'
Drama, betrayal, religion and sex, it's all here ...
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..
Others are equally passionate in her defence: to them, she is a victim of misogyny.
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'. the definitive work on the ill-fated queen'
CATHOLIC HERALD Marie Antoinette's dramatic life-story continues to arouse mixed emotions.
Don't miss it'
INDEPENDENT '
Fraser is at her best here, lucid, authoritative and compassionate'
SUNDAY TIMES '
Superbly researched ...
Fascinating'
GUARDIAN '
Beautifully paced, impeccably written ... '
Drama, betrayal, religion and sex, it's all here ..
