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Queen of France: A Biography of Marie Antoinette
She was Marie Antoinette, a lovely Austrian princess. She was fourteen when she first met her fifteen-year-old husband, the Dauphin of France. He was a shy, heavy young man, overshadowed by his grandfather, Louis XV.
The girl had many problems to cope with at the French court, among them her husband's lack of interest, the King's spinster daughters (almost her only companions at first) and Madame du Barry, the King's favorite. Yet she soon won everyone's heart and had all Paris at her charming feet.
But as time went by, not only the court but the country as a whole and Marie Antoinette's mother (Maria Theresa of Austria, four hundred leagues away, and constantly advising her daughter by mail) were alarmed by the fantastic parties, wild extravagances, and excessive pleasures of the Dauphin's bride.
Then, Louis XV died, and the courtiers coming to salute the new nineteen-year-old king found him and his queen on their knees weeping bitterly, "Oh, God," they cried, embracing each other, "protect us; we are too young to reign."
André Castelot, a distinguished French scholar and historian, has in this book written one of the most brilliant of recent biographies, which makes Marie Antoinette, from her arrival in France, to the day she rode to her death in a cart, amazingly alive for the reader. We are carried from the intimate chambers of the young queen, through the incredible splendor and shocking discomfort of life at Court, to the awesome sounds of the rising mob, the last desperate flights, and the ultimate imprisonment and execution.
The author has had a mass of documents at his disposal while writing this book, many of them newly discovered in Viennese and Parisian archives, and never before presented to the public.
The girl had many problems to cope with at the French court, among them her husband's lack of interest, the King's spinster daughters (almost her only companions at first) and Madame du Barry, the King's favorite. Yet she soon won everyone's heart and had all Paris at her charming feet.
But as time went by, not only the court but the country as a whole and Marie Antoinette's mother (Maria Theresa of Austria, four hundred leagues away, and constantly advising her daughter by mail) were alarmed by the fantastic parties, wild extravagances, and excessive pleasures of the Dauphin's bride.
Then, Louis XV died, and the courtiers coming to salute the new nineteen-year-old king found him and his queen on their knees weeping bitterly, "Oh, God," they cried, embracing each other, "protect us; we are too young to reign."
André Castelot, a distinguished French scholar and historian, has in this book written one of the most brilliant of recent biographies, which makes Marie Antoinette, from her arrival in France, to the day she rode to her death in a cart, amazingly alive for the reader. We are carried from the intimate chambers of the young queen, through the incredible splendor and shocking discomfort of life at Court, to the awesome sounds of the rising mob, the last desperate flights, and the ultimate imprisonment and execution.
The author has had a mass of documents at his disposal while writing this book, many of them newly discovered in Viennese and Parisian archives, and never before presented to the public.
438 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1953
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192 people want to read
About the author
André Castelot
239 books12 followersAndré Castelot, born André Storms was a French writer, historian and scriptwriter born in Belgium. He was the son of the Symbolist painter Maurice Chabas and Gabrielle Storms-Castelot, and the brother of the film actor Jacques Castelot. He wrote more than one hundred books, mostly biographies of famous people.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 28, 2020
When I started reading this biography of the famous French queen, I wanted to largely dismiss it in favor of some of the more recent, well-researched books on her life. Yet, as I read, I began to appreciated the author's extensive quotes and attempts to provide a sense of what it was like to live during the French Revolution. Details and narratives appear here that I hadn't encountered elsewhere and while this book may not be the best one I've read about Marie Antoinette, it certainly serves a purpose in bringing her story to life.
August 24, 2020
André Castelot wrote a decent biography of Marie Antoinette. His style was more that of a journalist and a playwright than that of a professional historian. He wrote it in the 1950s for a popular French audience. It is very lively and interesting, with lots of actual dialogue.
Unlike most 19th century French historians, he tries to take a more neutral position towards the French Revolution and its victims. Castelot shows the evil of some revolutionaries but is careful not to take too hard a position against the Revolution - a difficult task when the satanic malice of the French Revolution was so well documented. He mentions in passing the many controversies about her life before and during the Revolution without explaining them. For the average educated Frenchman, there would be no need to explain further, but it might be difficult for a non-French reader to follow his narrative.
Malicious pamphleteers spread many baseless accusations against Marie Antoinette before and during the Revolution. Castelot does imply that some of these accusations might be true, such as her alleged affair with Axel von Fersen or her supposed frivolity (whatever that means).
Ultimately, Castelot does sympathize with Marie Antoinette. The best part is the very end when he describes her trial and execution. Whatever her faults, she was full of qualities that we can admire today. She was a real martyr of the French Revolution and an example of a truly majestic and heroic queen, wife, and mother.
Unlike most 19th century French historians, he tries to take a more neutral position towards the French Revolution and its victims. Castelot shows the evil of some revolutionaries but is careful not to take too hard a position against the Revolution - a difficult task when the satanic malice of the French Revolution was so well documented. He mentions in passing the many controversies about her life before and during the Revolution without explaining them. For the average educated Frenchman, there would be no need to explain further, but it might be difficult for a non-French reader to follow his narrative.
Malicious pamphleteers spread many baseless accusations against Marie Antoinette before and during the Revolution. Castelot does imply that some of these accusations might be true, such as her alleged affair with Axel von Fersen or her supposed frivolity (whatever that means).
Ultimately, Castelot does sympathize with Marie Antoinette. The best part is the very end when he describes her trial and execution. Whatever her faults, she was full of qualities that we can admire today. She was a real martyr of the French Revolution and an example of a truly majestic and heroic queen, wife, and mother.
January 6, 2009
This is an old hardcover book that I borrowed from my mom's collection. I've only made it about halfway, but it has been eye opening. Although I've studied French history and lived in France, I'm amazed at the silliness and superficiality that reigned at Versailles, at least during the early days of Marie Antoinette's tenure. I think it's fair to say that Marie Antoinette and Paris Hilton have a lot in common, although (thank God) Paris Hilton isn't one of the two most powerful people in the United States. I'm not crazy about the way the book is written; the author assumes we already know quite a bit about French history (which its original audience probably did, since it was written in French); but this inspires me to learn more about Marie Antoinette's life and the French revolution in general.
November 29, 2020
I'm sure there are more academic, and likely more accurate, biographies of France's most infamous queen out there, but over 60 years after its original publication, Castelot's Queen of France is still a masterpiece. Marie Antoinette comes to life as a complete character, a child-bride thrust into the brightest spotlights, striving to make the most of the life she leads and the loves she pursues. A deeply sympathetic, and human portrait of a decadent, tragic figure.
If you loved Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2006), you will love Queen of France. Though I don't know for a fact, I would suspect that the film owes quite a lot to the book. For the historian and the curious alike, definitely worth the read!
If you loved Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2006), you will love Queen of France. Though I don't know for a fact, I would suspect that the film owes quite a lot to the book. For the historian and the curious alike, definitely worth the read!
February 9, 2017
An interesting bio.
I hadn't known much of Marie Antoinette before I read this. Quite illuminating and sympathetic towards the queen. Drug on a bit towards the end.
I hadn't known much of Marie Antoinette before I read this. Quite illuminating and sympathetic towards the queen. Drug on a bit towards the end.
September 24, 2017
I knew the outlines of Marie-Antoinette's life and I really enjoyed discovering her early life in this book.
December 10, 2023
i really enjoyed this biography
December 19, 2023
read for school
October 7, 2008
Admittedly I knew nothing about Marie Antoinette before I read this book. Her young life is spoiled and frivilous and for the most part silly! She does however mature into a very regal and dignified woman of compassion and depth. Being as the French Revolution is the catalyst for Marie Antionette's fame and tragedy, this book brought to light the plight of the people and the monarchy who other than inheriting power, are very ill qualified to deal with issues of economics. This book was very unbiased in projecting both sides of the Revolution. On one hand you feel sorry for the huge class of impoverished, starving people and on the other hand, the inability of the nobility to understand its causes makes you still sorrier for their lack of education. The resultant regicide is intolerable and this book really makes you fall in love with Marie Antoinette and her husband and all the more sad at their fate.
I did feel that this book read with the fluidity and development of a novel; it was very enjoyable. By the same token, though it was not difficult to get through, it does assume quite a bit of familiarity on the part of the reader with the names of the people involved closely with Marie Antoinette, her husband and her mother. It is tragic in its end but wonderful to read. My 3 stars came from the complexity of people and place which were so unfamiliar to me, and not well explained in the book, which made it hard to fully embrace!
I did feel that this book read with the fluidity and development of a novel; it was very enjoyable. By the same token, though it was not difficult to get through, it does assume quite a bit of familiarity on the part of the reader with the names of the people involved closely with Marie Antoinette, her husband and her mother. It is tragic in its end but wonderful to read. My 3 stars came from the complexity of people and place which were so unfamiliar to me, and not well explained in the book, which made it hard to fully embrace!
April 4, 2019
A couple of things to note about this book is that it was written in the 1950's, so there might be some outdated information. It was also translated from French to English, so some information could have been lost through translation.
As for the story itself, it was simply horrifying in all the best ways. Reading about how the fear upon the royal family's life is heartwrenching, and there are no gory details spared on how they were killed.
Marie Antoinette is portrayed a lot more sympathetic than the usual villainous character. However, I think after you read this book, the next type of book to read is the peasant's side of the revolution and how they were oppressed by the monarchy, (since their perspective is largely absent).
As for the story itself, it was simply horrifying in all the best ways. Reading about how the fear upon the royal family's life is heartwrenching, and there are no gory details spared on how they were killed.
Marie Antoinette is portrayed a lot more sympathetic than the usual villainous character. However, I think after you read this book, the next type of book to read is the peasant's side of the revolution and how they were oppressed by the monarchy, (since their perspective is largely absent).
October 18, 2015
I'm not sure if this is a bad French to English translation because at some sentences were incomprehensible. Even still the material itself was shallow, like a micro soap opera with shamefully limited historical context of the complicated and tumultuous political, economic, and international, forces at play. This book left me suspect that Marie Antoinette and the rest of the royal court had to be more complicated that the woman child and men boys portrayed in this book.
August 23, 2012
EXCELLENT
November 13, 2013
I learned a lot reading this book. It was well researched and, while seemingly very accurate, I felt it ended up being sympathetic to Marie Antoinette.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews