Marie Antoinette

The major movie about the legendary French queen, directed by Sofia Coppola, is based on this book by bestselling historian Antonia Fraser

Marie Antoinette's dramatic life-story continues to arouse mixed emotions. To many people, she is still 'la reine mechante', whose extravagance and frivolity helped to bring down the French monarchy; her indifference to popular suffering epitomised by the (apocryphal) words: 'let them eat cake'. Others are equally passionate in her defence: to them, she is a victim of misogyny.
Antonia Fraser examines her influence over the king, Louis XVI, the accusations and sexual slurs made against her, her patronage of the arts which enhanced French cultural life, her imprisonment, the death threats made against her, rumours of lesbian affairs, her trial (during which her young son was forced to testify to sexual abuse by his mother) and her eventual execution by guillotine in 1793.

About the Author

Antonia Fraser has written many acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. She has won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the St Louis Literary Award and CWA Non-Fiction Gold Dagger. Antonia Fraser was made CBE in 1999. She was married to the late playwright Harold Pinter and lives in London.

Previous Books:
Must You Go? (Bfmt 9780753828786 Apr 11);
The Battle of the Boyne;
The Life and Times of Henry VIII;
Mary Queen of Scots;
Antonia Fraser 4 Great Novels Jemima Shore 3;
Love and Louis XIV

Other titles by Antonia Fraser

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