About the Book:
About the Author:
Juliet Grey has extensively researched European royal history and is a particular devotee of Marie Antoinette. She and her husband divide their time between New York City and southern Vermont.
My Opinion:
So many “facts” have come down through history about Marie Antoinette. But as her life is researched by contemporary authors much of what is known about her has been proven to be false. This first book of a trilogy starts with a young Austrian archduchess, before she became Marie Antoinette. It tells the tale of all the political machinations that went on to secure an alliance between France and Austria through the marriage of two young people – regardless of their feelings.
But don’t think that for one minute that this is a dry, boring book because it is not! It starts with a young, carefree girl and shows how her mother and the ambassador from France molded her into what they felt would be an appropriate dauphine of France. It was not an easy process for Maria Antonia was not one for lessons – she was quick witted but not interested in the history of her new country. She was pretty but a late bloomer into womanhood. They even put braces on her teeth – and that description about turned my stomach!
What this poor child went through in the name of politics is just appalling. But makes for a fascinating story. Ms. Grey writes with a passion for her subject and with a love for a child who was basically thrown to the wolves. The French thought she was not good enough for their dauphin and he did not want to be married at all. She was 14 when she left all she knew to go marry a man she had never met. She was not even allowed to keep her pet dog!
I found myself immersed in the life of this young girl; I could hardly put the book down. Ms. Grey’s style is one that draws you into time and place and even though I knew what was going to happen I was still turning the pages as if I didn’t. THAT is good writing. I can’t wait for the next installment. I hope I am honored with a review copy.
Oh, and isn’t that cover to die for?
You can see the rest of the Tour stops HERE.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is available at Amazon.com
One lucky reader will get to explore the early life of Marie Antoinette. I have one copy of Becoming Marie Antoinette to give away.
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Disclosure: I received a copy of Becoming Marie Antoinette gratis from TLC Book Tours.. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.
