deemed worthy of a place in the libraries of historians. Due attention has been given to accuracy in the statement of facts, and all inferences drawn from them have been carefully considered. Many citations of authorities have been given and their use made as practical as possible by supplying a complete list of the works mentioned, with full data concerning publishers and dates of publication This seemed necessary to avoid confusion, since many of the works cited have been repeatedly printed in editions which are not uniform in volumes and pages.

To save space nearly all the citations are given in an abbreviated form of the complete entries placed at the end of the text-For the most part, letters have been referred to by names and dates so vii viii Preface they may be easily located in any publication containing them. Perhaps we should explain that the references arc given not merely to support the authors statements, hut also to indicate where further information may he found, and to enable the reader to learn how the subject under discussion has been regarded by other writers in a few instances, it may be discovered that the citations present views which diverge from those of the author. We believe the House of Hapsburg is looked upon too unfavorably by the English-speaking race, especially in the United States of America. We are prone to forget that this, the greatest ruling dynasty in modern history, spanned the long period from the Crusades to the World War, and that during much of that time it formed the main bulwark which held back the rising tide of Mohammedanism threatening to en gulf Europe and sweep Christian culture from the face of the earth The Hapsburgs were not only strong, but also appeared upright and honorable when compared with most of their contemporaries. Even when the House, after six centuries of power, went into decline, it never sank to the low level of degradation and impotency occupied by most of the dynasties of Europe when approaching extinction. Maria Theresa was the only ruling queen of the House of Hapsburg and many we think very justly regard her as the most capable, honorable, and conscientious ruler of the entire dynasty. For the author, she has always had a peculiar charm because of her supreme courage, lofty aspirations, and good common sense in the presence of apparently overwhelming difficulties, debased contemporaries, and erratic advisers. To write her biography has been a pleasant task, in spite of the fact that many of her convictions seem to have been fundamentally wrong…

Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles Review

“…an enthralling look at the doomed Queen and her gardens…Halard’s haunting images capture the awesome splendor of this thoroughly unique place.” ~The Peak of Chic

“Francois Halard’s photographs of the grounds, including the grotto, the Belvedere and the Queen’s Theater, are the first to be published in book form since the recent restoration of the estate.” ~France Magazine

“Christian Duvernois and Francois Halard reveal the queen’s softer side…showcasing her house and gardens at Le Petit Trianon.” ~Traditional Home

“The author champions Marie-Antoinette, documenting the evolution of the queen and of the Petit Trianon….(which) has been lovingly restored and is presented here as the “Arcadian Idyll,” seductively photographed by Francois Halard.” ~Veranda

“Flipping the page is like taking another step further in the glorious maze of the palace at Versailles.” ~Romantic Homes

“In his delightful book, landscape designer and historian Christian Duvernois notes that the passionate gardener can transform an ordinary piece of land into a sensitive portrait of an epoch and a major work of art.” ~Town & Country

Product Description

Marie-Antoinette has been idolized as the height of eighteenth-century French style and vilified as the spark that ignited the French Revolution. This book departs from such traditional interpretations of the infamous queen’s reign and chooses to reflect on the humanistic aspects of her private realm. To escape the formalities and royal obligations of Louis XVI’s court, Marie-Antoinette created a private realm of pleasure for herself at the Petit Trianon and Hameau, where she planted the first Anglo-Chinese garden; created a trysting grotto; a working farm; and revolutionized architecture and gardening trends for the century to come. Marie-Antoinette’s entire private domain and its story are told in beautiful photographic detail by François Halard for the first time since its recent restoration and accompanied by well-researched texts by garden expert Christian Duvernois.

The contrast between the elegance of the French royal court and the barbarity of the French Revolution makes the story of Marie Antoinette, France’s last queen, a vivid and hypnotic narrative. Marie Antoinette – The Scapegoat Queen follows the Austrian-born princess through the complex politics of her arranged marriage to her sometimes scandalous behavior as Queen of France to her harsh end on the guillotine, arguing that though often foolish, Antoinette deserved neither her savage fate nor her reputation as a callous tyrant.

The documentary uses an impressive wealth of paintings, sculptures, and architecture to capture the flamboyance and playful flavor of the French aristocracy, and also uses occasional snippets of movies about the period to provide a little more visual activity. All in all, a thorough depiction of an incredible historical period…though whether Antoinette comes across as anything but a self-serving pawn of history is debatable, despite the documentary’s emphasis on her few moments of dignity. –Bret Fetzer

Product Description

“I was a queen, and you took away my crown, a wife, and you killed my husband, a mother, and you took my children away from me. All I have left is my blood: Take it, but do not make me suffer long.” – Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette, the young and beautiful Austrian princess who was strategically married into the most prestigious monarchy in Europe, was to become the symbol for the wanton extravagance of the 18th century aristocracy and was to be France’s last queen.

This is the story of the woman who became one of the most romanticized and tragic figures of history.

Marie Antoinette: A Film by David Grubin (2006)

This is the story of a callous monarch, swept to her death in the torrent of the French Revolution. It is also the tale of a fragile young woman struggling to find herself during one of the most turbulent moments in human history. Filmed in France and Austria, with rare access to Versailles, Le Petit Trianon, and the Austro-Hungarian palaces of her youth, Marie Antoinette will tell the intensely human story of the often misunderstood monarch who was beheaded during the turbulence and horror of the French revolution.