I was no longer as cocooned from the harsh realities of the world as I had been only a year earlier. The passing of my unloved sister-in-law and the imminent departure of Josepha for an equally loveless marriage forced me to confront a painful lesson about the privileges of rank that I would have been just as happy to delay. Palaces and carriages and bejeweled gowns came at a high price. Gap-toothed Marta who emptied my chamber pot every morning may have envied my sumptuous wardrobe and my hours of leisure (and who would not prefer to caress the strings of a harp than dispose of someone else’s urine?), but she had the freedom to follow the promptings of her heart and marry the man she loved because the fate of nations did not depend upon her union.
(from Becoming Marie Antoinette, page 35 in the ARC; finished version may be different)
Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna von Hapsburg-Lothringen is just 10 years old, enjoying a carefree existence with her older siblings, when she learns that she is to marry the Dauphin of France, Louis Auguste, grandson of King Louis XV. Becoming Marie Antoinette is the story of the little archduchess of Austria’s transformation into Marie Antoinette, the woman who would become the dauphine and one day be queen. Maria Antonia thinks of herself as a beauty, but her self esteem takes a hit when the French officials sent to Austria to determine whether she would make a suitable dauphine find that several improvements must be made to her appearance before she can even be considered as a wife to the king’s grandson. Her mother, the Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa, a woman who is more to be feared than loved, is determined to have her daughter cement an alliance between Austria and France — no matter what it takes.
Juliet Grey has obviously done her homework. Becoming Marie Antoinette is a fascinating story about one of the most fascinating historical figures. Grey made the right decision in using the first person viewpoint, allowing Maria Antonia to tell her own story. I knew nothing but the basics about Marie Antoinette before picking up this book, so I enjoyed all the little details Grey includes about Austrian/French relations, proxy marriages, clothing, food, and the list goes on. I was amazed by everything Maria Antonia endures to become perfect in appearance, from braces to straighten her teeth, extensive lessons in the Versailles glide (a way of walking that makes it appear that her slippers have wheels), to four-hour-long hairstyling sessions to improve her hairline. Grey helps readers to understand what it must have been like to get married at such a young age to a young boy you have never laid eyes on, not knowing whether he would love you or barely tolerate you.
Becoming Marie Antoinette goes beyond the initial preparations to Maria Antonia’s proxy marriage and journey from her homeland to France. She’s a young girl torn away from the only life she’s ever known to live in a strange land among strange people and speak a language she can’t seem to master, having never been a good student. She cannot bring anything from previous life with her, not even her beloved dog, and she must learn the etiquette and navigate the intrigues of the French court alone. She must learn who to trust and how to birth an heir when her husband wants little to do with her — all the while taking care to never do anything to disappoint her formidable mother.
Grey’s attention to detail won me over right away, and I really enjoyed how she explained things within the narrative without interrupting the flow. I am aware of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s ultimate fate, but I don’t know how they arrive at the guillotine. However, Grey does a wonderful job enabling readers to feel sympathy for Marie Antoinette and see her as endearing and naïve.
Becoming Marie Antoinette is the perfect introduction to the life of Marie Antoinette. My only complaint is that is just an introduction. The book spans the period from when Maria Antonia learns that she will become the dauphine to the death of Louis XV and the beginning of the reign of Louis XVI. According to the Reader’s Guide at the end of the book, the sequel, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, will be released in 2012, and the last book in the trilogy will be published the following year. I am a bit distressed that so many trilogies and series are being published these days, as I prefer the whole story in a single volume to satisfy my curiosity. But I guess it goes to show how much I enjoyed this book if I’m upset that I have to wait so long to be reunited with the characters and continue the journey.
I have one copy of Becoming Marie Antoinette to offer my readers, courtesy of Ballantine Books/Random House. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment with your e-mail address and tell me what interests you most about this book. Because the publisher is shipping the book, this giveaway is open to readers with addresses in the U.S. and Canada only. You have until 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, to enter.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for having me on the blog tour for Becoming Marie Antoinette. To follow the tour, click here.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Becoming Marie Antoinette from Random House for review purposes. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I know so little about Marie Antoinette, and this book sounds like it might be a good place to start.
No need to enter me, but I did add the book to my list.
LikeLike
I think it’s a great place to start because I didn’t really know much about her and I learned so much from this book.
LikeLike
No need to enter me in this one as I have a copy, but sounds like another winner from Random House. Thanks for the great review. I had no idea that this was part of a trilogy.
LikeLike
I also posted this on my sidebar of giveaways for you.
LikeLike
Thanks! I can’t wait to see what you think of this book. I only discovered it was a trilogy when I read the back cover.
LikeLike
After reading TO BE QUEEN about the early life of Eleanor of Aquitaine I realized that I liked learning about how a woman began her life of power and intrigue in the royal court. Would love to win this one and read about how Marie Antoinette began her journey.
Thanks for this giveaway!
laura at laurafabiani dot com
LikeLike
I know so little about Eleanor of Aquitaine as well. Will have to check out that book.
LikeLike
So glad you enjoyed this one as I’m reading it later this month. I am of two minds about all the trilogies and series — on one hand, I love that a single book doesn’t have to tie everything up as it seems that rarely do authors get the length to do so; on the other hand, I hate waiting for more than one book to get the entire story!
LikeLike
I do like that series give authors more time to develop their stories, but the waiting just kills me. Looking forward to your thoughts on this one.
LikeLike
This sounds like a really wonderful book – I’ve always wanted to know more about the real Marie Antoinette and it sounds like Ms. Grey did a wonderful job on covering the first parts of her life. I definitely want to read more about her early marriage to the Dauphine and about having to leave everything and everyone she loved behind.
Thanks for the giveaway!
junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)
LikeLike
You’ll enjoy the author’s note at the end, where Grey talks about her research and the process of writing the book. I found that section fascinating.
LikeLike
This might be a good book for me. Once Marie reaches Versailles, her life is so sad. It would be nice to get to know her before “the deluge.”
LikeLike
I hope you get a chance to read it. I really no nothing except her ultimate fate, so I’m looking forward to the next two books.
LikeLike
Dunno if I could read it. It is just so sad 😦 Ok so many books are but still. After Madame Tussaud *shivers* people were just crazy
LikeLike
I really need to read Madame Tussaud. I’ve been looking forward to it, and I think I haven’t started it yet because I don’t want to be done with it. 😉
LikeLike
I’d like to read this because I think we often forget that what it is like to be a child and that some of the most notorious people in history had childhoods that were totally in the control of others. I guess personalities can be molded just as our appearances can. I’d like to read this to learn more about how Marie Antoinette became the woman she did. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
LikeLike
You’re right that she didn’t have much of a childhood. At the beginning, there is a scene in which she’s chastised for getting dirty while playing outside. So sad.
LikeLike
Really enjoyed your review Anna but you bring up a great point about trilogies. It seems like lately that’s all there is right? Oddly enough even though I’m a fan of mystery series I do prefer my fiction to be a single book and not sequels and so on.
Anyway really like the sound of this one and I’m lucky enough to already have a copy so no need to enter me in the drawing but I’m excited to look forward to it.
LikeLike
I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
LikeLike
I guess the book would be too long if it wasn’t split into a trilogy. I know next to nothing about Marie Antoinette, so this sounds good to me.
LikeLike
You’re right about the length, as this book is over 400 pages. But I’d be willing to pick up a tome and finish the entire story at once. 😉
LikeLike
i love the cover…and the subject 🙂
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo.com
LikeLike
That is an eye-catching cover!
LikeLike
[…] Monday, August 1st: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike
First person narration can be tricky but I’m glad to know it worked here! Marie Antoinette’s life makes me so sad … it’s like she never really had a chance, you know?
Thanks for being on the tour Anna!
LikeLike
It is sad, but fascinating, too. I really think the first person narration lets you sympathize with Marie Antoinette.
LikeLike
I am so excited to hear this one is good as Marie Antoinette is one of those characters I could read about over and over again!
amusedbybooks@gmail.com
LikeLike
After having read this one, I think I could, too.
LikeLike
I also only know the bare bones about Marie Antoinette. I find the process of becoming the dauphine very interesting and will keep an eye out for the second book in the series.
tiredwkids at live dot com
LikeLike
If you know nothing about her, like I did, I think this book is a good place to start.
LikeLike
I love historical fictions, but the period of Marie Antoinette is one I don’t know much about. This one sounds like a great read. I love when the research is well done.;
LikeLike
Historical fiction has become my favorite genre over the last couple of years. Hope you get a chance to read this one.
LikeLike
This book sounds so good! I don’t know a lot about the early years of Marie Antoinette so I would love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLike
It seems like the early years are skipped over, but they sound like they were equally fascinating.
LikeLike
Glad to hear this is good. I have been curious about it. Great review!
LikeLike
Thanks, Kailana!
LikeLike
[…] Monday, August 1st: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike
This sounds excellent, great review! I have yet to read anything about Marie Antoinette.
LikeLike
Thanks, Naida!
LikeLike
Your review of this simply makes me want to grab it immediately. I think the biggest reason why I would like to read this is to dispel some of those crazy ideas that she was an unfeeling and callous person.
stacijoreads@gmail.com
LikeLike
Well, if she was perceived as unfeeling and callous, I’m sure one could attribute that to her mother. Boy, was she a character!
LikeLike
I cannot believe what Maria Antonia went through to be an acceptable bride and at such a young age. It’s no wonder her self esteem took a hit! Her mother doesn’t sound very loving, but I suppose times were different then. I’m glad, since this isn’t the complete story that there’s more books coming out that continue the story especially because I don’t think life got any easier for Maria Antonia.
Great review, Anna! Maria’s young age and the conviction of her mother that she become the Dauphin of France’s wife is what really interests me about this book. Please enter me in your giveaway!
Aimala127@gmail.com
LikeLike
I think you’d really like this book. Her mother is a very interesting character, and her political ambitions did come before the welfare of her children.
LikeLike
Really enjoy historical fiction and looking forward to reading this book
LikeLike
I love historical fiction, too. I never realized how much, though, until I started blogging!
LikeLike
She really was a tragic figure. You can have it all and be totally alone in your life is classic as her story. I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction so I’ve read other types like this (trilogies). I honestly have no qualms about it as long as it’s great writing and has depth and character development that draws you in and won’t let go. I think the last one I read was about Napoleon’s Josephine.
Please enter me Anna! I hope I’m not too late! 🙂
LikeLike
Nope, not too late. Will be drawing a winner shortly. I don’t mind trilogies; it just seems that it’s the trend lately, and the wait for the next books is killer. Hope you get a chance to read this one!
LikeLike
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. The winner will be chosen via Randomizer.org, e-mailed, and announced shortly.
LikeLike
[…] Diary of an Eccentric Book Review […]
LikeLike
I agree Anna, it would have been nice to have the whole story without waiting for the next installment but still it’s a good beginning. I liked the way that Marie was portrayed and at times she made me laugh especially during her transformation. I just realized I had forgotten to mention how I liked the portrayal of her character in my review but I did. Really good review Anna!
LikeLike
It definitely is a good beginning. I just don’t understand the series and trilogy trend; they’ve always been around, but it seems that there are more and more all the time. I guess I just don’t like to wait! Grey did a wonderful job making Marie Antoinette seem real.
LikeLike
[…] August 1st: Diary of an Eccentric Wednesday, August 3rd: Well Read Wife Thursday, August 4th: Broken Teepee Monday, August 8th: […]
LikeLike
[…] Moon by Ann Rinaldi (American Civil War) 24. The Book of Lies by Mary Horlock (WWII) 25. Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Gray (Marie Antoinette as a child through the death of Louis XV) 26. The Things We […]
LikeLike
[…] Monday, August 1st: Diary of an Eccentric […]
LikeLike