Marie Antoinette: Teen Queen to Guillotine

by Melanie Burrows

An intimate biography revealing Marie Antoinette’s complex life, personal struggles, and dramatic fall from Versailles to the guillotine.

A seemingly endless parade of books, films and television shows have kept Marie Antoinette in the spotlight for over two centuries since her execution in October 1793. For many, she is the ignorant embodiment of foolish, careless, decadent excess, and a deserving example of the terrible fate that on occasion befalls members of the mega-wealthy ruling class who exploit and ignore the needs of those less fortunate than themselves. Meanwhile, for others, she is a source of endless fascination thanks to the flamboyant fashions of her era, the pastel-hued beauty of her surviving residences and, above all, the extraordinary drama of her almost unbelievable riches-to-rags life. She was a complex woman who lived in a remarkable time, and yet she was also a very simple one whose main desire in life was to love and be loved in return.

This engaging and intimate biography of Marie Antoinette takes a fresh look at the story of this most fascinating and misunderstood of queens, exploring her personal tribulations such as her emotionally unfulfilling marriage, rocky friendships and the loss of her children, as well as the series of scandals, mistakes and disasters that took her from the gilded splendour of Versailles to the guillotine.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published November 30, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful biography of Marie Antionette for those interested in learning more about her. She was only 14 years old when she was married to King Louis XVI of France, Not only did she have to leave Austria at that young age, but she had to leave every single thing behind, including all of her clothes. Totally ridiculous. She would get lectured for going out with friends and spending money. Note we remember the women in history who 'waste' money far more than we do the men, even though the men were spending far more. And the women almost always had to ask the men for that money, just to be berated for spending it.

If you ever wanted to know about her sex life, you can read about it here. Her brother, Joseph, wrote extensively about it.

Anyway . . . even if you don't feel a need to know about the royals' sex life (you can always skip that part lol), I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for their next non-fiction book!

[Red Goddess Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly going in I was expecting it to be very dry which is the reason I generally don’t read biographies about historical people. But my opinion has completely changed after reading this amazing account of Marie Antoinette’s life. Numerous times I had to remind myself that this was not a novel while I was reading, but instead an accurate depiction of the life that she lived. The author did a remarkable job bringing out the human side of not only Marie Antoinette, but her entire family friends, and the people that surrounded her of course, I know how the story ends, but nonetheless, I found myself crying towards the end. Melanie Burroughs absolutely made her come to life for me and made me care deeply. I decided after finishing the book to continue so I began to watch the series of Marie Antoinette. It was very funny to me while watching that I continue to pick up inaccuracies and see how the creative process turns and twist stories to make them watchable for a television audience.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first stumbled upon Melanie's blog around 2011 and she became my first Marie Antoinette inspiration. The late French queen's life and times have been an obsession of mine since forever, but I sort of lost connection to her in later years... so I thought this book would be a perfect re-introduction to new research I have embarked upon. I wasn't disappointed - the writing style is so engaging and flowing that I finished this book in four days, which NEVER happens with biographies for me - I barely finish them at all. Melanie's love for the subject and detailed research shows through every page and I devoured it all - now back on my Marie Antoinette current, eager to read more!

If you are looking for fun and lively entry into Marie Antoinette world updated with latest research - this is a book for you.

Would be 5 stars but I took 1 off for the editing.

[Red Goddess Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly going in I was expecting it to be very dry which is the reason I generally don’t read biographies about historical people. But my opinion has completely changed after reading this amazing account of Marie Antoinette’s life. Numerous times I had to remind myself that this was not a novel while I was reading, but instead an accurate depiction of the life that she lived. The author did a remarkable job bringing out the human side of not only Marie Antoinette, but her entire family friends, and the people that surrounded her of course, I know how the story ends, but nonetheless, I found myself crying towards the end. Melanie Burroughs absolutely made her come to life for me and made me care deeply. I decided after finishing the book to continue so I began to watch the series of Marie Antoinette. It was very funny to me while watching that I continue to pick up inaccuracies and see how the creative process turns and twist stories to make them watchable for a television audience.

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to follow non-fiction about one of the most famous French queens. After following the series on the French Revolution, I found this book an interesting read, without any sentimentality. Marie Antoinette still receives a lot of attention and her image is changing among both historians and general public. And rightly so!
*Many thanks to Melanie Burrows, Pen&Sword, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

‘She was perhaps the most painted Queen of France and portraits exist from every period of her life, charting her development from wife eyed Austrian ingenue to dignified Queen, dressed in elaborate silks and with a glittering crown on the table beside her.’’

This is the first book I have read on Marie Antoinette and at first it took a while for me to get into the book but during the second half, I began to throughly enjoy reading about Marie.

A heartbreaking read at times, and one for history readers.

‘I know that they have come from Paris to demand my head,’ she said, ‘But I learned from my mother not to fear death and I will wait beside my husband for whatever comes.’

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite centuries of attention, Marie Antoinette remains a misunderstood figure, often reduced to a symbol of excess. This biography provides a fresh, intimate portrait of the queen, exploring her personal struggles and the events that led to her tragic fate, offering a more complex understanding of her life. Thorough and compassionate, the book is emotional and easy to read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this biography of Marie Antoinette. I have read a couple other books about her, both well-written and researched, but I feel Melanie Burrows' book gives the best impression of Marie Antoinette as a person. The woman herself comes through the text, giving readers a deep look at the queen. I felt that book gives readers the history of Marie Antoinette herself, rather than the history of France told through Marie Antoinette. Very informative and enjoyable book (if one can say such a thing about a book ending with execution...)

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!

A very easy read as Burrows takes you into the whirlwind of Marie Antoinette's life, showing how much of it was a silly soap opera - until it turned into a political thriller and then horror at the end.

Burrows takes full advantage of how well documented the queen's life was, from birth to death, in letters, diaries, memoirs, public announcements, newspapers, portraits, drawings, and surviving objects and architecture, filling the book with detail so you can see and hear every moment of this life that was crazy at some many levels in excess, emotion, politics, and change.