Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

by Lady Antonia Fraser (Author), Lady Antonia Fraser (Author)

Synopsis

Marie Antoinette's dramatic life-story continues to arouse mixed emotions. To many people, she is still 'la reine mechante', whose extravagance and frivolity helped to bring down the French monarchy; her indifference to popular suffering epitomised by the (apocryphal) words: 'let them eat cake'. Others are equally passionate in her defence: to them, she is a victim of misogyny. Antonia Fraser examines her influence over the king, Louis XVI, the accusations and sexual slurs made against her, her patronage of the arts which enhanced French cultural life, her imprisonment, the death threats made against her, rumours of lesbian affairs, her trial (during which her young son was forced to testify to sexual abuse by his mother) and her eventual execution by guillotine in 1793.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 656
Edition: Media tie-in
Publisher: Phoenix
Published: 04 Oct 2006

ISBN 10: 0753821400
ISBN 13: 9780753821404
Book Overview: Film directed by Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) and starring Kirsten Dunst will be released in the UK on 20 October 2006 Film was premiered at Cannes in May Antonia Fraser is one the world's best known historians and was made CBE in 1999 All of Antonia Fraser's books have been Sunday Times bestsellers Antonia Fraser's books have won many awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Wolfson Award for History 'There has long been the need for an authoritative biography of France's last queen. Now, finally, Antonia Fraser has completed the task' Amanda Foreman, Observer 'Antonia Fraser writes beautifully, with impressively shrewd judgement...This is a fine book and a very good read' Daily Mail

Author Bio
Since 1969, Antonia Fraser has written many acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers, including Marie Antoinette, Mary Queen of Scots (James Tait Black Memorial Prize), Cromwell: Our Chief of Men, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and The Gunpowder Plot: Terror and Faith in 1605 (St Louis Literary Award; CWA Non-Fiction Gold Dagger). Antonia Fraser was made CBE in 1999, and awarded the Norton Medlicott Medal by the Historical Association in 2000. She is married to the playwright Harold Pinter and lives in London.