History of Maria Antoinette

by John S.C. Abbott

Abraham Lincoln raved that this series of historical biographies gave him "just that knowledge of past men and events which I need. I have read them with the greatest interest. To them I am indebted for about all the historical knowledge I have." Considered what we would now call "young adult" literature, this collection, first published between 1848 and 1871, was designed to present a clear, distinct, connected narrative of the lives of the great figures of world history, those people who have been most influential, at least as American pastor and historian JOHN STEVENS CABOT ABBOTT (1805-1877) saw it from his 19th-century perspective. Wildly popular and republished many times under different collected names, this replica set mimics the 1904 reprint known as the "Makers of History" series. It will delight students of history as well as show the scholar how history telling has changed over the last few centuries. More than 30 other volumes in the series are also available from Cosimo Classics This volume, dating from 1849, covers French monarch Maria Antoinette (1755-1793), from her pampered childhood and her marriage, at age 14, to the future king of France, to the mobs at Versailles, her imprisonment during the French Revolution, and her execution on the guillotine.

Genres: History, France, Biography

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1849

About the author

John Stevens Cabot Abbott (Andover Theological Seminary; Bowdoin College, 1825) was a historian, Congregationalist pastor, and pedagogical writer. With his brothers, including Gorham and Jacob Abbott, he was a co-founder of Abbott Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies in New York City.

Reviews

[Carol Bakker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remind myself that Abbott writing about Antoinette would be as contemporary as a biographer today writing about Jackie Onassis. But, still, I wonder how Marie Antoinette was chosen for the series of books that includes Genghis Khan, Queen Elizabeth I, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Cleopatra.

Marie Antoinette was born and raised in Austria, a recent enemy of France. Marie's marriage to the dauphin was an alliance to procure peace. But she was always viewed with suspicion.

This is weird: According to Abbott, the French public would walk through the palace while the royalty dined to watch them eat!!
No respectably dressed person was refused admission. The consequence was, that during the dining hour an interminable throng was pouring through the apartment; those in the advance crowded slowly along by those in the rear, and all eyes riveted upon the royal feeders. Astonishing!

Making connections with other historical figures helps me.
~ Marie Antoinette met Mozart when she was seven (thanks, Wikipedia, for that fact)
~ After a failed escape attempt, Louis XVI and M.A. were under the care of Lafayette, the friend of Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton.
~ A young Napoleon Bonaparte witnessed the mob's atrocities with indignation

Writers use three short staccato sentences to break up the text and convey emotion.
The description of the Louis XVI's beheading is a great example.

The plank sank.
The blade glided.
The head fell.

The eating of cake was never mentioned in this book.

[Mary Jo Jurista]

I didn't really like this historical book about Marie Antoinette, but read it while awaiting the hard cover of Waiting for the Queen, by Joanna Higgins, as I knew so little about her. Our bookclub was fortunate to have Joanna Higgins present when we reviewed Waiting for the Queen, about the French Azilum in Wyalusing PA, when it was set up as a place the French nobles could escape to during the French Revolution. I recommend reading Waiting for the Queen, as it gave insight into those living in wealth and power when they escaped certain death ...then having to live in very rustic conditions. They were hoping and expecting Marie Antoinette to escape to America and be with them, but she never made it.

[Amy Schultze · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written.

There were too many words to describe everything. The author could have used fewer words to describe things in it.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading this book about the life of Maria Antoinette, my knowledge of this queen of France came from a children's novel about Marie's early years. Mr Abbott's book expanded my knowledge and sympathy for this queen, her husband, and her children. The author has a very fair approach toward the queen's life and the history of the Revolution that took her life. Actually, this history book made me quite emotional as I was reading the final days of Louis XVI and Maria Antionette. It read like a novel and a lot of the little details he adds brought the events to life before my eyes. These were not just an arrogant king and queen, but parents of two children they loved. The decisions of kings before them and their own imprudent actions brought them to this place in history, yet they were not fully to blame nor were their punishments just. I have checked out some other books about Maria Antionette and Louis XVI to compare facts and see what may have been discovered in recent years. This book was published in 1849 and the author may have been biased, but I still think he did a good job showing everything from the perspective of the royalty.

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dated writing

I gave up reading this book halfway through. The style of writing and language really started to annoy me. It was like reading a historical romance and seemed quite over the top. There did seem to be a lot of detail about certain events and I wondered what resources had been researched in writing it. I discovered that the author died over 140 years ! That would explain the style of writing! I'm afraid it wasn't for me.