What do you think?
Rate this book
Marie Antoinette #1
Becoming Marie Antoinette
카지노싸이트 Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2011)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.
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.
453 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2011
376 people are currently reading
11620 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Grey
11 books336 followersJuliet Grey has extensively researched European royal history and is a particular devotee of Marie Antoinette. She and her husband divide their time between New York City and Washington DC.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 652 reviews
August 16, 2011
I received an electronic galley of this novel from the publisher.
This is a straightforward novel about the young Marie Antoinette, covering the period from her preteen years to her becoming Queen of France. I found Marie engaging and sympathetic, and her budding relationship with her husband was presented quite sensitively.
My primary objection to this novel is that it simply isn't the tour de force it's made out to be by the publisher. Marie Antoinette is what's referred to in the publishing industry as a "marquee name"--a historical character who can draw in readers through name recognition alone. Some of these historical characters, like Anne Boleyn, have become so popular a subject for historical fiction that it's difficult to come up with anything new to say about them. Grey's novel epitomizes this problem. The novel hits all of the plot points familiar to those who have read other fiction about Marie Antoinette--her relationship with her strict mother, her disgust at the rigid etiquette of the French court, her difficulty consummating her marriage, her correspondence with her disapproving mother, her refusal to acknowledge the king's mistress, the meeting with Fersen at a masked ball, her husband's unpleasant aunts, her husband's difficulties with his more socially adept younger brothers, the king's death by smallpox--and it doesn't do so in a way that makes any of this material fresh or particularly interesting. Even the details about the makeover that Marie had to undergo before making her royal marriage--among other things, she was made to wear braces on her teeth--can be found in other novels about the young Marie, like Melanie Clegg's The Secret Diary of a Princess and Carolyn Meyer's The Bad Queen. There's nothing wrong in itself in an author covering the familiar events of a historical character's life--it's certainly preferable to playing fast and loose with history, in my opinion--but those expecting a fresh perspective on the young Marie won't get it here.
I found the novel lacking somewhat in other respects as well. Grey has written several historical novels under another pen name, but there are problems associated with less experienced writers here. Marie, the narrator, often refers to her lack of learning, yet she tosses out classical allusions and ten-dollar-words with ease. "As you know, Bob" dialogue abounds, as in a scene where Marie's mother and Marie's brother tell each other things each knows perfectly well while Marie listens (of course) through a keyhole. There are "information dumps," as when Marie, having complained that she feels like one of the animals in her father's menagerie, proceeds to enumerate the aforesaid animals, not because it has anything to do with what is happening but obviously because the author has taken the trouble to find out what animals were in the menagerie and wants to make sure the reader appreciates her efforts. These aren't huge problems, but they grated on me.
About a third or so into the novel, letters from other characters to other characters began to appear, without Marie making any reference to them or being aware of their existence. Once I got used to this, it wasn't bothersome, but their presence was jarring at first.
In sum, for readers of historical fiction who are unfamiliar with Marie Antoinette's story, this novel isn't a bad place to start. Those who are, however, are unlikely to find much here to distinguish this novel from the others that have featured Marie Antoinette as the heroine.
This is a straightforward novel about the young Marie Antoinette, covering the period from her preteen years to her becoming Queen of France. I found Marie engaging and sympathetic, and her budding relationship with her husband was presented quite sensitively.
My primary objection to this novel is that it simply isn't the tour de force it's made out to be by the publisher. Marie Antoinette is what's referred to in the publishing industry as a "marquee name"--a historical character who can draw in readers through name recognition alone. Some of these historical characters, like Anne Boleyn, have become so popular a subject for historical fiction that it's difficult to come up with anything new to say about them. Grey's novel epitomizes this problem. The novel hits all of the plot points familiar to those who have read other fiction about Marie Antoinette--her relationship with her strict mother, her disgust at the rigid etiquette of the French court, her difficulty consummating her marriage, her correspondence with her disapproving mother, her refusal to acknowledge the king's mistress, the meeting with Fersen at a masked ball, her husband's unpleasant aunts, her husband's difficulties with his more socially adept younger brothers, the king's death by smallpox--and it doesn't do so in a way that makes any of this material fresh or particularly interesting. Even the details about the makeover that Marie had to undergo before making her royal marriage--among other things, she was made to wear braces on her teeth--can be found in other novels about the young Marie, like Melanie Clegg's The Secret Diary of a Princess and Carolyn Meyer's The Bad Queen. There's nothing wrong in itself in an author covering the familiar events of a historical character's life--it's certainly preferable to playing fast and loose with history, in my opinion--but those expecting a fresh perspective on the young Marie won't get it here.
I found the novel lacking somewhat in other respects as well. Grey has written several historical novels under another pen name, but there are problems associated with less experienced writers here. Marie, the narrator, often refers to her lack of learning, yet she tosses out classical allusions and ten-dollar-words with ease. "As you know, Bob" dialogue abounds, as in a scene where Marie's mother and Marie's brother tell each other things each knows perfectly well while Marie listens (of course) through a keyhole. There are "information dumps," as when Marie, having complained that she feels like one of the animals in her father's menagerie, proceeds to enumerate the aforesaid animals, not because it has anything to do with what is happening but obviously because the author has taken the trouble to find out what animals were in the menagerie and wants to make sure the reader appreciates her efforts. These aren't huge problems, but they grated on me.
About a third or so into the novel, letters from other characters to other characters began to appear, without Marie making any reference to them or being aware of their existence. Once I got used to this, it wasn't bothersome, but their presence was jarring at first.
In sum, for readers of historical fiction who are unfamiliar with Marie Antoinette's story, this novel isn't a bad place to start. Those who are, however, are unlikely to find much here to distinguish this novel from the others that have featured Marie Antoinette as the heroine.
September 12, 2014
I am a huge fan, and I thought it was time to broaden my horizons a bit as I've only ever read about the British monarchy. I was fascinated by some of the facts in this book, as I knew absolutely nothing about Marie Antoinette as a young girl or about this period in history. Although the writing was not as captivating as Philipa's I will definitely be reading the rest of this series, as I think it is a very nice introduction her life.
December 9, 2011
This was one of those novels where I began the book with doubts and ended it as a fan. That's always a pleasant experience, and I was glad to find out that this was the first book in a series.
I thought that at the outset, Becoming Marie Antoinette is a little heavy on the historical detail. I felt a little as if I were reading a history book dressed up as a novel, but not enough that I wanted to stop reading. Marie Antoinette is an interesting historical figure, and I was fascinated by the details of her childhood in Austria and particularly by her relationship with her mother.
By the time Marie Antoinette arrives in France, I felt that the author was warming up--not to her subject, because her passion for the historical period is evident from the start--but to the rhythm of writing a historical novel. The story begins to take over from the details, and once the author hits that stride the narrative begins to flow very nicely.
The relationship between Marie Antoinette and the Dauphin is very nicely handled, and perfectly believable. Grey's imagining of two characters who had to grow into adulthood in the hothouse atmosphere of the French court and find a way to make their own relationship work, spurred on by the notions of duty that had been impressed on them since childhood, was convincing.
All in all, a very satisfying novel, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I thought that at the outset, Becoming Marie Antoinette is a little heavy on the historical detail. I felt a little as if I were reading a history book dressed up as a novel, but not enough that I wanted to stop reading. Marie Antoinette is an interesting historical figure, and I was fascinated by the details of her childhood in Austria and particularly by her relationship with her mother.
By the time Marie Antoinette arrives in France, I felt that the author was warming up--not to her subject, because her passion for the historical period is evident from the start--but to the rhythm of writing a historical novel. The story begins to take over from the details, and once the author hits that stride the narrative begins to flow very nicely.
The relationship between Marie Antoinette and the Dauphin is very nicely handled, and perfectly believable. Grey's imagining of two characters who had to grow into adulthood in the hothouse atmosphere of the French court and find a way to make their own relationship work, spurred on by the notions of duty that had been impressed on them since childhood, was convincing.
All in all, a very satisfying novel, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
December 2, 2018
This is not the most well-written book I’ve ever read and, it drags, the language seems redundant, but overall, the story is interesting enough.
July 4, 2011
Ten-year-old Maria Antonia has just been told by her mother, the empress of Austria, that she was to become the bride of the dauphine of France, where she will one day become the Queen of France.
By the time she is fourteen years old Marie Antonia has had a complete makeover: she has learned to walk and dance properly, has had her teeth straightened, has learned to be fluent in Frence and learn a little French history. She has several trunks filled with the most glamorous silk dresses she has ever seen.
At fourteen she travels to France to marry Louis XVI, a teenage boy she has never met before. He is more interested in anything else besides her. He seems shy, he can’t dance without stepping on her feet. And evidently he would rather eat than talk to her.
I love historical fiction and this book actually provided the back ground information to make it understandable what was happening to young Marie Antoinette. You see the way she had to deal with her day to day life, you see a young teenage girl dealing with something that is so difficult that she has to have a servant assigned to her to make sure she does not break any etiquette rules. You see her trying to get to know her new husband and you see her relationship with the king.
I think this is an outstanding piece of historical fiction and the detail of daily life that the author provides makes it vivid. You can actually see the ladies with their hair done up, you can feel for her when she goofs up.
The whole time I am reading this book I am thinking that Marie Antoinette certainly handled herself much better than I would have. At fifteen she is landed on to a stage where everything she does is seen, reported or gossiped about. And she appears to do it without much whining. She deals with people who do not have her best interest at heart, people who hate her for no particular reason.
I give this book five stars because it provided everything I want in historical fiction: accuracy in facts, attention to detail, a clear picture of the time period, and a great plot. Even though I know how her story ends, I really want to read the next book in the sequel as soon as it comes out. I won this book through 카지노싸이트 First Reads Program.
By the time she is fourteen years old Marie Antonia has had a complete makeover: she has learned to walk and dance properly, has had her teeth straightened, has learned to be fluent in Frence and learn a little French history. She has several trunks filled with the most glamorous silk dresses she has ever seen.
At fourteen she travels to France to marry Louis XVI, a teenage boy she has never met before. He is more interested in anything else besides her. He seems shy, he can’t dance without stepping on her feet. And evidently he would rather eat than talk to her.
I love historical fiction and this book actually provided the back ground information to make it understandable what was happening to young Marie Antoinette. You see the way she had to deal with her day to day life, you see a young teenage girl dealing with something that is so difficult that she has to have a servant assigned to her to make sure she does not break any etiquette rules. You see her trying to get to know her new husband and you see her relationship with the king.
I think this is an outstanding piece of historical fiction and the detail of daily life that the author provides makes it vivid. You can actually see the ladies with their hair done up, you can feel for her when she goofs up.
The whole time I am reading this book I am thinking that Marie Antoinette certainly handled herself much better than I would have. At fifteen she is landed on to a stage where everything she does is seen, reported or gossiped about. And she appears to do it without much whining. She deals with people who do not have her best interest at heart, people who hate her for no particular reason.
I give this book five stars because it provided everything I want in historical fiction: accuracy in facts, attention to detail, a clear picture of the time period, and a great plot. Even though I know how her story ends, I really want to read the next book in the sequel as soon as it comes out. I won this book through 카지노싸이트 First Reads Program.
October 19, 2012
Per chi ha interesse a conoscere dettagliatamente la vita di questo grande personaggio del passato non credo che possa esistere un libro migliore di questo. L'importante, prima della lettura, è sapere un paio di cose: 1) il titolo del libro è fuorviante, in quanto le parole "diario" e "proibito" sono le classiche keywords che la casa editrice mette per attirare i lettori. 2) Il libro fa parte di una trilogia (il cui secondo libro è stato pubblicato l'11 Ottobre 2012, per il terzo ci sarà ancora da aspettare).
"Becoming Marie Antoinette" (questo era il titolo originale del libro) è un romanzo storico che parte dall'infanzia di Maria Antonietta, quando ancora non era regina, e racconta per gradi il suo percorso per diventarlo. E' un romanzo, quindi ci sarà sicuramente qualche elemento di fantasia, ma è anche frutto di moltissimi studi, l'autrice si è documentata a fondo prima della sua stesura e si capisce. La vita di Maria Antonietta risulta davvero credibile, dettagliata, interessante, di piacevole lettura. Chi, come me, non ama leggere saggi e testi scolastici, troverà in questo romanzo tutto ciò che c'è da sapere sull'argomento, ma senza la pesantezza e la tediosità che sono purtroppo caratteristica dei non-romanzi.
L'autrice è una narratrice talentuosa, fa addentrare il lettore nella vita di Maria Antonietta talmente abilmente che sembra di viverla in prima persona, arricchisce la narrazione di particolari interessanti, e adotta uno stile di scrittura gradevolissimo, scorrevole ma al tempo stesso ricco e con un linguaggio adeguato, non troppo moderno, aggiungendo anche delle piccole sfumature di piacevole ironia... insomma, io mi sono innamorata di questo romanzo fin da subito! Ti fa guardare questo personaggio con un'ottica del tutta nuova... lo rende più "umano", più vicino al lettore! Per me è stato impossibile non appassionarmi alla storia, impossibile non desiderare di continuare la lettura della trilogia!
"Becoming Marie Antoinette" (questo era il titolo originale del libro) è un romanzo storico che parte dall'infanzia di Maria Antonietta, quando ancora non era regina, e racconta per gradi il suo percorso per diventarlo. E' un romanzo, quindi ci sarà sicuramente qualche elemento di fantasia, ma è anche frutto di moltissimi studi, l'autrice si è documentata a fondo prima della sua stesura e si capisce. La vita di Maria Antonietta risulta davvero credibile, dettagliata, interessante, di piacevole lettura. Chi, come me, non ama leggere saggi e testi scolastici, troverà in questo romanzo tutto ciò che c'è da sapere sull'argomento, ma senza la pesantezza e la tediosità che sono purtroppo caratteristica dei non-romanzi.
L'autrice è una narratrice talentuosa, fa addentrare il lettore nella vita di Maria Antonietta talmente abilmente che sembra di viverla in prima persona, arricchisce la narrazione di particolari interessanti, e adotta uno stile di scrittura gradevolissimo, scorrevole ma al tempo stesso ricco e con un linguaggio adeguato, non troppo moderno, aggiungendo anche delle piccole sfumature di piacevole ironia... insomma, io mi sono innamorata di questo romanzo fin da subito! Ti fa guardare questo personaggio con un'ottica del tutta nuova... lo rende più "umano", più vicino al lettore! Per me è stato impossibile non appassionarmi alla storia, impossibile non desiderare di continuare la lettura della trilogia!
July 13, 2017
I'm torn between two and three stars. Overall I enjoyed learning more about France and Marie Antoinette. There was a lot of historical information that was interesting to me and clearly the author has researched this time. I would like to read more but the writing was difficult for me. The pace was slower at times and I found myself skimming through large sections to get to the point. I don't want to go through two more books of that so I think I'll end off here on this particular series....
March 28, 2024
This book is exactly what it says on the tin: how Maria Antonia of Austria, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, was molded into Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. It was an arduous process that began when she was ten years old; that was when the first overtures came from Louis of France proposing a match between his grandson the Dauphin and the appropriately aged daughter of the Austrian court. From that day Antonia's life took a swift turn from a rather carefree childhood into the increasingly difficult – and dangerous – realm of royal bride.
In the four years that passed between the first overture to the completed contract, Antonia had to learn to manage all of the finer points of a new court – from hair and makeup and new styles of clothing (including "less forgiving" corsets) to history and music, to a language she never cared to apply herself to, down to the unique manner of walking no great lady of Versailles would consider not practicing. Meanwhile she continued under the close scrutiny of two courts, waiting for her menses to begin and for her to develop a more womanly figure. Over her head cut-throat negotiations continued between her mother and her prospective husband's grandfather – these continued to the point that Antonia finally reached France. It seems as though it was only through the empress's extreme doggedness that the wedding ever happened at all.
The short version of the story is that being a princess was far from being all beautiful fabrics and rich food and stunning gardens. And Prince Charming was not to be expected.
The narrative is presented with, for the most part, Antonia's tight third person point of view, broken occasionally for things she could not know about by the insertion of letters and official documents. The language is young, maturing (slightly) as the book progresses and the narrator matures (slightly); the age of the voice is very well modulated.
Lately I've been expressing my concerns about writers using real people as characters in their fiction. (I seem to be one of the only people bothered by this, so this is mainly talking to myself, I suppose.) So why am I singularly untroubled by Becoming Marie Antoinette? I think it lies in three things: distance, author's motivation/respect for the subject, and the standing and condition of the person in question. Whether it's logical or not, time passage makes a difference to me: the 1770's are, or seem, much more distant even than the early 1800's; the farther back into history a book is set, the less it troubles me, whether because the longer ago it was the more a person becomes a figure of history or because family currently living is less likely to be hurt or something else I haven't determined yet. I do know that using someone who was living and breathing within my lifetime is highly offensive to me, while using, say, Chaucer, as Margaret Frazer does, is rather intriguing. To the second point, Becoming Marie Antoinette is a biographical novel, with an intent to both entertain and educate. (Both goals very nicely achieved, by the way.) From the author's notes, Juliet Gray developed a passionate fondness for Maria Antonia, and one of her missions is to try to combat the common image of the flighty and irresponsible queen. My impression of some of the works that use Jane Austen, the example who has been on my mind of late, has been far more along the lines of "Jane Austen is fashionable! I'll make her a detective and sell millions of books!" If nothing else, it's undignified, and lacks the respect Jane Austen is due. But it's standing, I think, that makes the biggest difference to me. It's in what I hypothesize the subject's outlook to be. Would she mind her avatar being co-opted, words being placed in her mouth that she never would have dreamed of saying and actions attributed to her that she never would have considered? Obviously, I have no deeper insight into the two women this paragraph is about than I have been able to gain from my unscholarly reading. But for Jane Austen, oh, yes, I have no doubt in the world that she would have more than minded. She was a private citizen. Private in terms of someone who had no public presence – her books were initially published anonymously – and also very much private in terms of having no desire for parading or being paraded in public. (I hesitate to refer to her as "Jane" in my reviews; it would have been such an intolerable presumption.) Marie Antoinette? I don't know. She was accustomed to her every move being scrutinized and discussed, used to everyone knowing who she was and what she said and did. My instinct – all I have to go on, really – is that she would have been charmed and flattered. And that makes a huge difference in my perception.
There is one more thing that comes into play here. Voice. Becoming Marie Antoinette is written as if Maria Antonia is telling the story. Some of the other books I referred to earlier, the Jane Austen Detective books, are supposedly recently discovered Austen memoirs. Presuming to write in Jane Austen's voice is … I saw the adjective "ambitious" used in a review, and that is certainly a kind word for it. I used "hazardous" once; we'll go with that to be nice. Here, though, the hazard does not exist. For one thing, there is little enough to compare to, especially for the layman; for another, there is a genuineness – and, yes, respect – for the subject which solidifies the whole.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is an eye-opening book, obviously partisan, for a woman who needed partisans. It's the first of three following the princess-become-dauphine-become-queen through to the end, and I'll be interested in the rest of the story.
In the four years that passed between the first overture to the completed contract, Antonia had to learn to manage all of the finer points of a new court – from hair and makeup and new styles of clothing (including "less forgiving" corsets) to history and music, to a language she never cared to apply herself to, down to the unique manner of walking no great lady of Versailles would consider not practicing. Meanwhile she continued under the close scrutiny of two courts, waiting for her menses to begin and for her to develop a more womanly figure. Over her head cut-throat negotiations continued between her mother and her prospective husband's grandfather – these continued to the point that Antonia finally reached France. It seems as though it was only through the empress's extreme doggedness that the wedding ever happened at all.
The short version of the story is that being a princess was far from being all beautiful fabrics and rich food and stunning gardens. And Prince Charming was not to be expected.
The narrative is presented with, for the most part, Antonia's tight third person point of view, broken occasionally for things she could not know about by the insertion of letters and official documents. The language is young, maturing (slightly) as the book progresses and the narrator matures (slightly); the age of the voice is very well modulated.
Lately I've been expressing my concerns about writers using real people as characters in their fiction. (I seem to be one of the only people bothered by this, so this is mainly talking to myself, I suppose.) So why am I singularly untroubled by Becoming Marie Antoinette? I think it lies in three things: distance, author's motivation/respect for the subject, and the standing and condition of the person in question. Whether it's logical or not, time passage makes a difference to me: the 1770's are, or seem, much more distant even than the early 1800's; the farther back into history a book is set, the less it troubles me, whether because the longer ago it was the more a person becomes a figure of history or because family currently living is less likely to be hurt or something else I haven't determined yet. I do know that using someone who was living and breathing within my lifetime is highly offensive to me, while using, say, Chaucer, as Margaret Frazer does, is rather intriguing. To the second point, Becoming Marie Antoinette is a biographical novel, with an intent to both entertain and educate. (Both goals very nicely achieved, by the way.) From the author's notes, Juliet Gray developed a passionate fondness for Maria Antonia, and one of her missions is to try to combat the common image of the flighty and irresponsible queen. My impression of some of the works that use Jane Austen, the example who has been on my mind of late, has been far more along the lines of "Jane Austen is fashionable! I'll make her a detective and sell millions of books!" If nothing else, it's undignified, and lacks the respect Jane Austen is due. But it's standing, I think, that makes the biggest difference to me. It's in what I hypothesize the subject's outlook to be. Would she mind her avatar being co-opted, words being placed in her mouth that she never would have dreamed of saying and actions attributed to her that she never would have considered? Obviously, I have no deeper insight into the two women this paragraph is about than I have been able to gain from my unscholarly reading. But for Jane Austen, oh, yes, I have no doubt in the world that she would have more than minded. She was a private citizen. Private in terms of someone who had no public presence – her books were initially published anonymously – and also very much private in terms of having no desire for parading or being paraded in public. (I hesitate to refer to her as "Jane" in my reviews; it would have been such an intolerable presumption.) Marie Antoinette? I don't know. She was accustomed to her every move being scrutinized and discussed, used to everyone knowing who she was and what she said and did. My instinct – all I have to go on, really – is that she would have been charmed and flattered. And that makes a huge difference in my perception.
There is one more thing that comes into play here. Voice. Becoming Marie Antoinette is written as if Maria Antonia is telling the story. Some of the other books I referred to earlier, the Jane Austen Detective books, are supposedly recently discovered Austen memoirs. Presuming to write in Jane Austen's voice is … I saw the adjective "ambitious" used in a review, and that is certainly a kind word for it. I used "hazardous" once; we'll go with that to be nice. Here, though, the hazard does not exist. For one thing, there is little enough to compare to, especially for the layman; for another, there is a genuineness – and, yes, respect – for the subject which solidifies the whole.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is an eye-opening book, obviously partisan, for a woman who needed partisans. It's the first of three following the princess-become-dauphine-become-queen through to the end, and I'll be interested in the rest of the story.
October 21, 2011
This first of three projected novels about Marie Antoinette is getting a good deal of buzz among readers and reviewers of historical fiction for its detailed portrayal of the period and its in-depth characterization of the future French Queen. In interviews Juliet Grey has pointed out that with this series she is interested in redeeming a much maligned historical figure, who, while usually portrayed as “heedless to headless” was, in fact, a much more sympathetic character. As Grey points out, the history of Marie Antoinette was written by her enemies, the victors of the French Revolution. Now there’s a new version, and it’s worth reading.
Grey begins with the ten-year-old Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria on the day her mother, the Empress of Austria, began negotiations for the marriage of her youngest daughter to the Dauphin of France. She opens with a charming scene outdoors between “Toinette” (her family nickname), Charlotte (her favorite sister) and their governess, who is attempting to teach them French, but the girls are more interested in chasing butterflies and painting their governess’s face with their watercolors when she falls asleep in the sun. The scene has the difficult job of connecting us to a child enough so that we care about what happens to her and will read on. In this, Grey succeeds. She makes an excellent beginning in her opening sentence, “My mother liked to boast that her numerous daughters were ‘sacrices to politics.’” Other chilling details about the girls’ future roles and their mother’s demanding and distant treatment of them create a sharp contrast to the two mischievous girls whom we get to know quite intimately. They seem ordinary in their desire to distract their teacher and in the carefree way they get mud and grass stains on their silk gowns. That Toinette is clearly terrible at her lessons and can’t learn much of anything is another detail that hooks us in. How on earth is this little girl going to become a queen? Grey succeeds both in making us like this child and in causing us to worry about her.
Marie Antointette’s journey to the French throne turns out to be complicated and full of pitfalls. While this is a work of fiction, Grey has based her characterization in history while allowing herself the liberty to imagine what went on both behind closed doors and within the minds of her characters. She has written nonfiction about this period and queen, and listening to her discuss her research, I’m willing to trust that she’s constructed a legitimate “read” of this famous woman, although I’m sure the debate will continue in scholarly and historical fiction circles. Certainly Grey’s version of Marie Antoinette is engaging.
For me the strength of this book lies in Marie Antoinette’s richly developed inner world—how hard she tried to fulfill her mother’s demands, how vulnerable and unprepared she was for the gossipy, infighting French court, how much she yearned to be loved but mostly wasn’t, the bizarre but sweet relationship she shared eventually with her husband. For many people the elaborate detail about clothing, hairstyles, etiquette and court customs will be among the most delightful aspects. I have to confess that sometimes I got bogged down in the repeated dressing and hair-do scenes. Part of the point of them was to show that the young woman herself found them too much, so they served a purpose within the novel, but I sometimes wished for more plot less fashion. Marie Antoinette’s training in the Austrian court to prepare her to be an acceptable bride for the Dauphin was particularly detailed: dance steps, parlor games, walking styles, even, most astonishingly to me, braces made of gold to straighten her teeth. The reader does feel for this poor girl whose every moment seems calculated to point out her deficiencies and improve them.
We are left with a vivid portrayal of a young woman who had no control over the path her life took, having been the pawn of her mother and many French and Austrian men as they tightened and manipulated ties between the two countries. Her efforts to define her own place and role are all the more interesting against this backdrop. That she succeeds at all in “becoming Marie Antoinette” is quite remarkable, and it’s worth going along on the journey.
Grey begins with the ten-year-old Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria on the day her mother, the Empress of Austria, began negotiations for the marriage of her youngest daughter to the Dauphin of France. She opens with a charming scene outdoors between “Toinette” (her family nickname), Charlotte (her favorite sister) and their governess, who is attempting to teach them French, but the girls are more interested in chasing butterflies and painting their governess’s face with their watercolors when she falls asleep in the sun. The scene has the difficult job of connecting us to a child enough so that we care about what happens to her and will read on. In this, Grey succeeds. She makes an excellent beginning in her opening sentence, “My mother liked to boast that her numerous daughters were ‘sacrices to politics.’” Other chilling details about the girls’ future roles and their mother’s demanding and distant treatment of them create a sharp contrast to the two mischievous girls whom we get to know quite intimately. They seem ordinary in their desire to distract their teacher and in the carefree way they get mud and grass stains on their silk gowns. That Toinette is clearly terrible at her lessons and can’t learn much of anything is another detail that hooks us in. How on earth is this little girl going to become a queen? Grey succeeds both in making us like this child and in causing us to worry about her.
Marie Antointette’s journey to the French throne turns out to be complicated and full of pitfalls. While this is a work of fiction, Grey has based her characterization in history while allowing herself the liberty to imagine what went on both behind closed doors and within the minds of her characters. She has written nonfiction about this period and queen, and listening to her discuss her research, I’m willing to trust that she’s constructed a legitimate “read” of this famous woman, although I’m sure the debate will continue in scholarly and historical fiction circles. Certainly Grey’s version of Marie Antoinette is engaging.
For me the strength of this book lies in Marie Antoinette’s richly developed inner world—how hard she tried to fulfill her mother’s demands, how vulnerable and unprepared she was for the gossipy, infighting French court, how much she yearned to be loved but mostly wasn’t, the bizarre but sweet relationship she shared eventually with her husband. For many people the elaborate detail about clothing, hairstyles, etiquette and court customs will be among the most delightful aspects. I have to confess that sometimes I got bogged down in the repeated dressing and hair-do scenes. Part of the point of them was to show that the young woman herself found them too much, so they served a purpose within the novel, but I sometimes wished for more plot less fashion. Marie Antoinette’s training in the Austrian court to prepare her to be an acceptable bride for the Dauphin was particularly detailed: dance steps, parlor games, walking styles, even, most astonishingly to me, braces made of gold to straighten her teeth. The reader does feel for this poor girl whose every moment seems calculated to point out her deficiencies and improve them.
We are left with a vivid portrayal of a young woman who had no control over the path her life took, having been the pawn of her mother and many French and Austrian men as they tightened and manipulated ties between the two countries. Her efforts to define her own place and role are all the more interesting against this backdrop. That she succeeds at all in “becoming Marie Antoinette” is quite remarkable, and it’s worth going along on the journey.
March 5, 2025
Historical fiction is not my passion, but my girl Marie Antoinette is.
Couldn’t I, a young woman forged by Sofia Coppola, not enjoy this story? The simplest answer is no, because I did enjoy it, but the frustration was so heavy that for a moment I thought about ripping the book in half and setting it on fire.
For marketing reasons what could have been a big, fulfilling book was divided into a trilogy, and I'm sorry to break the news but this one is the most boring one.
↠ 3 stars
Couldn’t I, a young woman forged by Sofia Coppola, not enjoy this story? The simplest answer is no, because I did enjoy it, but the frustration was so heavy that for a moment I thought about ripping the book in half and setting it on fire.
For marketing reasons what could have been a big, fulfilling book was divided into a trilogy, and I'm sorry to break the news but this one is the most boring one.
↠ 3 stars
August 27, 2018
As the title suggests, Becoming Marie Antoinette is biographical fiction inspired by the life of the ill-fated queen of France, who lost her head to the guillotine during the French Revolution.
It is one of my favourite periods of history (I’m actually writing a novel set during the Terror now), and I read many novels inspired by her life by writers like Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt when I was a teenager. I have also read many biographies by historians such as Antonia Fraser and Evelyne Lever, as well as life histories of her hairdresser, her perfumerer and the like.
Juliet Grey’s novel is the first in a trilogy, and begins when Maria Antonia is still a child in the court of her mother, the formidable Empress of Austria. Impulsive, warm-hearted and mischievous, Maria Antonia knows her destiny is to be married for political gain and hopes that her chosen husband will not be too old or too unkind. Her mother begins negotiations with the French king, Louis the Fifteenth, for a betrothal with his grandson, the young Dauphin. Marie Antonia begins her journey of transformation, having her teeth straightened, her posture corrected and her meagre education rectified. She is only fourteen when she is married by proxy and sent off alone to Versailles, and Juliet Grey brilliantly brings her sweetness, naïveté and natural charm to life.
Versailles is, of course, a gilded trap for the young dauphine, and she makes many mistakes by trusting too easily and not submitting to the strict etiquette of the court. Even worse, poor Marie Antoinette fails to entrance her awkward, immature 14-year old husband and the marriage remains unconsummated.
Light, sparkling and yet psychologically acute, Becoming Marie Antoinette is the best novel I have yet read about the young Austrian arch-duchess’s journey towards becoming the most infamous French queen in history.
It is one of my favourite periods of history (I’m actually writing a novel set during the Terror now), and I read many novels inspired by her life by writers like Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt when I was a teenager. I have also read many biographies by historians such as Antonia Fraser and Evelyne Lever, as well as life histories of her hairdresser, her perfumerer and the like.
Juliet Grey’s novel is the first in a trilogy, and begins when Maria Antonia is still a child in the court of her mother, the formidable Empress of Austria. Impulsive, warm-hearted and mischievous, Maria Antonia knows her destiny is to be married for political gain and hopes that her chosen husband will not be too old or too unkind. Her mother begins negotiations with the French king, Louis the Fifteenth, for a betrothal with his grandson, the young Dauphin. Marie Antonia begins her journey of transformation, having her teeth straightened, her posture corrected and her meagre education rectified. She is only fourteen when she is married by proxy and sent off alone to Versailles, and Juliet Grey brilliantly brings her sweetness, naïveté and natural charm to life.
Versailles is, of course, a gilded trap for the young dauphine, and she makes many mistakes by trusting too easily and not submitting to the strict etiquette of the court. Even worse, poor Marie Antoinette fails to entrance her awkward, immature 14-year old husband and the marriage remains unconsummated.
Light, sparkling and yet psychologically acute, Becoming Marie Antoinette is the best novel I have yet read about the young Austrian arch-duchess’s journey towards becoming the most infamous French queen in history.
July 24, 2011
I was fortunate enough to be selected to receive an Advance Reader's Edition of Becoming Marie Antoinette: A Novel. I was thrilled to be selected because I have always found Marie Antoinette to be an interesting person in history. Many have portrayed Marie Antoinette as self-absorbed and dimwitted. I was quite intrigued to see how Juliet Grey would present her in this novel.
Maria Antonia grew up in Austria always knowing that one day she would be a "sacrifice to politics". Her mother, Maria Theresa, was the Empress of Austria and demanded great things from her daughters. By the age of 10, Antonia had been promised in marriage to Louis Charles, the dauphin of France. A complete intellectual and physical transformation had to be undergone to prepare Antonia to become the dauphine of France and eventually their Queen. Finally, at the age of 14, the marriage was ready to move forward. Antonia had to leave nearly everything behind; her family, her servants whom she loved like family, her homeland, her language, her customs, etc. She had to convince the people of France to love her, despite the fact that many had preconceived notions about Austrian women. One of the people who needed the most convincing was her new husband, Louis.
Through the pages of this book, Juliet Grey shows us what a strong and compassionate person Marie Antoinette was. Despite constant criticism from her mother, she constantly strove to make her happy. Within the corrupt world of Versailles, Antoinette worked hard to keep her morals. Antoinette struggled to learn who she could trust and who she could not and it becomes clear in this book how lonely of a life it must have truly been.
Thoroughly researched and well-written, I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. This is the first book in a trilogy and will be released on 8/9/11. The second book in the trilogy, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, will be released in the summer of 2012. The third and final book will be released in 2013. I look forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.
Maria Antonia grew up in Austria always knowing that one day she would be a "sacrifice to politics". Her mother, Maria Theresa, was the Empress of Austria and demanded great things from her daughters. By the age of 10, Antonia had been promised in marriage to Louis Charles, the dauphin of France. A complete intellectual and physical transformation had to be undergone to prepare Antonia to become the dauphine of France and eventually their Queen. Finally, at the age of 14, the marriage was ready to move forward. Antonia had to leave nearly everything behind; her family, her servants whom she loved like family, her homeland, her language, her customs, etc. She had to convince the people of France to love her, despite the fact that many had preconceived notions about Austrian women. One of the people who needed the most convincing was her new husband, Louis.
Through the pages of this book, Juliet Grey shows us what a strong and compassionate person Marie Antoinette was. Despite constant criticism from her mother, she constantly strove to make her happy. Within the corrupt world of Versailles, Antoinette worked hard to keep her morals. Antoinette struggled to learn who she could trust and who she could not and it becomes clear in this book how lonely of a life it must have truly been.
Thoroughly researched and well-written, I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. This is the first book in a trilogy and will be released on 8/9/11. The second book in the trilogy, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, will be released in the summer of 2012. The third and final book will be released in 2013. I look forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.
June 20, 2011
*This review is for an ARE edition*
I can still remember when Becoming Marie Antoinette first popped up on Amazon.com search results, with no cover, no summary, and nothing but the title and the author. Then, as more details emerged, it was revealed to be the first in an upcoming trilogy about the (in)famous French queen. The cover was revealed, a book trailer released, and now the AREs are making the rounds. I received my copy in the mail with a mixture of excitement and, to be honest, nervousness! Because Marie Antoinette is probably my deepest historical interest, I'm always antsy when reading a new book about her, especially a novel.
Before beginning to read, I decided that I wanted to get through 50 pages a day and finish the book in little over a week. The book arrived on June 17th - and I couldn't help but eat up the entire novel as swiftly as I could manage, and finished it on June 20th!
The length of this book allows for a much greater development of character than, in my opinion, any previous novel about the queen. In a typical Marie Antoinette narrative, she's in Versailles by page 20 - it's close to 200 pages before Marie Antoinette steps foot on French soil, and the connection to her character is all the stronger for it. The story enjoys a slower pace but a much better sense of personality, setting, and overall story. It feels like a historical fiction novel, not a biography with some dialogue and flowery phrases tacked on.
I've heard Becoming Marie Antoinette described as a 'confection' of a novel, and the term is a pretty apt description for Juliet Grey's writing. The colorful descriptions of faces, palaces, dresses, and odors both pleasant and horrid are vivid and imaginative, without sounding like the same tired cliches commonly found in historical fiction.
Speaking of historical fiction... those of us who tend to (and I'll admit I'm terribly guilty of this) nitpick novels that involve history we are interested in will be excited to know that the novel is well researched without coming across as "stuffy" or too biographical. Any changes or tweaks on history are done for the smoothness of the narrative, and nothing that really detracts from the characters of Marie Antoinette or her family.
To sum up, I loved this book. It's uncommon that I will literally say: "I am loving this book" when I take a break during a book, but it's what I found myself saying over and over! If the rest of the trilogy lives up to this first installment, I think Juliet Grey's "Marie Antoinette" trilogy will be a treasured set on many bookshelves.
I can still remember when Becoming Marie Antoinette first popped up on Amazon.com search results, with no cover, no summary, and nothing but the title and the author. Then, as more details emerged, it was revealed to be the first in an upcoming trilogy about the (in)famous French queen. The cover was revealed, a book trailer released, and now the AREs are making the rounds. I received my copy in the mail with a mixture of excitement and, to be honest, nervousness! Because Marie Antoinette is probably my deepest historical interest, I'm always antsy when reading a new book about her, especially a novel.
Before beginning to read, I decided that I wanted to get through 50 pages a day and finish the book in little over a week. The book arrived on June 17th - and I couldn't help but eat up the entire novel as swiftly as I could manage, and finished it on June 20th!
The length of this book allows for a much greater development of character than, in my opinion, any previous novel about the queen. In a typical Marie Antoinette narrative, she's in Versailles by page 20 - it's close to 200 pages before Marie Antoinette steps foot on French soil, and the connection to her character is all the stronger for it. The story enjoys a slower pace but a much better sense of personality, setting, and overall story. It feels like a historical fiction novel, not a biography with some dialogue and flowery phrases tacked on.
I've heard Becoming Marie Antoinette described as a 'confection' of a novel, and the term is a pretty apt description for Juliet Grey's writing. The colorful descriptions of faces, palaces, dresses, and odors both pleasant and horrid are vivid and imaginative, without sounding like the same tired cliches commonly found in historical fiction.
Speaking of historical fiction... those of us who tend to (and I'll admit I'm terribly guilty of this) nitpick novels that involve history we are interested in will be excited to know that the novel is well researched without coming across as "stuffy" or too biographical. Any changes or tweaks on history are done for the smoothness of the narrative, and nothing that really detracts from the characters of Marie Antoinette or her family.
To sum up, I loved this book. It's uncommon that I will literally say: "I am loving this book" when I take a break during a book, but it's what I found myself saying over and over! If the rest of the trilogy lives up to this first installment, I think Juliet Grey's "Marie Antoinette" trilogy will be a treasured set on many bookshelves.
October 1, 2014
First off, whoever designed this cover needs to be fired because they obviously have no idea how repugnant a cover like this would be to a majority of the people who would normally be attracted to this book.
Seriously, Publishers, the people who will read this genre, have probably already read at least one book about Antoinette, and will be seriously turned off by that image.
Plus, this book only covers the first twenty or so years of Antoinette's life, and the woman on the cover looks like a middle aged soccer mom playing dress up in the privacy of her minivan.
Okay, on to the novel itself-
The whole thing was very "blah" it was readable; very slowwwwww but not necessarily boring. It's an interesting time period, and Grey handles it, but the Antoinette she crafted here was annoying, never moving beyond this scope of ninny and idiot. Being that the novel starts with Marie as a young child, her naïveté made sense, but even after her relocation to France, and her marriage she never really evolves. I think this is a problem with many novelized versions of Marie Antoinette's story, rather than showing a flawed girl/woman, they focus too much on the caricature of how history views and judges her.
The world still believes she said "Let them eat cake..." when there's no evidence (besides the propaganda associated with the latter part of her reign) to confirm that.
As you can see, I was disappointed, however the atmosphere of the novel was strong. It was only with the exception of a few historical hiccups - Marie's family endearingly call her "Toinette" even though she was always Antonia until her marriage - that stood apart for me as pet peeves.
As I wrote this review I kept asking myself if I would recommend this novel to others, and I think I would, but maybe with a disclaimer that the novel itself will probably not be what you're be expecting it to be.
Seriously, Publishers, the people who will read this genre, have probably already read at least one book about Antoinette, and will be seriously turned off by that image.
Plus, this book only covers the first twenty or so years of Antoinette's life, and the woman on the cover looks like a middle aged soccer mom playing dress up in the privacy of her minivan.
Okay, on to the novel itself-
The whole thing was very "blah" it was readable; very slowwwwww but not necessarily boring. It's an interesting time period, and Grey handles it, but the Antoinette she crafted here was annoying, never moving beyond this scope of ninny and idiot. Being that the novel starts with Marie as a young child, her naïveté made sense, but even after her relocation to France, and her marriage she never really evolves. I think this is a problem with many novelized versions of Marie Antoinette's story, rather than showing a flawed girl/woman, they focus too much on the caricature of how history views and judges her.
The world still believes she said "Let them eat cake..." when there's no evidence (besides the propaganda associated with the latter part of her reign) to confirm that.
As you can see, I was disappointed, however the atmosphere of the novel was strong. It was only with the exception of a few historical hiccups - Marie's family endearingly call her "Toinette" even though she was always Antonia until her marriage - that stood apart for me as pet peeves.
As I wrote this review I kept asking myself if I would recommend this novel to others, and I think I would, but maybe with a disclaimer that the novel itself will probably not be what you're be expecting it to be.
June 22, 2011
I won a copy of this through 카지노싸이트 first reads and I'm grateful because it's a book out of my normal realm of reading. The story was interesting and enchanting. It was eye opening to see what life was like back when Marie Antoinette lived! The language was difficult at times switching from Austrian to French to English and back again. Strangely enough stumbling through the language didn't make me toss this book aside. In fact I was left wanting more!
Thank you, Juliet and 카지노싸이트 - it was my honor to read this novel!
Thank you, Juliet and 카지노싸이트 - it was my honor to read this novel!
June 27, 2020
La lettura mi è risultata un po' indigesta, ma sicuramente è colpa mia e forse perché non era il momento giusto, chissà...
Tutto sommato non è un brutto libro, ma non essendo espertissima in materia non so quanto sia accurata la ricostruzione storica e ambientale.
Titolo come al solito tradotto a cavolo: non mi pare ci sia niente di proibito tra queste pagine. Meglio il titolo originale, sicuramente meno fuorviante.
Tutto sommato non è un brutto libro, ma non essendo espertissima in materia non so quanto sia accurata la ricostruzione storica e ambientale.
Titolo come al solito tradotto a cavolo: non mi pare ci sia niente di proibito tra queste pagine. Meglio il titolo originale, sicuramente meno fuorviante.
September 3, 2019
This is a well written historical fiction novel about Marie Antoinette. I truly enjoyed learning about her family, marriage at a very young age and her early years of married life. This is the first book in a series. I look forward to reading the second book.
May 1, 2024
Enjoyable and fun history romp. Full review later.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is the first of the author's planned trilogy about the woman baptized as Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna of Austria, but remembered and historically vilified as Queen Marie Antoinette of France. Chronicling her all-too-short years from adolescence to her ascension to the throne of France in 1774, a well-rounded, human version of the woman emerges from the pages of this easy-to-read historical fiction. The later books in the series (Days of Sorrow, Days of Splendor is the tentative title of book two) will focus more on the time Marie reigned alongside her doomed husband, Louis XVI.
While this novel can be historically uneven (the "nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen” stated on the back blurb is untrue because really, all she had to do was be born at the right time, to the right family; the author has her struggle to learn French but Marie Antoinette spoke French fine as Vienna was a multilingual city, however she had poor reading comprehension and writing skills) and take liberties with facts and dates, I more than enjoyed this look into a younger Marie Antoinette. Beginning when the petite archduchess is only ten, the novel chronicles several tense years as she tries to cement with marriage an alliance the Empress Maria Theresa desperately needs.
Thrust between two all-powerful monarchs (the aforementioned Maria Theresa of the Holy Roman Empire and Louis XV of France) in a then-prevalent way of forging peace between warring European states, Marie has to please her mother and honor Austria all the while making France her country's ally. By trying to remain true to Austria all the while attempting to win the unfriendly French to her side shows the sheer impossibility of Marie's position in life. Amid impossible goals, treacherous relatives, scheming courtiers and her own impossible husband, it was remarkably easy for me to feel quite sympathetic for this character. Using this constant national game tug-of-war between the powers frequently creates a great deal of tension and pressure for the young girl for the entire novel. While she might be dauphine and first woman of France, Marie never is free or independent, nor truly, exuberantly happy. She attempts sex and/or affection many times with her husband, but he is painfully shy with her, almost a recluse. Marie, coming from a huge family of fifteen siblings and parents who married for love, is understandably upset by his lack of feeling and thus isolates herself from her one true ally for much of the novel.
I've not read many Marie Antoinette historical fictions, or even ones centering on the Gallic world. I tend to stay amongst the British and their Plantagenet, Lancaster/York, Tudors, Stuart families, etc. Winning this novel on africa-eu.com has opened my eyes to a new, creative writer with a fresh take on this centuries old parable of overindulgence and moral decay. Happily, in this novel of hers, Ms. Grey does not immediately launch into the salacious and popular tales of the archduchess. By showing Marie at her most charming and vivacious in her young carefree years at home in Austria, a subtle foreshadowing of her tumultuous life in France is immediately brought to mind. I was very interested in her large, fractious Hapsburg family (fifteen siblings! Maria Theresa was a woman emperor -- in her own right! her parents were a love-match!) and thus the days at Shonbrun or the Hofburg, a palace that boasted a serving staff of 2,000 people alone!, were the most interesting for me. Another thing this novel does well is dispense interesting facts and tidbits without interrupting or displacing the flow of the plot or Marie's development.
Contrasting sharply with the long-held opinion of this Queen, Marie is shown to care for her Austrian subjects (and even her French ones when their own King does not!) as well as generally kind and loving nature. Hints of the troubles Marie will face later on in her noble are present as well; a certain disregard for consequences and rash actions/sayings is prevalent, though perhaps a bit too heavy-handed for my taste. Ms. Grey conveys the thoughts of the noblewoman better when she subtly alludes to Marie's less appealing traits. However, in the world of France, which was governed by the strict Salic law of its time, Marie does quite well in claiming what power she can and using it, all while doing what she can to influence her husband, to future king-to-be and thus a very strong potential ally for her family and home. The extreme disparity of life in the Hofburg, where the royal Hapsburg family was far more relaxed, dressing in far less formal clothing and even playing with 'common' children, the strict and rigid way of life in Bourbon Versailles is a constant reminder of just how out of place Marie feels for most of her teenage and early twenties in France. Constant reminders of how she does not fit in ("l'Autruchienne" being a clever if vulgar pun on the French words for ostrich [Austria] and for bitch) help to keep her off-balance and thus constantly caught between monarchs.
In the end, the novel boiled down to this single question for me: Is this a Marie Antoinette I liked enough to read about for three novels (and if the second two are as large as their 444 page predecessor) and 1350 pages only to have her die at the end? And that answer is a loud YES. While it is not perfect, it IS an enjoyable and new look into one of history's most maligned women. Grey's writing is original and clever enough with familiar material from historical class to make it less learning and more experiencing life as Marie navigates through her life with Louis -- what she has of it left.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is the first of the author's planned trilogy about the woman baptized as Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna of Austria, but remembered and historically vilified as Queen Marie Antoinette of France. Chronicling her all-too-short years from adolescence to her ascension to the throne of France in 1774, a well-rounded, human version of the woman emerges from the pages of this easy-to-read historical fiction. The later books in the series (Days of Sorrow, Days of Splendor is the tentative title of book two) will focus more on the time Marie reigned alongside her doomed husband, Louis XVI.
While this novel can be historically uneven (the "nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen” stated on the back blurb is untrue because really, all she had to do was be born at the right time, to the right family; the author has her struggle to learn French but Marie Antoinette spoke French fine as Vienna was a multilingual city, however she had poor reading comprehension and writing skills) and take liberties with facts and dates, I more than enjoyed this look into a younger Marie Antoinette. Beginning when the petite archduchess is only ten, the novel chronicles several tense years as she tries to cement with marriage an alliance the Empress Maria Theresa desperately needs.
Thrust between two all-powerful monarchs (the aforementioned Maria Theresa of the Holy Roman Empire and Louis XV of France) in a then-prevalent way of forging peace between warring European states, Marie has to please her mother and honor Austria all the while making France her country's ally. By trying to remain true to Austria all the while attempting to win the unfriendly French to her side shows the sheer impossibility of Marie's position in life. Amid impossible goals, treacherous relatives, scheming courtiers and her own impossible husband, it was remarkably easy for me to feel quite sympathetic for this character. Using this constant national game tug-of-war between the powers frequently creates a great deal of tension and pressure for the young girl for the entire novel. While she might be dauphine and first woman of France, Marie never is free or independent, nor truly, exuberantly happy. She attempts sex and/or affection many times with her husband, but he is painfully shy with her, almost a recluse. Marie, coming from a huge family of fifteen siblings and parents who married for love, is understandably upset by his lack of feeling and thus isolates herself from her one true ally for much of the novel.
I've not read many Marie Antoinette historical fictions, or even ones centering on the Gallic world. I tend to stay amongst the British and their Plantagenet, Lancaster/York, Tudors, Stuart families, etc. Winning this novel on africa-eu.com has opened my eyes to a new, creative writer with a fresh take on this centuries old parable of overindulgence and moral decay. Happily, in this novel of hers, Ms. Grey does not immediately launch into the salacious and popular tales of the archduchess. By showing Marie at her most charming and vivacious in her young carefree years at home in Austria, a subtle foreshadowing of her tumultuous life in France is immediately brought to mind. I was very interested in her large, fractious Hapsburg family (fifteen siblings! Maria Theresa was a woman emperor -- in her own right! her parents were a love-match!) and thus the days at Shonbrun or the Hofburg, a palace that boasted a serving staff of 2,000 people alone!, were the most interesting for me. Another thing this novel does well is dispense interesting facts and tidbits without interrupting or displacing the flow of the plot or Marie's development.
Contrasting sharply with the long-held opinion of this Queen, Marie is shown to care for her Austrian subjects (and even her French ones when their own King does not!) as well as generally kind and loving nature. Hints of the troubles Marie will face later on in her noble are present as well; a certain disregard for consequences and rash actions/sayings is prevalent, though perhaps a bit too heavy-handed for my taste. Ms. Grey conveys the thoughts of the noblewoman better when she subtly alludes to Marie's less appealing traits. However, in the world of France, which was governed by the strict Salic law of its time, Marie does quite well in claiming what power she can and using it, all while doing what she can to influence her husband, to future king-to-be and thus a very strong potential ally for her family and home. The extreme disparity of life in the Hofburg, where the royal Hapsburg family was far more relaxed, dressing in far less formal clothing and even playing with 'common' children, the strict and rigid way of life in Bourbon Versailles is a constant reminder of just how out of place Marie feels for most of her teenage and early twenties in France. Constant reminders of how she does not fit in ("l'Autruchienne" being a clever if vulgar pun on the French words for ostrich [Austria] and for bitch) help to keep her off-balance and thus constantly caught between monarchs.
In the end, the novel boiled down to this single question for me: Is this a Marie Antoinette I liked enough to read about for three novels (and if the second two are as large as their 444 page predecessor) and 1350 pages only to have her die at the end? And that answer is a loud YES. While it is not perfect, it IS an enjoyable and new look into one of history's most maligned women. Grey's writing is original and clever enough with familiar material from historical class to make it less learning and more experiencing life as Marie navigates through her life with Louis -- what she has of it left.
September 28, 2011
Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at:
Marie Antoinette is a hard personality for me to like. In most of the literature I’ve come across, she is depicted as something of a twit. Becoming Marie Antoinette is no exception; in point of fact, this particular incarnation describes herself as “no more talented than a parrot or a trained monkey.” As a reader I find it incredibly frustrating to follow a character as dense and frivolous as Grey's Maria Antonia. Still, I remain hopeful that an author will one day take up the challenge and gift this unfortunate Hapsburg a degree of substance.
The author may not have presented a new version of the Archduchess but she does offer a fresh look at a period which is often overlooked, her childhood. Everything from the need for braces to the troublesome issue presented by the size of the Maria’s forehead is integrated into the narrative. While it makes for somewhat tedious reading, Grey's efforts are admirable.
I nitpick when I think an author it capable of more and while I truly appreciate the author's enthusiasm, I think there is room for improvement in regards to accuracy. For example, I found great annoyance at the appearance of a single line of text: Let them eat cake. There is little to no evidence the Queen ever uttered the phrase. The saying appears in Rousseau's autobiography Confessions (completed in 1796, the year before the dauphine arrived in France) where it is attributed to a princess who married Louis XIV in the 1660s. Somewhere along the line the phrase was ascribed to the increasingly unpopular bride of Louis XIV. So it is that Marie Antoinette suffers perpetual infamy while the fortunate Maria Theresa of Spain disappears into obscurity.
Maria Antonia bored me but the I found the depiction of her mother, the Empress Maria Theresa quite fascinating. The Hapsburg matriarch gave birth to sixteen children over a period of twenty years. Do the math. Almost as soon as she was done having babies she was beset with the task of marrying them off. Thank heaven she was a royal and didn't have to worry about the details of actually raising her brood. Grey's Empress isn't particularly maternal but can you really blame the woman? Having so many pregnancies must have been exhausting and it certainly explains her exasperation over Maria's inability to conceive an heir in the early years of her marriage.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is good starting point for freshman scholars but I think more savvy readers will be disappointed. The story itself has much in common with Titanic; even the novice historian knows the ending. The trick is in bringing something new to the table, a twist that captures the imagination. Whether Grey’s telling will do so has yet to be seen.
Marie Antoinette is a hard personality for me to like. In most of the literature I’ve come across, she is depicted as something of a twit. Becoming Marie Antoinette is no exception; in point of fact, this particular incarnation describes herself as “no more talented than a parrot or a trained monkey.” As a reader I find it incredibly frustrating to follow a character as dense and frivolous as Grey's Maria Antonia. Still, I remain hopeful that an author will one day take up the challenge and gift this unfortunate Hapsburg a degree of substance.
The author may not have presented a new version of the Archduchess but she does offer a fresh look at a period which is often overlooked, her childhood. Everything from the need for braces to the troublesome issue presented by the size of the Maria’s forehead is integrated into the narrative. While it makes for somewhat tedious reading, Grey's efforts are admirable.
I nitpick when I think an author it capable of more and while I truly appreciate the author's enthusiasm, I think there is room for improvement in regards to accuracy. For example, I found great annoyance at the appearance of a single line of text: Let them eat cake. There is little to no evidence the Queen ever uttered the phrase. The saying appears in Rousseau's autobiography Confessions (completed in 1796, the year before the dauphine arrived in France) where it is attributed to a princess who married Louis XIV in the 1660s. Somewhere along the line the phrase was ascribed to the increasingly unpopular bride of Louis XIV. So it is that Marie Antoinette suffers perpetual infamy while the fortunate Maria Theresa of Spain disappears into obscurity.
Maria Antonia bored me but the I found the depiction of her mother, the Empress Maria Theresa quite fascinating. The Hapsburg matriarch gave birth to sixteen children over a period of twenty years. Do the math. Almost as soon as she was done having babies she was beset with the task of marrying them off. Thank heaven she was a royal and didn't have to worry about the details of actually raising her brood. Grey's Empress isn't particularly maternal but can you really blame the woman? Having so many pregnancies must have been exhausting and it certainly explains her exasperation over Maria's inability to conceive an heir in the early years of her marriage.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is good starting point for freshman scholars but I think more savvy readers will be disappointed. The story itself has much in common with Titanic; even the novice historian knows the ending. The trick is in bringing something new to the table, a twist that captures the imagination. Whether Grey’s telling will do so has yet to be seen.
August 21, 2011
My rating should actually be 4.5 stars, I enjoyed it so much but there was one small area that I wished had more emphasis. `Becoming Marie Antoinette' is the first book of a trilogy. I have decided to read the whole set because of the tremendous amount of research and uncovering the truth that the author, Juliet Grey has put into it. The writing is clear, never bogs down or gets boring. This first book covers the time that Marie Antoinette was a child of eleven to when her father-law, "Papa Roi" or Louise XV died.
For those, who love to learn about the fashion of the royalty, this book is rich in detail about the panniers and uncomfortable corsets and gorgeous materials of the gowns and sparkling beauty of the gems. Austria was so ahead of France, fashion wise. Now, I am interested in finding the answer to why that was so.
For those, who love to learn the truth behind the myths that grew about Marie Antoinette, Juliet Grey does an excellent job of straightening out false history. She writes very sympathetic portraits of young Marie Antoinette and the successor to Louis XV.
At one point of the book, I was so wrapped in Marie Antoinette's situation that I wanted to grab her out of the book and drag her to our time period! I felt so bad about her destiny. My mother instincts wanted me to rescue her from all the mistreatment she was receiving and the impossible demands. I wanted let her play with her little pug, Mog and be the child that she could have been. But there is no way to change what she went through so I had to sit back and watch her life move forward. I also wanted her future husband to have a better life.
The only thing that I craved for was more emphasis on Madame Du Barry, Louis XV's notorious mistress. The description of her actions made me interested in knowing more. I wanted more. I am now planning to read a book about Louis XV's mistresses.
The portrait of Marie Antoinette is very compelling and makes me hungry for the next book of the trilogy, 'Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow. It should be out in the summer of 2012.
I recommend this book to all historical fiction fans.
I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program but that in no way influenced the content of my review.
For those, who love to learn about the fashion of the royalty, this book is rich in detail about the panniers and uncomfortable corsets and gorgeous materials of the gowns and sparkling beauty of the gems. Austria was so ahead of France, fashion wise. Now, I am interested in finding the answer to why that was so.
For those, who love to learn the truth behind the myths that grew about Marie Antoinette, Juliet Grey does an excellent job of straightening out false history. She writes very sympathetic portraits of young Marie Antoinette and the successor to Louis XV.
At one point of the book, I was so wrapped in Marie Antoinette's situation that I wanted to grab her out of the book and drag her to our time period! I felt so bad about her destiny. My mother instincts wanted me to rescue her from all the mistreatment she was receiving and the impossible demands. I wanted let her play with her little pug, Mog and be the child that she could have been. But there is no way to change what she went through so I had to sit back and watch her life move forward. I also wanted her future husband to have a better life.
The only thing that I craved for was more emphasis on Madame Du Barry, Louis XV's notorious mistress. The description of her actions made me interested in knowing more. I wanted more. I am now planning to read a book about Louis XV's mistresses.
The portrait of Marie Antoinette is very compelling and makes me hungry for the next book of the trilogy, 'Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow. It should be out in the summer of 2012.
I recommend this book to all historical fiction fans.
I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program but that in no way influenced the content of my review.
August 28, 2011
Reviewed For Wickedly Bookish
Marie Antoinette gets a revival and a more flattering coat of paint in this first installment of the new Marie Antoinette series by Juliet Grey.
What can I say? I have always been fascinated with a handful of historical leading ladies and Marie is one of the top 5. When I thought of her before this book, I pictured lush, scrumptious desserts and wispy cotton candy hair piled high on an overly pampered and exceedingly empty head. Think the Kirsten Dunst movie adaptation, which I loved by the way. After reading Becoming, which chronicles Marie's story from childhood to her husband's rise to the French throne, I feel like historians and poorly informed high school history teachers have been pulling the wool over my eyes. I realize this is historical fiction, however the author leaves us readers a note at the end about what is historically accurate and what she embellished for story's sake.
Written from Marie's perspective and supplemented by journal entries and correspondence between the major players in her accession to dauphine, Becoming Marie Antoinette allows the reader to feel a kinship with this infamous historical figure. Another thing that struck me as unique and pleasing was Grey's characterization of Louis Auguste. Rather than the cold, indifferent husband he is most commonly represented as, Grey offers us a shy, and painfully socially awkward boy. The way she progresses the relationship between him and Marie is both frustrating and achingly sweet.
This book would be a great way for anyone interested in learning more about this wonderful heroine, to become better acquainted with the young Marie Antoinette. I enjoyed reading this book very much and look forward to the next release, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, which is expected to be published sometime in 2012.
Marie Antoinette gets a revival and a more flattering coat of paint in this first installment of the new Marie Antoinette series by Juliet Grey.
What can I say? I have always been fascinated with a handful of historical leading ladies and Marie is one of the top 5. When I thought of her before this book, I pictured lush, scrumptious desserts and wispy cotton candy hair piled high on an overly pampered and exceedingly empty head. Think the Kirsten Dunst movie adaptation, which I loved by the way. After reading Becoming, which chronicles Marie's story from childhood to her husband's rise to the French throne, I feel like historians and poorly informed high school history teachers have been pulling the wool over my eyes. I realize this is historical fiction, however the author leaves us readers a note at the end about what is historically accurate and what she embellished for story's sake.
Written from Marie's perspective and supplemented by journal entries and correspondence between the major players in her accession to dauphine, Becoming Marie Antoinette allows the reader to feel a kinship with this infamous historical figure. Another thing that struck me as unique and pleasing was Grey's characterization of Louis Auguste. Rather than the cold, indifferent husband he is most commonly represented as, Grey offers us a shy, and painfully socially awkward boy. The way she progresses the relationship between him and Marie is both frustrating and achingly sweet.
This book would be a great way for anyone interested in learning more about this wonderful heroine, to become better acquainted with the young Marie Antoinette. I enjoyed reading this book very much and look forward to the next release, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, which is expected to be published sometime in 2012.
July 4, 2011
Simply wasn't for me. I found the writing to be be eloquent and well done, but the story too drawn out for my taste and boring. Really, I guess there isn't much you can do with this particular woman in history though. Her character, in other books, as well as this one is ditzy and frivolous.
I thought this was a YA novel when I first heard of it so was expecting more action. Not sure how I had gotten that impression. Perhaps all the pink on the cover. :)
I'm passing this ARC on to someone who I hope will enjoy it more than I did.
I thought this was a YA novel when I first heard of it so was expecting more action. Not sure how I had gotten that impression. Perhaps all the pink on the cover. :)
I'm passing this ARC on to someone who I hope will enjoy it more than I did.
June 20, 2016
Juliet Grey traz-nos um fresco sobre a Rainha mais infame da história de França.
Nascida no seio de uma família severa e ambiciosa, os Habsburgos, Maria Antonieta sabia desde tenra idade que o seu casamento seria uma vantagem política para o seu país.
Escrito com humor e dinamismo, Juliet Grey relata o quotidiano de Maria Antonieta enquanto jovem na bela Áustria, a sua relação complicada com a mãe e as intrigas e problemas que a corte de Versalhes lhe apresentava.
Para quem quer conhecer um pouco sobre esta escandalosa rainha, este livro afigura-se o ideal.
Nascida no seio de uma família severa e ambiciosa, os Habsburgos, Maria Antonieta sabia desde tenra idade que o seu casamento seria uma vantagem política para o seu país.
Escrito com humor e dinamismo, Juliet Grey relata o quotidiano de Maria Antonieta enquanto jovem na bela Áustria, a sua relação complicada com a mãe e as intrigas e problemas que a corte de Versalhes lhe apresentava.
Para quem quer conhecer um pouco sobre esta escandalosa rainha, este livro afigura-se o ideal.
August 18, 2011
The whole time I was reading this book, starting when she was a young girl in Austria, with all she went through just to become worthy, physically and mentally, to be worthy to become marriagable to France, I kept thinking how bad this all turns out. Even the end of the book, which ends on an optimistic note, not the end of their lives, made me realize how little understood and how very overwhelmed she was. Liked this book quite a bit, it was interesting and very readable.
April 20, 2019
I really liked this book. It drew me in right away. It is the first of three about the life of Marie Antoinette. I found her much more likeable than I expected and I found her life quite interesting.
I find myself yearning to read the next book and continue her story.
I find myself yearning to read the next book and continue her story.
February 27, 2019
Marie Antoinette was born and grew up in Austria. When she was 10(ish) years old, it was determined that she would wed Louis Auguste of France, Louis XV’s grandson and heir to the French throne. However, Antonia (as she was called then) had a few hoops to jump through before the deal was sealed. When they did marry, Antonia was sent to France where she had to learn a new culture and at the same time be charming and have people love her, as she was to be the future queen. She continued to be pressured and influenced by her mother (from a distance).
This is the first in a trilogy, so we only get as far into Marie Antoinette’s life as Louis XV dying and she and her husband succeeding to the throne when they are 18-years old. I have read a biography of her, but it was a few years ago, so I don’t recall a lot of what I read then. I did like how she was portrayed in this novel, and I appreciated the author’s note at the end, which explains that the majority of people and events in the book did happen. I am really looking forward to reading the next book.
This is the first in a trilogy, so we only get as far into Marie Antoinette’s life as Louis XV dying and she and her husband succeeding to the throne when they are 18-years old. I have read a biography of her, but it was a few years ago, so I don’t recall a lot of what I read then. I did like how she was portrayed in this novel, and I appreciated the author’s note at the end, which explains that the majority of people and events in the book did happen. I am really looking forward to reading the next book.
June 29, 2021
All'inizio mi era sembrato molto frivolo, con queste descrizioni zuccherine e piagnistei vari; poi, andando avanti nella lettura, ho apprezzato sempre di più lo stile chiaro e semplice e soprattutto l'accuratezza storica, che ho modo di giudicare da precedenti e numerose letture sullo stesso soggetto.
Secondo me, però, la narrazione in prima persona e soprattutto l'unico punto di vista predominante penalizzano notevolmente il contenuto, anche se l'autrice certamente ammicca ad altre linee di pensiero attraverso lettere o descrizioni, gesture chiarissime - e lo fa molto bene. Purtroppo però la presenza di questi espedienti è molto marginale. Sarebbe stato per me più interessante leggere e interpretare la figura di Maria Antonietta, anche così come l'ha immaginata l'autrice, perché no, attraverso uno sguardo esterno, perché comunque la scrittrice è una capace, attenta e con una bella immaginazione.
Leggerò i seguiti, anche perché arriva la parte più interessante (questo primo volume copre il periodo che va dall'infanzia di Maria Antonietta alla morte di Luigi XV).
Secondo me, però, la narrazione in prima persona e soprattutto l'unico punto di vista predominante penalizzano notevolmente il contenuto, anche se l'autrice certamente ammicca ad altre linee di pensiero attraverso lettere o descrizioni, gesture chiarissime - e lo fa molto bene. Purtroppo però la presenza di questi espedienti è molto marginale. Sarebbe stato per me più interessante leggere e interpretare la figura di Maria Antonietta, anche così come l'ha immaginata l'autrice, perché no, attraverso uno sguardo esterno, perché comunque la scrittrice è una capace, attenta e con una bella immaginazione.
Leggerò i seguiti, anche perché arriva la parte più interessante (questo primo volume copre il periodo che va dall'infanzia di Maria Antonietta alla morte di Luigi XV).
December 10, 2014
Apaixonada pela história das famílias reais europeias, Juliet Grey pesquisou tudo o que havia para pesquisar sobre as uniões, as intrigas e os segredos dos reis e rainhas que durante séculos, em salas fechadas ou salões de baile, decidiram o destino de vários povos e nações por actos de dedicação ou puro egoísmo mas, houve uma rainha que suscitou na escritora uma admiração que a levaria a escrever um livro sobre a sua vida. Desde princesa mimada a rainha guilhotinada, do Império mais poderoso da Europa para um reino em decadência, símbolo do poder antigo e vítima do novo espírito revolucionário, Maria Antonieta foi filha, esposa e mãe nas duas casas reais que dividiram o mundo antigo com o seu poder, os Habsburgo e os Bourbon.
Por mais que tenha descortinado a vida desta mulher em livros, filmes e aulas, tenha visto e revisto cada pormenor da sua época e da sua vida, não consigo deixar de me sentir fascinada com esta personalidade que, para o bem ou para o mal, se imortalizou na sua morte como um símbolo de um novo mundo, de um novo pensamento e de uma nova abordagem. Escandalosa, doce e apaixonada, Maria Antonieta foi recordada para a posterioridade como a causa de uma decadência que há muito corrompia a França, como culpada pelos crimes de opulência que toda uma corte cometia, como a austríaca cheia de moral e ironia que não conseguiu fazer com que um rei fraco se tornasse digno do seu trono. De menina a mulher, de arquiduquesa a delfina e, por fim, rainha, esta é a história da difamada e famosa Maria Antonieta, esposa de Luís XVI.
Através de uma escrita divertida, detalhada e cheia de brilho, Grey apresenta-nos uma menina de dez anos que será responsável pela união das duas casas reais mais poderosas da Europa, desde que é prometida ao Delfim de França até se tornar rainha. Da rigidez da corte imperial austríaca até à ostensividade da corte francesa, a autora leva-nos numa viagem decadente, brilhante e, muitas vezes, opressiva pela vida desta mulher que subjugada pela imponência da mãe e assustada com o seu destino delicado, viveu sempre com a certeza que não era perfeita, que tinha demasiados defeitos mas que teria de se superar para demonstrar a todos que era capaz de realizar os planos de dois monarcas e os desejos de duas nações.
Por entre pormenores da infância de Maria Antonieta, vamos conhecendo a sua família, a sua cultura e educação e quem era antes de se tornar rainha. Sem esquecer todos os que fizeram parte da criação e aperfeiçoamento da futura delfina, a autora delicia-nos com o rigor com que nos descreve a corte de Maria Teresa e a própria pessoa desta mulher que com mão de ferro governou um Império, teve dezasseis filhos, viveu múltiplas guerras e casou por amor, as personalidades dos irmãos mais chegados a Antonieta, as nuances por trás de cada tratado, cada exigência e desafio que significava ser princesa. Na rigidez e moralidade desta corte, conhecemos as diabruras da arquiduquesa, os seus medos e anseios, vemo-la tornar-se uma jovem desafiante, doce e encantadora que teme o seu destino, espera honrar a mãe com todo o seu ser e caí no esplendor daqueles que rodeiam o seu futuro marido.
O contraste entre ambas as cortes vai surpreender os leitores e a autora consegue transmitir de uma forma brilhante, as diferenças existentes na pessoa de Maria Antonieta, que longe do controlo da família, vai tentar aprender a viver numa nova corte que, longe da simplicidade do seu berço, a vai ofuscar e tentar de todas as formas. Intriguista, sumptuosa e luxuosa, a corte de Luís XV vai ser o maior desafio da delfina e cada queda dada por uma jovem inexperiente, insegura e longe do lar que sempre conheceu, vai ensiná-la que por baixo do brilho existe decadência, por trás de um sorriso existe uma mentira e que em cada canto uma reputação pode ser destruída por uma palavra.
Assistir ao crescimento desta jovem vai ser pautado por muitos momentos de diversão, de pena e admiração, desde casa até Versalhes, Maria Antonieta conquista-nos com a sua ingenuidade, com as suas tiradas irónicas e jovens, pela forma como desafia as convenções mas não deixa de saber o que se espera dela. Caracterizada de uma forma soberba pela autora, ela cresce perante os nossos olhos, estrebucha e adapta-se, passa de menina tonta a mulher supérflua, ri-se nas adversidades e nunca desiste até mostrar que é muito mais do que todos pensam.
Cada personagem histórica é nos dada pela autora de uma forma humana, única e refrescante, longe do pedestal em que a História os colocou. Degradantes, venenosos, tontos, invejosos, toda a corte francesa nos vai deixar perplexos, irritar-nos e divertir-nos por entre momentos de uma simplicidade e detalhe que vão agarrar o leitor. Desde o inseguro Luís Augusto à berrante Du Barry, passando pela rígida Maria Teresa até ao conquistador Luís XV, Juliet dá-nos a História pela sua perspectiva, ridiculariza-os, humaniza-os, torna-os mais compreensíveis aos nossos olhos, descreve-nos a beleza e decadência de Versalhes, os rituais intermináveis, as intrigas e segredos, os vestidos e penteados, o dia-a-dia da corte mais invejada e admirada da Europa, numa visão que está longe da seriedade dos temas sérios mas que não deixa de ser realista.
O primeiro livro de uma nova trilogia, Transformar-se em Maria Antonieta é um livro cheio de brilho, com muita ostentação, um espelho da época e da mulher, que vai levar até os que não gostam de História a pegar neste livro e devorá-lo.
Por mais que tenha descortinado a vida desta mulher em livros, filmes e aulas, tenha visto e revisto cada pormenor da sua época e da sua vida, não consigo deixar de me sentir fascinada com esta personalidade que, para o bem ou para o mal, se imortalizou na sua morte como um símbolo de um novo mundo, de um novo pensamento e de uma nova abordagem. Escandalosa, doce e apaixonada, Maria Antonieta foi recordada para a posterioridade como a causa de uma decadência que há muito corrompia a França, como culpada pelos crimes de opulência que toda uma corte cometia, como a austríaca cheia de moral e ironia que não conseguiu fazer com que um rei fraco se tornasse digno do seu trono. De menina a mulher, de arquiduquesa a delfina e, por fim, rainha, esta é a história da difamada e famosa Maria Antonieta, esposa de Luís XVI.
Através de uma escrita divertida, detalhada e cheia de brilho, Grey apresenta-nos uma menina de dez anos que será responsável pela união das duas casas reais mais poderosas da Europa, desde que é prometida ao Delfim de França até se tornar rainha. Da rigidez da corte imperial austríaca até à ostensividade da corte francesa, a autora leva-nos numa viagem decadente, brilhante e, muitas vezes, opressiva pela vida desta mulher que subjugada pela imponência da mãe e assustada com o seu destino delicado, viveu sempre com a certeza que não era perfeita, que tinha demasiados defeitos mas que teria de se superar para demonstrar a todos que era capaz de realizar os planos de dois monarcas e os desejos de duas nações.
Por entre pormenores da infância de Maria Antonieta, vamos conhecendo a sua família, a sua cultura e educação e quem era antes de se tornar rainha. Sem esquecer todos os que fizeram parte da criação e aperfeiçoamento da futura delfina, a autora delicia-nos com o rigor com que nos descreve a corte de Maria Teresa e a própria pessoa desta mulher que com mão de ferro governou um Império, teve dezasseis filhos, viveu múltiplas guerras e casou por amor, as personalidades dos irmãos mais chegados a Antonieta, as nuances por trás de cada tratado, cada exigência e desafio que significava ser princesa. Na rigidez e moralidade desta corte, conhecemos as diabruras da arquiduquesa, os seus medos e anseios, vemo-la tornar-se uma jovem desafiante, doce e encantadora que teme o seu destino, espera honrar a mãe com todo o seu ser e caí no esplendor daqueles que rodeiam o seu futuro marido.
O contraste entre ambas as cortes vai surpreender os leitores e a autora consegue transmitir de uma forma brilhante, as diferenças existentes na pessoa de Maria Antonieta, que longe do controlo da família, vai tentar aprender a viver numa nova corte que, longe da simplicidade do seu berço, a vai ofuscar e tentar de todas as formas. Intriguista, sumptuosa e luxuosa, a corte de Luís XV vai ser o maior desafio da delfina e cada queda dada por uma jovem inexperiente, insegura e longe do lar que sempre conheceu, vai ensiná-la que por baixo do brilho existe decadência, por trás de um sorriso existe uma mentira e que em cada canto uma reputação pode ser destruída por uma palavra.
Assistir ao crescimento desta jovem vai ser pautado por muitos momentos de diversão, de pena e admiração, desde casa até Versalhes, Maria Antonieta conquista-nos com a sua ingenuidade, com as suas tiradas irónicas e jovens, pela forma como desafia as convenções mas não deixa de saber o que se espera dela. Caracterizada de uma forma soberba pela autora, ela cresce perante os nossos olhos, estrebucha e adapta-se, passa de menina tonta a mulher supérflua, ri-se nas adversidades e nunca desiste até mostrar que é muito mais do que todos pensam.
Cada personagem histórica é nos dada pela autora de uma forma humana, única e refrescante, longe do pedestal em que a História os colocou. Degradantes, venenosos, tontos, invejosos, toda a corte francesa nos vai deixar perplexos, irritar-nos e divertir-nos por entre momentos de uma simplicidade e detalhe que vão agarrar o leitor. Desde o inseguro Luís Augusto à berrante Du Barry, passando pela rígida Maria Teresa até ao conquistador Luís XV, Juliet dá-nos a História pela sua perspectiva, ridiculariza-os, humaniza-os, torna-os mais compreensíveis aos nossos olhos, descreve-nos a beleza e decadência de Versalhes, os rituais intermináveis, as intrigas e segredos, os vestidos e penteados, o dia-a-dia da corte mais invejada e admirada da Europa, numa visão que está longe da seriedade dos temas sérios mas que não deixa de ser realista.
O primeiro livro de uma nova trilogia, Transformar-se em Maria Antonieta é um livro cheio de brilho, com muita ostentação, um espelho da época e da mulher, que vai levar até os que não gostam de História a pegar neste livro e devorá-lo.
November 10, 2017
This is a biography written as a novel. It is the first of a trilogy that will take Marie Antoinette to her unfortunate execution. Marie is born to the Royal Family of Austria and is engaged to the Prince of France at the age of 10. It is an arranged wedding – she will not meet her husband to be until the day of the wedding. From the engagement forward, her life revolves around preparations to be become Queen of France. A good deal of the book is driven by letters and other formal communications between the characters who were involved with Marie, including letters she authored.
Finally, Marie is old enough to be sent to France for the wedding. The connubial success of a wedding involving a prince who will become king is very important and is watched for closely. Marie was 13 years old and had not physically matured. Months go by with no consummation and it is surmised by many that Marie is the cause.
Marie’s mother, Queen of Austria, has spies watching her and reporting back. The Queen then sends letters to Marie chastising her over her behavior. The fact that the King of France has a mistress is distressing to Marie’s mother, so Marie sets about to break up the King’s illicit affair with Madame du Barry. This leads her to some grief.
The Prince’s younger brother gets married and now the unconsummated marriage becomes an even bigger problem as it would not be a good thing for the younger brother to produce a potential heir to the throne first.
After more than 4 years, finally, the Prince’s problem is exposed; he suffers from premature ejaculation. Marie is now 18 and is a fully developed young woman, but still a virgin.
Marie likes to go to balls, masquerade parties, and play cards. One night she meets the Swedish Count Von Fersen and is very taken with him.
Then the King dies of smallpox and Marie will now become Queen of France.
As a historical novel, “Becoming Marie Antoinette” was interesting and entertaining. It gives a comprehensive description of eighteenth century Europe, mostly from the point of view of the royal families and the relationships between the members of the families and the countries they rule. One gains a certain amount of empathy for Marie as a young girl thrust early into intrigues of her world. The letters and other documents lend an air of veracity to the book and a look into the thoughts and feelings of the historical figures surrounding Marie.
Finally, Marie is old enough to be sent to France for the wedding. The connubial success of a wedding involving a prince who will become king is very important and is watched for closely. Marie was 13 years old and had not physically matured. Months go by with no consummation and it is surmised by many that Marie is the cause.
Marie’s mother, Queen of Austria, has spies watching her and reporting back. The Queen then sends letters to Marie chastising her over her behavior. The fact that the King of France has a mistress is distressing to Marie’s mother, so Marie sets about to break up the King’s illicit affair with Madame du Barry. This leads her to some grief.
The Prince’s younger brother gets married and now the unconsummated marriage becomes an even bigger problem as it would not be a good thing for the younger brother to produce a potential heir to the throne first.
After more than 4 years, finally, the Prince’s problem is exposed; he suffers from premature ejaculation. Marie is now 18 and is a fully developed young woman, but still a virgin.
Marie likes to go to balls, masquerade parties, and play cards. One night she meets the Swedish Count Von Fersen and is very taken with him.
Then the King dies of smallpox and Marie will now become Queen of France.
As a historical novel, “Becoming Marie Antoinette” was interesting and entertaining. It gives a comprehensive description of eighteenth century Europe, mostly from the point of view of the royal families and the relationships between the members of the families and the countries they rule. One gains a certain amount of empathy for Marie as a young girl thrust early into intrigues of her world. The letters and other documents lend an air of veracity to the book and a look into the thoughts and feelings of the historical figures surrounding Marie.
October 8, 2022
3.5
If this is the only Marie Antoinette media you ever consume, it is probably more enjoyable. Otherwise, this biographical fiction (there’s too many info dumps to think of it as a novel) seems like a regurgitation of others, primarily Antonia Fraser’s biography. Where this book does shine is the sections of Maria Antonia’s life before coming to France. At some point, I may pick up the next volume in the trilogy, but I wish the reading experience was more immersive (think Philippa Gregory).
If this is the only Marie Antoinette media you ever consume, it is probably more enjoyable. Otherwise, this biographical fiction (there’s too many info dumps to think of it as a novel) seems like a regurgitation of others, primarily Antonia Fraser’s biography. Where this book does shine is the sections of Maria Antonia’s life before coming to France. At some point, I may pick up the next volume in the trilogy, but I wish the reading experience was more immersive (think Philippa Gregory).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 652 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.