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

“Evocative photography and a wealth of detail make the book a visual treat.”—Interior Design

Marie Antoinette, whose marriage at fifteen made her queen of France before she was twenty, died under the blade of the guillotine in 1793. She has been romanticized as the martyred queen, admired as the personification of eighteenth-century French royal style, and vilified as the Austrian whose frivolous extravagance and foreign sympathies fired the French Revolution.

This book turns aside from the official portraits and great historical events to rediscover the private places and objects that reflect Marie Antoinette’s personality and reveal her more directly to our modern gaze. Beautifully photographed by François Halard, the rooms and buildings she inhabited are shown here in fascinating detail, from the distinctive fabrics and furnishings to the queen’s favorite objects—an amber curiosity, a Chinese lacquer gift from her mother, a porcelain bowl. 123 illustrations, 108 in color.

About the Author
Marie-France Boyer is a freelance journalist and the Paris Editor of The World of Interiors magazine. François Halard contributes to many magazines, including The World of Interiors, Décoration Internationale, Vogue, and House & Garden.