Marie Antoinette by Olivier Bernier

Marie Antoinette Reviews

• 
  Alenka of Bohemia

  A very interesting and revealing collection of letters between two iconic women. Would make an excellent "Side reading" to any biography on the two. The way the letters are chosen and edited I also appreciate, since the whole thing really reads like a novel, even though it is not.
• 
  anna near

  As someone who thinks Marie Antoinette has been over-glamourized and does not consider her death as some great tragedy, this book was recommended to me by someone who called me a cunt in a TikTok comment section. While I do stand with my opinion that the girl-bossification of the French monarch is imperialism and strange, this book has definitely widened my perspective.
  
  The author, for one, did an incredible job. The selection of letters and his brief interjections were done very well. I've already ordered two of his other books.
  
  The letters made Marie Antoinette very accessible and against all odds, relatable. Being a teenage girl myself, I saw myself in her letters to her mother. Genuinely felt like reading gossip at times, which is always fun.
  
  Definitely in my top 20 for non-fiction books- highly recommend to anyone who is (or isn't) interested in the French monarchy.
  
  @jillisahottie01 on tiktok, u win this one.
• 
  Joe

  This fascinating and poignant collection of letters between Marie Antoinette, the doomed dauphine and future Queen of France, and her mother, Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, provide a revealing portrait of the legendary queen's tragic life and the age in which she lived. Beginning in 1770 when the young princess departed for France and ending with Maria Theresa's death in 1780, these intimate letters reveal the hostility the young dauphine encountered at Versailles, her flouting of court etiquette and her interference in court politics. Maria Theresa offers her daughter constant advice on everything from matters of state to sex. These remarkable letters are presented by Olivier Bernier, a leading authority on eighteenth century France, along with extensive background information.
• 
  Loraine

  I did not know that the book was actually a collection of letters. It provided information of the private life of Marie Antoinette who as 15 year old married the 16 year old future king of France. The king’s sexual problems, the intrigues of court and government provides insight to a character that is perhaps unfairly treated by history.
• 
  JulieAnn Crane

  It was interesting to read a lot of these letters between Marie Antoinette and her mother. There is also a sprinkling of letters from a few others. The author does a great job of calling our attention to some subtleties in the letters, especially those that demonstrate manipulations by her mother. Excellent read!
• 
  Stephanie

  Loved reading the letters but although they have wonderful behind the scenes insight I can’t help but feel so bad for Marie. All the pressure at such a young age. This really makes you feel the weight she had on her shoulders
• 
  Cathy

  I struggled to finish this book. It was my fault that I didn’t know that this was a collection of letters. I admit that I skipped a good deal because they were not of interest to me.
• 
  Patricia Faloon

  Femme Fatale
  
  Wonderfully written realistic account of the demise of Marie Antoinette! Her willfulness and naivety have proved to have been an explosive cocktail.
• 
  mar☘️

  would not recommending reading all at once, more of a book to dip in and out of - but still interesting and revealing (from someone who is generally not interested in history)
• 
  Amy Denim

  I didn't so much like it, as I found it very interesting. I really know a lot more now about this enigmatic icon of French style and revolution. Did you know she never actually said "Let them eat cake" (or even brioche)? Or that Louis the XVI had a problem with his foreskin which was probably why their marriage wasn't consummated until 1777? I didn't, but do now.
  I read this book because it is mentioned in
  and I thought I might read the books she edited that were of interest to me. This one was well worth it. Very interesting reading.
• 
  Trisha

  I really enjoyed reading the letters of Maria, Marie, and Mercy. I would have given this book 4 stars except for the fact that the author decided to leave out some of the content of some of the letters. Let me decide for myself what is repetitive or superfluous. I was disappointed not to be able to read every letter in full. Iwould have given the book 5 stars if the author hadn't interjected his own very biased opinion between letters. Still, I would definitely recommend this book to people curious for a first person accounting of Marie Antoinette's life if they are unable, like myself, to read the actual letters for themselves.
• 
  Joanna

  I've been picking this up and putting it down over a month or two. Maria Theresa is incredibly harsh to Marie Antoinette, which is deserved and not. I wonder if MT had actually educated her properly, if MA would have been more mindful of the position into which she married. A fascinating look into their relationship and the politics of the day.
• 
  Doria

  Fascinating and revealing correspondence between one of history's most notable mother and daughter, with helpful (if leading) annotations. Prelude to inevitable tragedy, there is something of prurient interest satisfied in the slightly breathless Tell-All tone of the authorial asides. Still, very much worth reading, especially as valuable primary sources.