Having read biographies on the fascinating Marie Antoinette, I can state that this is a realistic portrayal of her life.

I’ve previously read Victoria Holt’s (as Jean Plaidy) other novel on this subject, namely "Flaunting, Extravagant Queen", which was written in the third person. I rated that book 5 stars, and must say this first-person account of Marie Antoinette is even more engaging.

Like with "Flaunting, Extravagant Queen", the author does a good job of showing the transition of the frivolous girl, who revels in plays and expensive clothes, to a loyal wife and mother who all her life – in the eyes of lookers-on – is damned in whatever she does, and damned in whatever she doesn't.

You’d have to be a hard-hearted cynic or very anti-royal to not feel sympathy for Marie Antoinette during her last five years. It’s a descent into abject misery, with heartbreak on top of heartbreak. All because of rumours born from inklings of truths or plain lies concocted by her jealous enemies. Her nationality went against her, too.

Granted, the people had good reason to be angry with her for some of her extravagances in her earlier years, but to subject her and her kindest of husbands – Louis XVI – to such indignities was unjustified and unforgivable.

Louis XVI was a good man. I don’t think anyone – including Napoleon Bonaparte, who banned the annual celebration of Louis’s execution day – can deny that. Louis, like Marie Antoinette, was a doting parent.

Also like Marie Antoinette, Louis was not suited to rule a country. While his good and kindly nature made him a great man, his indecisiveness and desire to never spill his countrymen’s blood made him an ineffectual king.

Victoria Holt portrays Louis’s nature superbly, which in turn helps the reader understand Marie Antoinette’s occasional frustration with him. If only he’d been more authoritative, they may not only have survived, but they may have reclaimed the throne.

In short, an excellent yet saddening read. ( )

A fictional autobiography of Marie Antoinette. Very enjoyable, quite long, but interesting and educational for someone like me with little knowledge of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution. I think it may be a little sympathetic to the French Queen, but the reader can make up their own mind. ( )

First line:
~ The only real happiness in this world comes through a happy marriage ~Amazon’s product description calls this “The unforgettable story of Marie Antoinette, from her pampered childhood in imperial Vienna, to the luxury and splendor of her days as Queen of France, to her tragic end upon the scaffold in the bloodbath of the Revolution . . .’ And it does a very good job of doing just that.

I have read many of Victoria Holt’s novels and also many written by her under her other pen names of Jean Plaidy and Phillipa Carr. I was used to her writing style in Historical Romantic Fiction and this was a little bit different. Telling the story mostly from Marie’s perspective, Holt gives us detailed look at what life might have been like for her and her husband, Louis in the French Court.

I got the feeling that Holt was attempting to build sympathy for this young Queen who was ill-suited for her role but I really just wanted to ‘smack her one’. Pardon the violent imagery but I am just using it to indicate I was really astonished that someone could be so self-indulgent and self-serving. No wonder they executed her! No, really, it was a very interesting read although I think it could have benefited from an editor that cut out more of the redundant writing. Some things went on and on and on.

All in, all an enjoyable read. I would like to go back and read some of the other books by Holt, Plaidy and Carr, that I have on my shelves. (3.5 stars) ( )

Loved it very good read. ( )

A good read from a great author