What do you think?
Rate this book
Lalki królowej
Porywająca opowieści o przyjaźni, sile uczuć i wartości prawdziwego talentu.
W pożarze giną rodzice Claudette. Jej dotychczasowe życie rozsypuje się jak domek z kart. Ale jedno pozostaje niezmienne - nadzwyczajny talent dziewczyny do tworzenia pięknych lalek, uwielbianych przez samą królową Marię Antoninę. Odważna i zaradna Claudette wkracza w pełen intryg świat wersalskich salonów. Przyjaźń z królową wystawi na próbę nie tylko charakter dziewczyny, ale i marzenia o młodzieńczej miłości.
W pożarze giną rodzice Claudette. Jej dotychczasowe życie rozsypuje się jak domek z kart. Ale jedno pozostaje niezmienne - nadzwyczajny talent dziewczyny do tworzenia pięknych lalek, uwielbianych przez samą królową Marię Antoninę. Odważna i zaradna Claudette wkracza w pełen intryg świat wersalskich salonów. Przyjaźń z królową wystawi na próbę nie tylko charakter dziewczyny, ale i marzenia o młodzieńczej miłości.
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2009
31 people are currently reading
1622 people want to read
About the author
Christine Trent
20 books329 followersChristine Trent is the author of the Heart of St. Mary's County series set in her beloved Maryland hometown. Book 3, THE CEDAR POINT AFFAIR, releases in July 2025 and Book 4, THE MADNESS OF MOLL DYER, will release in February 2026.
She is also the author of the ROYAL TRADES series about women in unusual professions, including THE QUEEN'S DOLLMAKER (a dollmaker to Marie Antoinette), A ROYAL LIKENESS (an apprentice to the great waxworker, Madame Tussaud), and BY THE KING'S DESIGN (a cloth merchant to the Prince Regent). These books were re-released in 2023.
Christine is best known for her LADY OF ASHES series featuring Violet Harper, a Victorian undertaker with a passion for her macabre work. Christine's latest entry in this historical mystery series is THE DEADLY HOURS, an anthology written with Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, and Anna Lee Huber, which follows the travels of a cursed pocket watch through time.
Can't get enough historical mystery? Christine has also written two novels (NO CURE FOR THE DEAD and A MURDEROUS MALADY) featuring Florence Nightingale as an intrepid sleuth.
Learn more about Christine at www.christinetrent.com.
She is also the author of the ROYAL TRADES series about women in unusual professions, including THE QUEEN'S DOLLMAKER (a dollmaker to Marie Antoinette), A ROYAL LIKENESS (an apprentice to the great waxworker, Madame Tussaud), and BY THE KING'S DESIGN (a cloth merchant to the Prince Regent). These books were re-released in 2023.
Christine is best known for her LADY OF ASHES series featuring Violet Harper, a Victorian undertaker with a passion for her macabre work. Christine's latest entry in this historical mystery series is THE DEADLY HOURS, an anthology written with Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, and Anna Lee Huber, which follows the travels of a cursed pocket watch through time.
Can't get enough historical mystery? Christine has also written two novels (NO CURE FOR THE DEAD and A MURDEROUS MALADY) featuring Florence Nightingale as an intrepid sleuth.
Learn more about Christine at www.christinetrent.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 5, 2022
Read: 6/25/20
3.5 stars
This book was somewhere between okay and good.
The story starts on the brink of the French Revolution. A fire in Paris destroyed the h family business (doll shop), killed her parents, and took away her fiancee. Orphaned and penniless, Claudette finds her way to England and starts work as a maid. Unfortunately, she's working for a cruel mistress. The only good thing is the handsome guest of her employers. The two become great friends and soon fall in love. Sadly, both come from different classes and can't be together because the H has an arranged marriage.
Heartbroken, Claudette begins to make dolls to sell. She slowly earns enough money to open her own doll shop. Her designs are so impressive that Marie Antoinette wants one. What Claudette doesn't realize is she's about to become an unknowing spy.
This was a very captivating read! I never knew how much work it took to create those beautiful dolls. I was impressed with Claudette. It would have been easy to give up but instead she earns her fame and fortune. She didn't need a man just her bff. I also liked how the MC slowly fall in love and find their way back to each other.
Bad: There are some slow parts and the book was also very clean. 🙁
All in all, this book was such a unique read with astoundingly realistic characters. 👏 I would recommend this book to history lovers who enjoy a little romance!
3.5 stars
This book was somewhere between okay and good.
The story starts on the brink of the French Revolution. A fire in Paris destroyed the h family business (doll shop), killed her parents, and took away her fiancee. Orphaned and penniless, Claudette finds her way to England and starts work as a maid. Unfortunately, she's working for a cruel mistress. The only good thing is the handsome guest of her employers. The two become great friends and soon fall in love. Sadly, both come from different classes and can't be together because the H has an arranged marriage.
Heartbroken, Claudette begins to make dolls to sell. She slowly earns enough money to open her own doll shop. Her designs are so impressive that Marie Antoinette wants one. What Claudette doesn't realize is she's about to become an unknowing spy.
This was a very captivating read! I never knew how much work it took to create those beautiful dolls. I was impressed with Claudette. It would have been easy to give up but instead she earns her fame and fortune. She didn't need a man just her bff. I also liked how the MC slowly fall in love and find their way back to each other.
Bad: There are some slow parts and the book was also very clean. 🙁
All in all, this book was such a unique read with astoundingly realistic characters. 👏 I would recommend this book to history lovers who enjoy a little romance!
February 17, 2010
If you’re in a mood for detailed period history in both France and England (the 18th c), weaved into a tale of one woman’s survival, struggle for independence, love, suspense, and an ever- fascinating career..boy do I have a book for you!
Oh, and did I mention this one also contains the Revolution-and our favourite French Queen, Marie Antoinette?
Let alone that The Queen’s Dollmaker is such an interesting read, I just couldn’t get enough of the whole doll making experience. Every bit of detail is so vividly portrayed that you almost feel part of the setting. Christine Trent has a knack for sweeping you right into the moment. I had a hard time believing this was the author’s very first novel.
Our heroine, Claudette Laurent, was taught at a young age, the art of dollmaking, by the grand master of dollmaking himself, her father. Tragically, when her whole family perishes through a horrendous fire, Claudette is left to fend for herself to make a new life in a new country. On the ship from France to London, she befriends Beatrice, a young widow, and her baby daughter, Marguerite. The three of them become like family and are inseparable throughout their journey and settling in England. Through highs and lows, which include famine, begging and menial servant work, Claudette rekindles her dream of creating dolls.
At first, this is just a means to their survival. But then, eventually she manages to break free from the misery to building an extraordinarily successful business. Naturally, Claudette teaches both Beatrice, and Marguerite (who eventually grows up and is an invaluable help to her) the ins and outs of the dollmaking process and the three enjoy life as they finally deserve it.
So what about love? Claudette is unable to forget her first love, Jean-Philippe, who once upon a time, was her promised betrothed. However, someone else is constantly in her life, intriguing her with his ways; the very dashing William Greycliffe. And how does Marie Antoinette fit in the picture? Claudette actually meets the Queen and becomes her exclusive dollmaker. She even builds a friendship with Madame Tussaud and also deals with Rose Bertin. There are so many other historical figures entwined in this story that I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction!
The novel takes us through the history, culminating in Marie Antoinette’s fatal encounter with the Guillotine. I was amazed by how the author managed to merge important events, details, plot and storyline to produce such an exquisite story that kept me fascinated throughout. I especially loved the way the book goes into the intricate dollmaking process (this was definitely my favourite part!), Marie Antoinette’s life, the Revolution, the love story- pulling everything together, all the while keeping me satisfied in learning about each and every development.
I found the way the author ran Marie Antoinette’s life in parallel with Claudette’s life extremely clever. This was particularly helpful to situate events and circumstances relating to how Claudette’s life developed in consequence. I can also understand how, even though sad and difficult for me, Marie Antoinette was not portrayed in the best light. The author clearly intended to show Marie Antoinette’s tragedy as a result of the ill views of those out to destroy her…vicious effect of the Revolution. Fortunately, our heroine is portrayed as loving the Queen and seeing the true good in her- this made her even more endearing to me.
Almost as if narrated by a storyteller, The Queen’s Dollmaker is an historically enchanting fairytale that captivates and satisfies, all the while making you wish that it were all true.
You will love this book!
Oh, and did I mention this one also contains the Revolution-and our favourite French Queen, Marie Antoinette?
Let alone that The Queen’s Dollmaker is such an interesting read, I just couldn’t get enough of the whole doll making experience. Every bit of detail is so vividly portrayed that you almost feel part of the setting. Christine Trent has a knack for sweeping you right into the moment. I had a hard time believing this was the author’s very first novel.
Our heroine, Claudette Laurent, was taught at a young age, the art of dollmaking, by the grand master of dollmaking himself, her father. Tragically, when her whole family perishes through a horrendous fire, Claudette is left to fend for herself to make a new life in a new country. On the ship from France to London, she befriends Beatrice, a young widow, and her baby daughter, Marguerite. The three of them become like family and are inseparable throughout their journey and settling in England. Through highs and lows, which include famine, begging and menial servant work, Claudette rekindles her dream of creating dolls.
At first, this is just a means to their survival. But then, eventually she manages to break free from the misery to building an extraordinarily successful business. Naturally, Claudette teaches both Beatrice, and Marguerite (who eventually grows up and is an invaluable help to her) the ins and outs of the dollmaking process and the three enjoy life as they finally deserve it.
So what about love? Claudette is unable to forget her first love, Jean-Philippe, who once upon a time, was her promised betrothed. However, someone else is constantly in her life, intriguing her with his ways; the very dashing William Greycliffe. And how does Marie Antoinette fit in the picture? Claudette actually meets the Queen and becomes her exclusive dollmaker. She even builds a friendship with Madame Tussaud and also deals with Rose Bertin. There are so many other historical figures entwined in this story that I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction!
The novel takes us through the history, culminating in Marie Antoinette’s fatal encounter with the Guillotine. I was amazed by how the author managed to merge important events, details, plot and storyline to produce such an exquisite story that kept me fascinated throughout. I especially loved the way the book goes into the intricate dollmaking process (this was definitely my favourite part!), Marie Antoinette’s life, the Revolution, the love story- pulling everything together, all the while keeping me satisfied in learning about each and every development.
I found the way the author ran Marie Antoinette’s life in parallel with Claudette’s life extremely clever. This was particularly helpful to situate events and circumstances relating to how Claudette’s life developed in consequence. I can also understand how, even though sad and difficult for me, Marie Antoinette was not portrayed in the best light. The author clearly intended to show Marie Antoinette’s tragedy as a result of the ill views of those out to destroy her…vicious effect of the Revolution. Fortunately, our heroine is portrayed as loving the Queen and seeing the true good in her- this made her even more endearing to me.
Almost as if narrated by a storyteller, The Queen’s Dollmaker is an historically enchanting fairytale that captivates and satisfies, all the while making you wish that it were all true.
You will love this book!
did-not-finish
September 4, 2012Good characters = very very good. Bad characters = very very bad. Book = not for me.
September 4, 2019
In this story we follow Claudette Laurent who loses everything in a fire and has to start her life over, we see her struggle to come into her own in a time where it was uncommon for women to be successful in business and looked down upon by most people. We also follow the story of Marie Antoinette, a story that blends fact with fiction. This is an interesting book, and though there are enjoyable parts, I found a large part of it slow and dull, it was predictable and some of it was stretched, but the story captivated me enough to finish the book.
December 30, 2009
I had not considered the role of dolls in the 18th century until I received a very welcomed heads up from author Christine Trent who has done her own extensive research on the fascinating subject. I found her new book, The Queen's Dollmaker, an absolutely delightful read, both due to the plot and all the great information packed between the covers. From start to finish you will get a glimpse of both the domestic and business cultures of the 18th century. The book covers the intriguing process of doll-making and follows the main character, Claudette Laurent, as she chooses 'survival' in a very rough world...
Read my full review here
Read my full review here
March 25, 2017
I cannont buy the opening sequence. Sorry. (Not the bit with the children, but the bit with the fire).
February 2, 2010
After losing her home and family to a fire, Claudette Laurent seeks work in London. She makes a friend on the journey and the two are accepted as domestic servants in the home of a social climber, but Claudette wants to start her own business with the doll making skills learned from her late father. As she works towards her dream, France spirals into revolution and Claudette is torn between her past and the life she's made for herself.
The action scene at the beginning of the story was implausible to the point of sounding stupid. One character had some sort of medical emergency only to be immediately trampled by a horse cart and then presumably swept away in a rampaging fire. And following the fire, Claudette asks around for her childhood sweetheart everywhere except the place it would make the most sense to seek him (the shop where he's serving his apprenticeship).
Claudette's spur of the moment decision to head across the Channel is weakly supported, but the story shows more promise during and shortly after Claudette's journey. Her life with her employer creates a good amount of sympathy, though for some reason I kept mixing up Claudette with her new friend during this part.
The doll making details are probably the best aspect of the book. The craft is described in detail, but I found those passages very interesting. The characters were a bit transparent, but I was entertained enough just watching them establish themselves.
As the book goes on, it begins to follow the events back in France. Instead of showing us France from the perspective of a lesser character, we get this oddly detached, often textbookish, description of what is happening to Marie Antoinette.
I first noticed it during a half chapter devoted to rehashing the affair of the diamond necklace. The section was jarring, throwing off the pace of Claudette's story - which what I thought the novel was about. But the later parts of the book often go into fictionalized descriptions of the French Revolution. To those of us are already somewhat familiar with the time period, this is very, very boring. I'm certainly not opposed to reading fictionalized versions of history, but it reads like the author was unwilling to choose between showing us history through the eyes of the protagonist and telling us, in frankly skim-worthy fashion, about everything else that was going on.
The book also suffers from having far too many endings. In addition to reading about the ultimate fates of the French royal family and the architects of the Revolution, we get endless detail about the fates of nearly every character. There are multiple weddings, a funeral (that was clumsily foreshadowed through the entire book), and passages on the future of the doll business. Characters who mistreated Claudette get their comeuppance, and two different minor characters whose actions put Claudette in peril beg for forgiveness but face tragic ends. To me, one of these revelations cheapens the earlier drama, because were led to believe that a character tried to harm Claudette by faking evidence rather than uncovering an actual plot.
The Kindle version of this was available free for a limited time. I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
The action scene at the beginning of the story was implausible to the point of sounding stupid. One character had some sort of medical emergency only to be immediately trampled by a horse cart and then presumably swept away in a rampaging fire. And following the fire, Claudette asks around for her childhood sweetheart everywhere except the place it would make the most sense to seek him (the shop where he's serving his apprenticeship).
Claudette's spur of the moment decision to head across the Channel is weakly supported, but the story shows more promise during and shortly after Claudette's journey. Her life with her employer creates a good amount of sympathy, though for some reason I kept mixing up Claudette with her new friend during this part.
The doll making details are probably the best aspect of the book. The craft is described in detail, but I found those passages very interesting. The characters were a bit transparent, but I was entertained enough just watching them establish themselves.
As the book goes on, it begins to follow the events back in France. Instead of showing us France from the perspective of a lesser character, we get this oddly detached, often textbookish, description of what is happening to Marie Antoinette.
I first noticed it during a half chapter devoted to rehashing the affair of the diamond necklace. The section was jarring, throwing off the pace of Claudette's story - which what I thought the novel was about. But the later parts of the book often go into fictionalized descriptions of the French Revolution. To those of us are already somewhat familiar with the time period, this is very, very boring. I'm certainly not opposed to reading fictionalized versions of history, but it reads like the author was unwilling to choose between showing us history through the eyes of the protagonist and telling us, in frankly skim-worthy fashion, about everything else that was going on.
The book also suffers from having far too many endings. In addition to reading about the ultimate fates of the French royal family and the architects of the Revolution, we get endless detail about the fates of nearly every character. There are multiple weddings, a funeral (that was clumsily foreshadowed through the entire book), and passages on the future of the doll business. Characters who mistreated Claudette get their comeuppance, and two different minor characters whose actions put Claudette in peril beg for forgiveness but face tragic ends. To me, one of these revelations cheapens the earlier drama, because were led to believe that a character tried to harm Claudette by faking evidence rather than uncovering an actual plot.
The Kindle version of this was available free for a limited time. I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
Read
January 10, 2013It just wasn't believable to me. First Marie Antoinette comes through the town as the new future Queen, gets out of her carriage and shares marzipan candy with the children (it was like a Disney scene.) Next up the fire scene began and the way the family and neighbors acted just seemed unreal. Your home, business and city are burning and you're speaking in terms like "very well then" please wife and daughter stand right here in the midst of the fire, oh let me stop and kiss you too. As good and helpful as people are, this scene was just a bit too much.
DNF
DNF
January 31, 2011
For the most part, I really liked this book. What I liked best was that, for once, the main character in a historical romance was an entrepreneur and not some pampered nobility or some downtrodden peasant-type. The heroine is in trade and really does make something of herself; I truly enjoyed watching Claudette taking a tiny opportunity and somehow growing it into a small business, and then from there growing it into a well-known business that catered especially to royalty and the rich. That, for me, is gratifying because I'm a self-proprietor myself.
Another thing I liked about the book — the history is real, and the story entwined with it is plausible. Naturally, the main characters are fictional, but the way the author wove them into historical fact was interesting for me.
Also, I enjoyed the story and the characters. The book engaged me, and it was easy for me to root for the characters' successes.
What I didn't like, however, was how Claudette and William Greycliffe met the first few times. There was too much feeling on Claudette's part, and she was too antagonistic. It didn't feel natural. I can well imagine her to be cold, stiff, and silent, but she was all fire and anger — over someone she just met and who should have been of no consequence in her life. And he, of course, took far too much notice of a servant who should have been wallpaper for the likes of him. There needed to be more of a reason for all that feeling, more of a set up, to make their encounters at the Ashby household seem more likely. As it was, it felt a little forced for me. This is a character who can keep a calm head and respond appropriately for most of the book, and yet she acts as if she has no impulse control during these first encounters with Greycliffe.
The other part of the book I didn't like was how easily Claudette agreed to go to France again and how quiet she kept it with those she left behind. This is a character with a lot of common sense, who knew enough not to sign a contract she didn't understand and therefore stay out of prostitution, but she did NOT have the common sense to stay out of France in its time of trouble — or, at the very least, to take the proper precautions before going there.
Those two instances were the only ones to mar my full enjoyment of the book, my suspension of disbelief. The rest of the book, however, was great.
Free Kindle downloaded December 31, 2010. Finished reading January 31, 2011.
Another thing I liked about the book — the history is real, and the story entwined with it is plausible. Naturally, the main characters are fictional, but the way the author wove them into historical fact was interesting for me.
Also, I enjoyed the story and the characters. The book engaged me, and it was easy for me to root for the characters' successes.
What I didn't like, however, was how Claudette and William Greycliffe met the first few times. There was too much feeling on Claudette's part, and she was too antagonistic. It didn't feel natural. I can well imagine her to be cold, stiff, and silent, but she was all fire and anger — over someone she just met and who should have been of no consequence in her life. And he, of course, took far too much notice of a servant who should have been wallpaper for the likes of him. There needed to be more of a reason for all that feeling, more of a set up, to make their encounters at the Ashby household seem more likely. As it was, it felt a little forced for me. This is a character who can keep a calm head and respond appropriately for most of the book, and yet she acts as if she has no impulse control during these first encounters with Greycliffe.
The other part of the book I didn't like was how easily Claudette agreed to go to France again and how quiet she kept it with those she left behind. This is a character with a lot of common sense, who knew enough not to sign a contract she didn't understand and therefore stay out of prostitution, but she did NOT have the common sense to stay out of France in its time of trouble — or, at the very least, to take the proper precautions before going there.
Those two instances were the only ones to mar my full enjoyment of the book, my suspension of disbelief. The rest of the book, however, was great.
Free Kindle downloaded December 31, 2010. Finished reading January 31, 2011.
July 26, 2010
When I first picked up this book I was expecting a smutty, intrigue-filled historical drama à la Phillippa Gregory. What I got instead was a Cinderella story of an orphaned young girl who makes a name for herself as a dollmaker. However, I would like to stress here that my review is not influenced by the fact that the book wasn't what I was expecting. For what it was, it was pretty good.
The story begins when teenage Claudette, the daughter of a renowned Parisian dollmaker, is orphaned in a fire. She travels to England where she and her friend--a young widow named Béatrice and her daughter, Marguerite--finds employment as servants in the home of a wealthy, social-climbing family. With the help of an enterprising young servant, Claudette sells her dolls until she saves enough money to leave the Ashbys and start her own doll shop with Béatrice. Eventually, Claudette's dolls receive such renown amongst the English aristocracy that word travels to France, where Marie Antoinette herself commissions some of Claudette's creations.
One of the big selling points of this novel (at least if the blurb on the back is to be believed), was the backdrop of the French Revolution. I was expecting to see the historical events unfold as told through the eyes of a fictional character close enough to the historical figures to witness them. This book... wasn't that story at all. I would say it's mostly a story about Claudette making a name for herself as a dollmaker, and her subsequent struggle between the life she'd initially wanted in France and the life she made for herself in England. Much of this conflict plays out in her relationships with William Greycliffe, a young English aristocrat, and Jean-Phillippe, her French childhood sweetheart. But those relationships were both extremely chaste and rather clichéd so I didn't even get some good smutty fun, yo. When the events directly preceding the revolution do become relevant, it isn't until we're over halfway through the book, and Claudette is still too distant of a character for us to witness most of the events through her eyes. Rather, they are related to us in info-dump chapters that simply present the author's fictionalized account of history.
What was of interest were the parts about dollmaking. It was clear a lot of research went into that and I give the author props. That was pretty much the only historical detail of the book that felt genuinely entwined with the main plotline. If the blurb on the back of the book hadn't assured me that Claudette would eventually become swept up in the events of the Revolution (and only in an extremely peripheral manner for most of the book), I probably would've been wondering why the hell the author insisted on wasting our time with these info-dump chapters.
Which brings me to another one of my beefs with this book--the characters. I couldn't get into any of them. Claudette herself makes a rather bland heroine, and a bit of a Mary Sue at that (and I'm not using the term the way most of online fandom seems to use it, as synonymous with "I don't like this character." Because I do like Claudette--but she does possess some Sue-ish qualities). Her only real character flaw seems to be being too trusting (and kind of dumb, but I believe this was unintentional), and that's right up there with Bella Swan's klutziness in flaw-but-not-really territory. If a character's flaw is something that should be virtuous and/or endearing of not for the meen, meen people who take advantage of it, sorry guys, but that ain't a flaw.
The supporting characters are not much better. Béatrice is ever the trusty sidekick and William is ever the dreamy, if bland, love interest, and Jean-Phillippe is just a tool. Seriously. I could not figure out why Claudette kept such a girl boner for this guy, because he was just that lame. He gets mildly more interesting when she dumps him during her visit to the Queen and he goes all Fatal Attraction on her, but even that plotline is too rushed and too late. You know you're a serious tool if you can't even make the Evil is Cool trope work for you. The only remotely interesting character turns out to be another villain, and meets an end so demeaning and depressing even I was disturbed by it, and I am a regular viewer of Criminal Minds.
That said, I still gave this book 4 stars b/c it kept me entertained and I mean genuinely entertained and not that "oh-gooodddddd-why-do-I-torture-myself" compulsion that got me through as much of the Twilight series as I did. The dollmaking parts were genuinely interesting. I only docked one star because a lot of what I was complaining about might also be personal taste. I like intrigue. I like soap opera melodrama. I like smut. I like complex and deeply flawed characters, sometimes to the point of being difficult to sympathize with. This book contained none of the above. It was all very capable in a novel-writing 101 way, but nothing that would make me re-read it over and over, and I'll probably be taking my copy to the used bookstore in my whenever-my-shelves-get-too-full purge. But I get that those things are not everyone's cup of tea, so if you want an entertaining read with some interesting historical deets, you'll probably dig this.
The story begins when teenage Claudette, the daughter of a renowned Parisian dollmaker, is orphaned in a fire. She travels to England where she and her friend--a young widow named Béatrice and her daughter, Marguerite--finds employment as servants in the home of a wealthy, social-climbing family. With the help of an enterprising young servant, Claudette sells her dolls until she saves enough money to leave the Ashbys and start her own doll shop with Béatrice. Eventually, Claudette's dolls receive such renown amongst the English aristocracy that word travels to France, where Marie Antoinette herself commissions some of Claudette's creations.
One of the big selling points of this novel (at least if the blurb on the back is to be believed), was the backdrop of the French Revolution. I was expecting to see the historical events unfold as told through the eyes of a fictional character close enough to the historical figures to witness them. This book... wasn't that story at all. I would say it's mostly a story about Claudette making a name for herself as a dollmaker, and her subsequent struggle between the life she'd initially wanted in France and the life she made for herself in England. Much of this conflict plays out in her relationships with William Greycliffe, a young English aristocrat, and Jean-Phillippe, her French childhood sweetheart. But those relationships were both extremely chaste and rather clichéd so I didn't even get some good smutty fun, yo. When the events directly preceding the revolution do become relevant, it isn't until we're over halfway through the book, and Claudette is still too distant of a character for us to witness most of the events through her eyes. Rather, they are related to us in info-dump chapters that simply present the author's fictionalized account of history.
What was of interest were the parts about dollmaking. It was clear a lot of research went into that and I give the author props. That was pretty much the only historical detail of the book that felt genuinely entwined with the main plotline. If the blurb on the back of the book hadn't assured me that Claudette would eventually become swept up in the events of the Revolution (and only in an extremely peripheral manner for most of the book), I probably would've been wondering why the hell the author insisted on wasting our time with these info-dump chapters.
Which brings me to another one of my beefs with this book--the characters. I couldn't get into any of them. Claudette herself makes a rather bland heroine, and a bit of a Mary Sue at that (and I'm not using the term the way most of online fandom seems to use it, as synonymous with "I don't like this character." Because I do like Claudette--but she does possess some Sue-ish qualities). Her only real character flaw seems to be being too trusting (and kind of dumb, but I believe this was unintentional), and that's right up there with Bella Swan's klutziness in flaw-but-not-really territory. If a character's flaw is something that should be virtuous and/or endearing of not for the meen, meen people who take advantage of it, sorry guys, but that ain't a flaw.
The supporting characters are not much better. Béatrice is ever the trusty sidekick and William is ever the dreamy, if bland, love interest, and Jean-Phillippe is just a tool. Seriously. I could not figure out why Claudette kept such a girl boner for this guy, because he was just that lame. He gets mildly more interesting when she dumps him during her visit to the Queen and he goes all Fatal Attraction on her, but even that plotline is too rushed and too late. You know you're a serious tool if you can't even make the Evil is Cool trope work for you. The only remotely interesting character turns out to be another villain, and meets an end so demeaning and depressing even I was disturbed by it, and I am a regular viewer of Criminal Minds.
That said, I still gave this book 4 stars b/c it kept me entertained and I mean genuinely entertained and not that "oh-gooodddddd-why-do-I-torture-myself" compulsion that got me through as much of the Twilight series as I did. The dollmaking parts were genuinely interesting. I only docked one star because a lot of what I was complaining about might also be personal taste. I like intrigue. I like soap opera melodrama. I like smut. I like complex and deeply flawed characters, sometimes to the point of being difficult to sympathize with. This book contained none of the above. It was all very capable in a novel-writing 101 way, but nothing that would make me re-read it over and over, and I'll probably be taking my copy to the used bookstore in my whenever-my-shelves-get-too-full purge. But I get that those things are not everyone's cup of tea, so if you want an entertaining read with some interesting historical deets, you'll probably dig this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2011
The second book in a row to get two stars from me, but for very different reasons. The first book, Tap & Gown by Diana Peterfreund, had no plot but was competently written; this book has plot & setting aplenty but oy! the stifled prose, the distant verging on omniscient third person POV that keeps the reader at an annoying arm's distance, the overwhelming tendency to tell instead of show.
THE QUEEN'S DOLLMAKER is set in a fascinating time period: the years leading up to and including the French Revolution. The main character, Claudette, is the daughter of a Parisian dollmaker who loses her family and home one horrifying morning. She finds herself on a ship bound for London; the captain's plan is to sell the women on board into prostitution but Claudette, her friend Beatrice and Beatrice's young daughter Marguerite escape. They end up as servants in the stereotypical odious social climber's household, where Claudette attracts the attention of an up and coming young aristocrat. The trio manage to escape from the household and set up a shop to sell Claudette's dolls, which soon become the toast of London - and before long, Queen Marie Antoinette demands dolls for Versailles as well. Unfortunately, Marie Antoinette's profligate spending on trivialities such as dolls does not go over well with the commoners whose taxes pay for her fun, and Claudette finds herself swept up in the events surrounding the Bourbon dynasty's downfall.
It's a very rich setting, full of delicious historical details such as the fashions of the day and manufacturing processes pre-Industrial Revolution. The author has clearly done her research homework, and the passages describing the making of the dolls and Claudette's struggles to set up her business are some of the best in the book.
Unfortunately, the author falls down when it comes to her characters' inner journeys. Claudette is a character easy to root for; she is spunky, industrious, optimistic and stubborn. However, we know most of this from the scenes showing Claudette at work. Her emotional life remains hidden. We are told, rather than shown, that Claudette is in love with William Greycliffe. We are told, rather than shown, that Claudette won't marry him because she fears the difference in their social status.
And for someone in love, Claudette exhibits head-scratching behavior. She runs off to Paris not once, but twice, without talking to her erstwhile suitor. She communicates with her French childhood sweetheart without telling William. This would make sense if William were depicted as withholding or jealous, but since William is the very model of a model English aristocrat head over heels in love, the reader wonders just what is Claudette's problem.
And Claudette's second trip to Paris puts her firmly in the "too stupid to live" category. She runs off to a dangerous and chaotic Paris because Marie Antoinette supposedly asked for her, even though Claudette only had one prior audience with the Queen and, despite the book's title, was far from being a confidante - and even though she had been warned repeatedly that the French royal family was in severe danger, meaning she was putting herself at risk.
Meanwhile, Claudette's childhood sweetheart, a perfect gentleman last time they met, is suddenly turned into a raving sociopath intent on raping and/or seeing her guillotined on trumped-up charges. But have no fear, as William suddenly turns into Sir Percy Blakeney and rescues her ala the Scarlet Pimpernel.
All of this could have been forgiven and/or swept under the suspension of disbelief if the writing had been up to it. But the clunky expository prose and distant POV serve only to annoy instead of entertain. Too bad; it would be a really great story if only told via flesh and blood characters instead of these cardboard puppets.
THE QUEEN'S DOLLMAKER is set in a fascinating time period: the years leading up to and including the French Revolution. The main character, Claudette, is the daughter of a Parisian dollmaker who loses her family and home one horrifying morning. She finds herself on a ship bound for London; the captain's plan is to sell the women on board into prostitution but Claudette, her friend Beatrice and Beatrice's young daughter Marguerite escape. They end up as servants in the stereotypical odious social climber's household, where Claudette attracts the attention of an up and coming young aristocrat. The trio manage to escape from the household and set up a shop to sell Claudette's dolls, which soon become the toast of London - and before long, Queen Marie Antoinette demands dolls for Versailles as well. Unfortunately, Marie Antoinette's profligate spending on trivialities such as dolls does not go over well with the commoners whose taxes pay for her fun, and Claudette finds herself swept up in the events surrounding the Bourbon dynasty's downfall.
It's a very rich setting, full of delicious historical details such as the fashions of the day and manufacturing processes pre-Industrial Revolution. The author has clearly done her research homework, and the passages describing the making of the dolls and Claudette's struggles to set up her business are some of the best in the book.
Unfortunately, the author falls down when it comes to her characters' inner journeys. Claudette is a character easy to root for; she is spunky, industrious, optimistic and stubborn. However, we know most of this from the scenes showing Claudette at work. Her emotional life remains hidden. We are told, rather than shown, that Claudette is in love with William Greycliffe. We are told, rather than shown, that Claudette won't marry him because she fears the difference in their social status.
And for someone in love, Claudette exhibits head-scratching behavior. She runs off to Paris not once, but twice, without talking to her erstwhile suitor. She communicates with her French childhood sweetheart without telling William. This would make sense if William were depicted as withholding or jealous, but since William is the very model of a model English aristocrat head over heels in love, the reader wonders just what is Claudette's problem.
And Claudette's second trip to Paris puts her firmly in the "too stupid to live" category. She runs off to a dangerous and chaotic Paris because Marie Antoinette supposedly asked for her, even though Claudette only had one prior audience with the Queen and, despite the book's title, was far from being a confidante - and even though she had been warned repeatedly that the French royal family was in severe danger, meaning she was putting herself at risk.
Meanwhile, Claudette's childhood sweetheart, a perfect gentleman last time they met, is suddenly turned into a raving sociopath intent on raping and/or seeing her guillotined on trumped-up charges. But have no fear, as William suddenly turns into Sir Percy Blakeney and rescues her ala the Scarlet Pimpernel.
All of this could have been forgiven and/or swept under the suspension of disbelief if the writing had been up to it. But the clunky expository prose and distant POV serve only to annoy instead of entertain. Too bad; it would be a really great story if only told via flesh and blood characters instead of these cardboard puppets.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2011
This is one of the books I picked up for £1 back during the "12 days of kindle" promotion and as I haven't read any historical fiction for a while I thought it was high time I took a look.
Claudette Laurent lives in a France in turmoil in the latter half of the 1700s. Fire destroys her home and her father's workshop and then her parents die in the aftermath. Young and alone, unable to find her betrothed, she finds herself on a boat to England to start a new life. She begins life in service but is determined to make a better life and sees an opportunity using skills she learnt from her father. Eventually her name becomes well known and she is offered an audience with French Queen Marie Antoinette. The story takes the reader between London and Paris, showing the intricacies of English society and the dangers prevalent in France during the revolution.
To start with I found the story enjoyable and thought it would be a book I would really like. Unfortunately the more I read the more issues I had with it. From early on there were inconsistencies with how old Claudette was. At the start, in 1765, she is meant to be 5 years old. Then in 1781 she has been assisting her father for 16 years, but later in 1779 she turns 14, then in 1784 she is meant to be nineteen. I also noticed things like errors in the spelling of character's names. These aren't major issues but it seems poor that neither have been picked up before publication.
On the theme of inconsistencies I felt the way Claudette and her betrothed behaved seemed inconsistent. She is meant to be totally in love with Jean-Philippe, but when her parents die and she tries to find him she spends all of hours looking for him then visits the police station where she is told to go to the docks to look. She heads to the docks, is told no family with his name is there and promptly agrees to board a ship to England. Not exactly what I'd expected for a besotted teenager. When she later returns to France for a second time she does so knowing of all the troubles the country faces, yet with all she has going for her in her life in England she still goes to Paris on the whim of the most hated woman in France.
Jean-Philippe confused me greatly. He was a political creature in his teens, against the excesses of the King and Queen's court, yet when we catch up with him years later he has been working there for what must have been years (even with the off-kilter ages and years) just so he can see the abuses for himself. It seemed strange to have spent years in service of those he stood so strongly against.
Another of my problems with the book was the language used by the author. Some of her turns of phrase were awkward and while I don't mind the use of American spellings there were Americanisms creeping in. For example while in America you might say you walked x number of blocks it's not something I have ever heard anyone English say, and I very much doubt back in the 1700s London was laid out in blocks.
My final gripe about this book was that later on the parts focusing on Marie Antoinette and the unfolding situation in France became too much tell and not enough show, it was like reading from a history textbook rather than a novel. It almost felt like the author couldn't figure out a way to impart the information by weaving it into the text.
This book had a lot of potential, I liked the basic plot premise and the way it was interwoven with the story of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution. However the execution really let it down, so I don't think I could say more than it was ok. I'm glad I picked it up when it was on offer!
Claudette Laurent lives in a France in turmoil in the latter half of the 1700s. Fire destroys her home and her father's workshop and then her parents die in the aftermath. Young and alone, unable to find her betrothed, she finds herself on a boat to England to start a new life. She begins life in service but is determined to make a better life and sees an opportunity using skills she learnt from her father. Eventually her name becomes well known and she is offered an audience with French Queen Marie Antoinette. The story takes the reader between London and Paris, showing the intricacies of English society and the dangers prevalent in France during the revolution.
To start with I found the story enjoyable and thought it would be a book I would really like. Unfortunately the more I read the more issues I had with it. From early on there were inconsistencies with how old Claudette was. At the start, in 1765, she is meant to be 5 years old. Then in 1781 she has been assisting her father for 16 years, but later in 1779 she turns 14, then in 1784 she is meant to be nineteen. I also noticed things like errors in the spelling of character's names. These aren't major issues but it seems poor that neither have been picked up before publication.
On the theme of inconsistencies I felt the way Claudette and her betrothed behaved seemed inconsistent. She is meant to be totally in love with Jean-Philippe, but when her parents die and she tries to find him she spends all of hours looking for him then visits the police station where she is told to go to the docks to look. She heads to the docks, is told no family with his name is there and promptly agrees to board a ship to England. Not exactly what I'd expected for a besotted teenager. When she later returns to France for a second time she does so knowing of all the troubles the country faces, yet with all she has going for her in her life in England she still goes to Paris on the whim of the most hated woman in France.
Jean-Philippe confused me greatly. He was a political creature in his teens, against the excesses of the King and Queen's court, yet when we catch up with him years later he has been working there for what must have been years (even with the off-kilter ages and years) just so he can see the abuses for himself. It seemed strange to have spent years in service of those he stood so strongly against.
Another of my problems with the book was the language used by the author. Some of her turns of phrase were awkward and while I don't mind the use of American spellings there were Americanisms creeping in. For example while in America you might say you walked x number of blocks it's not something I have ever heard anyone English say, and I very much doubt back in the 1700s London was laid out in blocks.
My final gripe about this book was that later on the parts focusing on Marie Antoinette and the unfolding situation in France became too much tell and not enough show, it was like reading from a history textbook rather than a novel. It almost felt like the author couldn't figure out a way to impart the information by weaving it into the text.
This book had a lot of potential, I liked the basic plot premise and the way it was interwoven with the story of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution. However the execution really let it down, so I don't think I could say more than it was ok. I'm glad I picked it up when it was on offer!
June 24, 2012
I was really on the fence about this book because I am not really into romance, and so I worried it might go too much in that direction, but I am fascinated by the French Revolution, and the story sounded intriguing so I decided to give it a chance and I am glad that I did. The romance aspect of the story I found do not really predominate the book too much, and seemed much more in the background, and so it did not interfere with the actual story for me.
One of the things I really have to give the author credit for is creating a teenage (at the onset) female lead in a historical novel, that I found to be both enjoyable as well as believable. I find I often have difficulties with works of historical fiction that features young women as the heroine. It seems that the women have a way of coming across too much like modern day high school students, and the portrayal of their age and maturity is too much akin to modern standards, and not really believable for how a woman in the context of the time fame of the story would be expected to behave and act. Or in an effort to make the characters interesting and unconventional, they are far too modernized in their sensibilities and attitudes and do not reflect how women would realistically behave within the time period of the book.
But in this cause I felt that Trent managed to achieve the perfect balance with Claudette, she acted in a way that was age appropriate for a woman her age, living during the time frame in which she lived, and Trent was able to make her a strong, independent woman while still making her character believable so that she did not feel too modernized.
Another thing I quite enjoyed about this book is that I thought the author did well in the balance between portraying the historical facts of the French revolution, and actual historical figures, and using her creative licence to create original characters in a way that both made for interesting reading while being able to give the reader the sense and feeling of what it must have been like to live during those tumult times of the French Revolution, and allowing the reader to see it from different perspectives and points of view.
One of the things I really have to give the author credit for is creating a teenage (at the onset) female lead in a historical novel, that I found to be both enjoyable as well as believable. I find I often have difficulties with works of historical fiction that features young women as the heroine. It seems that the women have a way of coming across too much like modern day high school students, and the portrayal of their age and maturity is too much akin to modern standards, and not really believable for how a woman in the context of the time fame of the story would be expected to behave and act. Or in an effort to make the characters interesting and unconventional, they are far too modernized in their sensibilities and attitudes and do not reflect how women would realistically behave within the time period of the book.
But in this cause I felt that Trent managed to achieve the perfect balance with Claudette, she acted in a way that was age appropriate for a woman her age, living during the time frame in which she lived, and Trent was able to make her a strong, independent woman while still making her character believable so that she did not feel too modernized.
Another thing I quite enjoyed about this book is that I thought the author did well in the balance between portraying the historical facts of the French revolution, and actual historical figures, and using her creative licence to create original characters in a way that both made for interesting reading while being able to give the reader the sense and feeling of what it must have been like to live during those tumult times of the French Revolution, and allowing the reader to see it from different perspectives and points of view.
January 4, 2010
Half the fiction I read is historical fiction, although I have not yet read much on the French Revolution. For the past year I have promised myself to investigate more into the history of Marie Antoinette, purchasing the 2008 movie Marie Antoinette directed by Sofia Coppola, which I had not yet watched, as well as Antonia Fraser’s MTI version of Marie Antoinette: The Journey, which I have not yet read. Then I was given an opportunity to read The Queen’s Dollmaker on offer from the author Christine Trent and I am so glad I accepted.
The Queen’s Dollmaker is a very clever and fresh perspective of the French Revolution period set in both England and France. The story follows in a series of vignettes of Claudette’s life coinciding with the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Through her strong determination and ingenuity she crafts her future as a premier dollmaker in England, eventually catching the attention of Marie Antoinette. Their destinies become entwined as events unfold.
Marie Antoinette is from the outset a sympathetic character that the young Claudette is fascinated by, but she is presented in a realistic and factual way, with Trent not choosing sides one way or another whether she deserved her fate or not. Historical details are revealed through the events that happen. The story at times quickly progresses over the years and so I would not have minded if the book had been a bit longer.
I appreciated the amount of detail about the craft and selling of dolls. I’m a reader who enjoys all the technical details, so the story appealed to me in this way too. The Queen’s Dollmaker is a very good novel that stays true to its voice. After an accomplished debut effort I am excited to see what Christine Trent writes next. Other recommended historical fiction reads with strong-willed, entrepreneurial female protagonists include The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory, The Tailor’s Daughter by Janice Graham, The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson and Signora Da Vinci by Robin Maxwell.
My Rating: 4.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
The Queen’s Dollmaker is a very clever and fresh perspective of the French Revolution period set in both England and France. The story follows in a series of vignettes of Claudette’s life coinciding with the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Through her strong determination and ingenuity she crafts her future as a premier dollmaker in England, eventually catching the attention of Marie Antoinette. Their destinies become entwined as events unfold.
Marie Antoinette is from the outset a sympathetic character that the young Claudette is fascinated by, but she is presented in a realistic and factual way, with Trent not choosing sides one way or another whether she deserved her fate or not. Historical details are revealed through the events that happen. The story at times quickly progresses over the years and so I would not have minded if the book had been a bit longer.
I appreciated the amount of detail about the craft and selling of dolls. I’m a reader who enjoys all the technical details, so the story appealed to me in this way too. The Queen’s Dollmaker is a very good novel that stays true to its voice. After an accomplished debut effort I am excited to see what Christine Trent writes next. Other recommended historical fiction reads with strong-willed, entrepreneurial female protagonists include The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory, The Tailor’s Daughter by Janice Graham, The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson and Signora Da Vinci by Robin Maxwell.
My Rating: 4.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
January 10, 2011
WOW!!!!!! What a book! It was a historical fiction based in the late 1700's. The story begins when Marie Antoinette is arriving in France. A little girl and her best friend run to catch a glimpse and her cart stops and she visits with the children. Who would guess that thier pathes would cross again once adults. The little girl is the daughter of a well loved doll maker in France. Tragety strikes and their village burns down. Her father and mother are killed on the night of the fire and she is forced at age 12 years to fend for herself. The story takes her from France to England.... the twists and turns are never ending as she is almost sold into prostitution but saved by one who will be her greatest enemy. She ends up being a maid to a woman who wants to be a part of high society and is treated badly and eventually the tables are turned. It is a classic rags to riches story but not without paying the price for dreaming to be the finest dollmaker in England!
A FABULOUS read... strong female characters... great plot..... gripping to the last page! A do not miss!
A FABULOUS read... strong female characters... great plot..... gripping to the last page! A do not miss!
March 21, 2010
There were so many adverbs and cliches that I nearly lost my mind!!!
Really, this was quite a rough read. It was not well-written in the least; the characters were nothing more than caricatures and not even cleverly written caricatures, at that. They remained stiff and one dimensional throughout the book. The author just didn't make me care about what happened to them either way.
Likewise, the narrative switched points of view with such a jolt that whatever small amount of flow the novel had became completely lost. And, trust me, there is very little flow. It's as though the novel itself just wasn't fleshed out enough. Perhaps the author just had too much story to tell in too few pages, which might have ended up being a mercy, as I just couldn't have read much more.
When I picked up the novel, it wasn't as though I expected literature. However, I was incredibly disappointed by just how poorly this novel was written.
Really, this was quite a rough read. It was not well-written in the least; the characters were nothing more than caricatures and not even cleverly written caricatures, at that. They remained stiff and one dimensional throughout the book. The author just didn't make me care about what happened to them either way.
Likewise, the narrative switched points of view with such a jolt that whatever small amount of flow the novel had became completely lost. And, trust me, there is very little flow. It's as though the novel itself just wasn't fleshed out enough. Perhaps the author just had too much story to tell in too few pages, which might have ended up being a mercy, as I just couldn't have read much more.
When I picked up the novel, it wasn't as though I expected literature. However, I was incredibly disappointed by just how poorly this novel was written.
February 2, 2011
I had zero expectations for this book going in. I had never heard of it or the author and chose it simply because it was available for free on my kindle. I was more than pleasantly surprised. I enjoy most historical fiction and this is no exception. I don't think I have ever read a book set in London and France during The Terror leading up to and during the French Revolution. Viewing it through lead character Claudette and Marie Antoinette proved informative and very interesting. I enjoyed the whole book but must admit that the final third is the most thrilling. There are unforeseeable events (by me, at least) as well as some easily predictable parts. But really, it is the characters that drive a book for me and this book is full of great ones. I hope to find that author Christine Trent has more books available or will in the future.
August 15, 2014
Sadly, this is a perfect example of the need of the warning to writers to "show, don't tell". The history is well-researched, and the story and characters seem generally good, but the storytelling keeps jumping between a few detailed scenes of the people interacting, and long stretches of describing, in summary form, what happened to them. In many ways it's like reading a very detailed synopsis of a book, with selected scenes inserted as examples. Sadly, I never felt like I was actually reading the novel itself.
December 28, 2009
Entertaining story of a young woman in Paris whose life is forever changed by a fire and she builds a new life for herself in England. Using the skills as a dollmaker that she learned from her father, she finds herself making dolls for Marie Antoinette as France hovers on revolution. Full review: http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/200...
January 16, 2011
Interesting. A part of history I was anxious to learn more about. I really enjoyed the characters, the narration, and the historical setting.
December 30, 2021
Mamka tu knihu zachránila, když ji kolegyně chtěla vyhodit, tak jsem se jí ze zvědavosti ujala. Claudette je prostá dcera výrobce panenek, která musí odejít z Paříže, v Anglii ji zaměstnává čarodějnice, ale jako pracovitá a slušná dívka, nakonec úspěchu v podnikání a i v lásce dojde. Tato hárlekýnská příběhová linie se prolíná s příběhem Marie Antoinetty, který tomu má dodat ten správný historický punc. Příběh královny je stručný, nepřináší žádný velký objev (prostě přečtete si na wikipedii, je tam to samé) a o samotné královně se toho moc nedozvíte. Je to tam jako vata. Drží se historických reálií, ale je vidět, že jsou to povrchní znalosti. Prostě autorka si udělala poznámky, takže tam nemá příliš chyb, ale je vidět, že o tom, jaký byl Ludvík nebo Antoinetta, moc neví.
Škoda, že to nepsal někdo, kdo trochu zvládá řemeslo psaní knih, mohl z toho být i celkem ucházející románek. Takhle je to taková o něco chytřejší červená knihovna, žádné velké dílo, ale je to docela milá knížka a překvapilo mě, že je mnohem lepší, než jsem původně čekala.
Škoda, že to nepsal někdo, kdo trochu zvládá řemeslo psaní knih, mohl z toho být i celkem ucházející románek. Takhle je to taková o něco chytřejší červená knihovna, žádné velké dílo, ale je to docela milá knížka a překvapilo mě, že je mnohem lepší, než jsem původně čekala.
May 16, 2017
Interesting Story
I found this story and interesting take on the French Revolution from the side of the royals. I liked Claudette's character and found myself cheering for her. That said the book bogged down in descriptions sometimes and slowed with all the details of dollmaking.
I found this story and interesting take on the French Revolution from the side of the royals. I liked Claudette's character and found myself cheering for her. That said the book bogged down in descriptions sometimes and slowed with all the details of dollmaking.
October 19, 2018
I thought this was beautifully written. Following Claudette Laurent after she loses her parents and home, now has to make her own way in the world. She is a strong and resilient heroine who I enjoyed from the start of the book. This may be fiction but there's plenty of history in here.
July 22, 2017
This was a very well told story with many twists so that you could not predict where it was going to lead to.
March 29, 2018
2,5* Korektor si na tom tedy moc záležet nedal.
August 11, 2022
Were I an 8th grade creative writing teacher I might give it an “A”…but ,seriously, this story is nowhere near ready for prime time.
April 26, 2010
Christine Trent's debut novel offers promises of many more intriguing stories to come, and she has easily gained many fans, including myself, who have now read The Queen's Dollmaker. This novel features a young woman who faces severe and sudden hardships and is forced to leave her native France and sail to England. At the same time, the narration switches to Marie Antoinette who has troubles of her own, concerning her husband and the country she is the new Queen of.
This is my first official read of Marie Antoinette, fictional or otherwise, although I have collected quite a few books on the Queen I have not actually had one land in my review pile. I have acquired a keen sense of Marie Antoinette through Internet exploration, and I find the subject of the monarchy's dissolution and the fate of her children fascinating, and heart breaking. I have a beautiful pendant of a young Marie Antoinette that I wear occasionally as well. Congratulations to Christine Trent for being the first author to actually get me to sit down and read a full novel that includes Marie Antoinette, and my apologies for taking this long to get to it. I mention all this so my readers would know my position on this as my first fictional Marie Antoinette-related story.
The fact that Claudette Laurent gets on a ship to England because she can't find her betrothed in a day was grating on my sensibilities, but she was just sixteen and had nowhere to go, and probably felt at a loss as well as being in a state of shock after losing both of her parents tragically. She befriends a girl named Beatrice while on this same ship together and forms a lasting friendship with her and Beatrice's daughter. Intermittently, narration on Marie Antoinette's side of things slice in and out throughout this story, as Claudette's fortunes rise in England as she makes a life for herself, while back in France the Queen is suffering at the hands of the revolution. Sadly, through this telling, Queen Marie Antoinette seems oblivious to the dangers just as Claudette is naive in some aspects.
Claudette's character evolved as she grew up and matured so that she became very likable. Claudette's first job as a maid in a haughty woman's house was quite humorous and I enjoyed the mishaps that followed Claudette. Eventually she storms out of the house in a grand girl-power moment, and it was a highlight for her character. Operating her own doll shop without the aid of others was a great feat, especially since her superb workmanship became noticed by royalty. Soon, Queen Marie Antoinette ordered dolls from Claudette, which required her to return to France. She does find her betrothed Jean Phillippe again, and Claudette becomes torn between her two worlds of a prosperous England and the memories of her life in France. She has a magnificent new suitor in England, but will that be enough for Claudette?
And just when you think that's all there is to the story, Claudette soon finds herself trapped in France and without any justice. Will it be a Jean-Phillippe from her childhood to rescue her, or the gallant William from across the channel? Will both Queen Marie Antoinette and Claudette face the same tragic demise?
I found the storyline to be fast-paced and rhythmic enough to hold my interest while I was intrigued with the characters and their development. It was both plot and character driven, and I cared for the main characters throughout the story. It was not drowning in historical facts or details but was pleasing enough as the author deftly changed the setting from one country to the other. The scenic details impressed me more in the beginning of the novel in France when the descriptions of the fire occurred, and then later on when Claudette was in France again. The actual Marie Antoinette plot was not overly dramatic and was pretty much a side story inserted to help dramatize the political upheaval, allowing Claudette to steal the show as the story's heroine. Later on as Marie Antoinette's story comes to a conclusion, there was more of her featured. I found this to be a solid debut historical fiction novel for Christine Trent that I would not hesitate to recommend and I look forward to more from her.
This is my first official read of Marie Antoinette, fictional or otherwise, although I have collected quite a few books on the Queen I have not actually had one land in my review pile. I have acquired a keen sense of Marie Antoinette through Internet exploration, and I find the subject of the monarchy's dissolution and the fate of her children fascinating, and heart breaking. I have a beautiful pendant of a young Marie Antoinette that I wear occasionally as well. Congratulations to Christine Trent for being the first author to actually get me to sit down and read a full novel that includes Marie Antoinette, and my apologies for taking this long to get to it. I mention all this so my readers would know my position on this as my first fictional Marie Antoinette-related story.
The fact that Claudette Laurent gets on a ship to England because she can't find her betrothed in a day was grating on my sensibilities, but she was just sixteen and had nowhere to go, and probably felt at a loss as well as being in a state of shock after losing both of her parents tragically. She befriends a girl named Beatrice while on this same ship together and forms a lasting friendship with her and Beatrice's daughter. Intermittently, narration on Marie Antoinette's side of things slice in and out throughout this story, as Claudette's fortunes rise in England as she makes a life for herself, while back in France the Queen is suffering at the hands of the revolution. Sadly, through this telling, Queen Marie Antoinette seems oblivious to the dangers just as Claudette is naive in some aspects.
Claudette's character evolved as she grew up and matured so that she became very likable. Claudette's first job as a maid in a haughty woman's house was quite humorous and I enjoyed the mishaps that followed Claudette. Eventually she storms out of the house in a grand girl-power moment, and it was a highlight for her character. Operating her own doll shop without the aid of others was a great feat, especially since her superb workmanship became noticed by royalty. Soon, Queen Marie Antoinette ordered dolls from Claudette, which required her to return to France. She does find her betrothed Jean Phillippe again, and Claudette becomes torn between her two worlds of a prosperous England and the memories of her life in France. She has a magnificent new suitor in England, but will that be enough for Claudette?
And just when you think that's all there is to the story, Claudette soon finds herself trapped in France and without any justice. Will it be a Jean-Phillippe from her childhood to rescue her, or the gallant William from across the channel? Will both Queen Marie Antoinette and Claudette face the same tragic demise?
I found the storyline to be fast-paced and rhythmic enough to hold my interest while I was intrigued with the characters and their development. It was both plot and character driven, and I cared for the main characters throughout the story. It was not drowning in historical facts or details but was pleasing enough as the author deftly changed the setting from one country to the other. The scenic details impressed me more in the beginning of the novel in France when the descriptions of the fire occurred, and then later on when Claudette was in France again. The actual Marie Antoinette plot was not overly dramatic and was pretty much a side story inserted to help dramatize the political upheaval, allowing Claudette to steal the show as the story's heroine. Later on as Marie Antoinette's story comes to a conclusion, there was more of her featured. I found this to be a solid debut historical fiction novel for Christine Trent that I would not hesitate to recommend and I look forward to more from her.
May 24, 2010
Claudette Laurent is a young French woman who moves to England after a fire destroys her home in France, and sets up shop in London as a dollmaker. Her fashion dolls become the toast of British and French society, and she eventually becomes the official doll maker to the glamorous Queen of France, Marie Antoinette.
But before Claudette can gain the independence necessary to set her career plans in motion and become a successful dollmaker, she gains employment in England as a maid in the household of the Ashby family. There she finds few friends, as the current staff dislikes her without even giving her a chance, simply because of their preconceived negative opinions about the French. Claudette receives no respite from Mrs. Ashby, who is a social-climbing, arrogant and condescending woman who doesn't give poor Claudette a moment's peace. It is at one of Mrs. Ashby's parties where Claudette meets William Greycliffe, a handsome man who Claudette at first finds unbearable, but secretly harbors romantic feelings towards. Claudette feels conflicted about these emotions, as she longs to once again see her childhood sweetheart Jean Phillippe, from whom she was separated during the fire back in Paris. Throughout the novel, Claudette goes back and forth wondering which path in life she is truly meant to take: the one here in England with William, or the one waiting for her in Paris with Jean-Philippe. As her star rises in London and her creations gain more popularity, so too does her friendship with the Queen of France. However, she eventually makes her way to Paris on one of her visits to the Queen only to find that the French Revolution is in full swing and that Paris is a city entirely different from the one she left behind years ago.
Historically back in the 18th century, dressmakers used to use fashion dolls to demonstrate their work to their customers. Empress Maria Theresa also used to send her daughter Marie Antoinette the fashion dolls as examples of what was stylish at the Viennese court, so that she could replicate the styles in France. The Queen's Dollmaker is a really interesting and well-imagined story, and I gobbled it up in two days. The aspect I enjoyed most about this book was its characters. I found myself adoring Claudette, who is confident, sharp, and funny. Over the course of the book we see Claudette mature from the time she is a young girl and loses everything in a fire in France to the time she is old enough to become a successful business woman in London, which gives us the ability to see this character really develop as she comes into her own. She is a fiery and spirited young woman with a sharp tongue, and I couldn't help but laugh at some of her humorous retorts to reprimands from her less-than pleasant employers. Claudette is a fun and witty protagonist to guide you through her 18th century realm.
In between most of the chapters telling Claudette's story, the author provided shorter chapters giving detailed glimpses into the goings-on of the French court and turmoil happening in Paris at the point in history where the novel is taking place. I think Christine Trent (who is herself such a doll) has done a wonderful job with using this format; it is almost like getting a brief history lesson in between the telling of Claudette's tale, which puts Claudette's story in greater historical context.
I really enjoyed reading such a fresh premise for a novel taking place during the French Revolution. The storyline is dramatic yet plausible and it allowed me to view the Terror and the fall of the French monarchy through a completely different lens. It was also delightfully entertaining to learn all the details of 18th century doll-making. I'd highly recommend this fast paced page-turner to anyone looking to read historical fiction that offers a new perspective on 18th century England and France!
But before Claudette can gain the independence necessary to set her career plans in motion and become a successful dollmaker, she gains employment in England as a maid in the household of the Ashby family. There she finds few friends, as the current staff dislikes her without even giving her a chance, simply because of their preconceived negative opinions about the French. Claudette receives no respite from Mrs. Ashby, who is a social-climbing, arrogant and condescending woman who doesn't give poor Claudette a moment's peace. It is at one of Mrs. Ashby's parties where Claudette meets William Greycliffe, a handsome man who Claudette at first finds unbearable, but secretly harbors romantic feelings towards. Claudette feels conflicted about these emotions, as she longs to once again see her childhood sweetheart Jean Phillippe, from whom she was separated during the fire back in Paris. Throughout the novel, Claudette goes back and forth wondering which path in life she is truly meant to take: the one here in England with William, or the one waiting for her in Paris with Jean-Philippe. As her star rises in London and her creations gain more popularity, so too does her friendship with the Queen of France. However, she eventually makes her way to Paris on one of her visits to the Queen only to find that the French Revolution is in full swing and that Paris is a city entirely different from the one she left behind years ago.
Historically back in the 18th century, dressmakers used to use fashion dolls to demonstrate their work to their customers. Empress Maria Theresa also used to send her daughter Marie Antoinette the fashion dolls as examples of what was stylish at the Viennese court, so that she could replicate the styles in France. The Queen's Dollmaker is a really interesting and well-imagined story, and I gobbled it up in two days. The aspect I enjoyed most about this book was its characters. I found myself adoring Claudette, who is confident, sharp, and funny. Over the course of the book we see Claudette mature from the time she is a young girl and loses everything in a fire in France to the time she is old enough to become a successful business woman in London, which gives us the ability to see this character really develop as she comes into her own. She is a fiery and spirited young woman with a sharp tongue, and I couldn't help but laugh at some of her humorous retorts to reprimands from her less-than pleasant employers. Claudette is a fun and witty protagonist to guide you through her 18th century realm.
In between most of the chapters telling Claudette's story, the author provided shorter chapters giving detailed glimpses into the goings-on of the French court and turmoil happening in Paris at the point in history where the novel is taking place. I think Christine Trent (who is herself such a doll) has done a wonderful job with using this format; it is almost like getting a brief history lesson in between the telling of Claudette's tale, which puts Claudette's story in greater historical context.
I really enjoyed reading such a fresh premise for a novel taking place during the French Revolution. The storyline is dramatic yet plausible and it allowed me to view the Terror and the fall of the French monarchy through a completely different lens. It was also delightfully entertaining to learn all the details of 18th century doll-making. I'd highly recommend this fast paced page-turner to anyone looking to read historical fiction that offers a new perspective on 18th century England and France!
November 23, 2014
I loved how the author made the heroine of the story, Claudette Laurent, into a strong and intelligent character instead of the hapless ingenue who is victimized by everyone around her. I am so tired on reading about weak women who doesn't know how to take care of themselves and reading about empowered ladies gives joy to my heart and soul.
As always, it was very pleasurable to me to read the life of the tragic queen, Marie Antoinette. I often find that she was merely a victim of circumstances since she really had little or no say in politics and her stupid husband, Louis the XVI, was incapable of running an already corrupt kingdom. I think they could have saved themselves if they renounced their titles and passed it on to another royal personage or quite possibly, learned to be better leaders. I think the previous king, Louis the XVI, was much to blame because he was not really suited to become a king and he was not a good example to his dull-witted grandson.
Not only is the book about Marie Antoinette, but it was also about dolls, which I adore. I wish I could collect more dolls but unfortunately it is a very expensive hobby. I like that the doll-making process was explained thoroughly that I could almost see one of the Grande Pandores in my imagination.
What I did not like in the story was that Beatrice was too clingy and was desperately holding on to Claudette's friendship. She is everything I dislike in a character: without any backbone of her own, feeble-minded, and selfish. I was so relieved when she died, she was just a burden to Claudette. She could have been killed off in the book much earlier since she really didn't contribute much to the story.
Also, I think Claudette made a very foolish decision on going to France despite the turmoil going on there at the time. If I were in her shoes, there was absolutely no way I was returning there in spite of my loyalty to the queen. In this, I totally applaud Madame Rose Bertin's decision to desert the queen and her employ while she still can. While we are in this subject, I think it was incredibly idiotic of Marie Antoinette to remain by the king's side when there was plenty of time to flee. They could have saved themselves, sought asylum in another country, and reclaimed the throne in another time. Once again, this is a good example of faithfulness gone awry. It is certainly good to be loyal to your friends but loyalty ends when your safety and well-being begins.
I was so happy when Jean-Philpppe died as he did (served him right for what he did to Claudette) and it was also right that Lizbit died in such a way, since she betrayed Claudette too. Axel Fersen also deserved his death for involving Claudette in the intrigue. Actually, I was really happy everyone got what they deserved with the exception of Maude Ashby. I wish Maude Ashby also met an untimely demise, maybe choked to death on a piece of chicken or died of some sickness.
So all in all, I was satisfied with the book. I just wish that the book ended on a higher note. Maybe Claudette and William could have ended the book with a kiss to each other, exclaiming how happy they were. Nevertheless, it was all nice and hopefully I can get to get more books like this.
As always, it was very pleasurable to me to read the life of the tragic queen, Marie Antoinette. I often find that she was merely a victim of circumstances since she really had little or no say in politics and her stupid husband, Louis the XVI, was incapable of running an already corrupt kingdom. I think they could have saved themselves if they renounced their titles and passed it on to another royal personage or quite possibly, learned to be better leaders. I think the previous king, Louis the XVI, was much to blame because he was not really suited to become a king and he was not a good example to his dull-witted grandson.
Not only is the book about Marie Antoinette, but it was also about dolls, which I adore. I wish I could collect more dolls but unfortunately it is a very expensive hobby. I like that the doll-making process was explained thoroughly that I could almost see one of the Grande Pandores in my imagination.
What I did not like in the story was that Beatrice was too clingy and was desperately holding on to Claudette's friendship. She is everything I dislike in a character: without any backbone of her own, feeble-minded, and selfish. I was so relieved when she died, she was just a burden to Claudette. She could have been killed off in the book much earlier since she really didn't contribute much to the story.
Also, I think Claudette made a very foolish decision on going to France despite the turmoil going on there at the time. If I were in her shoes, there was absolutely no way I was returning there in spite of my loyalty to the queen. In this, I totally applaud Madame Rose Bertin's decision to desert the queen and her employ while she still can. While we are in this subject, I think it was incredibly idiotic of Marie Antoinette to remain by the king's side when there was plenty of time to flee. They could have saved themselves, sought asylum in another country, and reclaimed the throne in another time. Once again, this is a good example of faithfulness gone awry. It is certainly good to be loyal to your friends but loyalty ends when your safety and well-being begins.
I was so happy when Jean-Philpppe died as he did (served him right for what he did to Claudette) and it was also right that Lizbit died in such a way, since she betrayed Claudette too. Axel Fersen also deserved his death for involving Claudette in the intrigue. Actually, I was really happy everyone got what they deserved with the exception of Maude Ashby. I wish Maude Ashby also met an untimely demise, maybe choked to death on a piece of chicken or died of some sickness.
So all in all, I was satisfied with the book. I just wish that the book ended on a higher note. Maybe Claudette and William could have ended the book with a kiss to each other, exclaiming how happy they were. Nevertheless, it was all nice and hopefully I can get to get more books like this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews