A different approach

This well researched book gives a beautiful account of the life of a young Maria Threase, and stands out by looking into some depth the lives and times of Marie Antoinette and Marie Carolina, both the most fascinating of all of the Empress’s children. The author has researched some particularly fascinating little stories from their lives, from Maria Threase being lowered into her husbands tomb in a chair to Archdutchess Elisabeths unfortunate encounter with smallpox, which destroyed any possibility of a a marriage. The story delves into the rapidly changing world of the 2nd half on the 18th century with enthusiasm. The author does not shy away from making some big claims, such as Marie Antoinette’s 2 youngest children being the result of her long standing love affair, brought fourth by the author with such conviction, and refreshingly so, that it made my jaw drop. The book is also written in a way which is a delight to listen to for a modern reader. It flows well, telling a story of Europe during the enlightenment and brings those dusty historical people back to life in an easy going animated way. As someone who has studied the life of Marie Antoinette, I found the author daringly made statements about her, which other authors, including Antonia Fraser, only speculated on, or stayed away from. I personally found this somewhat refreshing, since history can so often be told with too much caution, without looking at the human nature of these people and the times to which they lived. Overall lovely read, would listen again.

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The Narrator deserves an award

Outstanding work and Nancy’s new research into Louis the 16th being autistic is extremely eye opening and interesting as an autistic individual myself and Nancy is kind enough to respond to emails about her book with such kindness it blows me away, Emma Newman’s narration, the emotions she puts into the chapters is incredible- when she began to get emotional, sad and sorrowful at the horrific end of Marie Antoinette and her family, something I’ve heard/read about most of my life, this version brought me to absolute tears even though I knew what was to come, Emma deserves high praise and an award for her work in this book.

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enjoyable

very well written and equally as well narrated, enjoyable listening for those who like history

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A very enjoyable book flawed by annoying omissions.

The author frequently fails to name the people, places and events referred to. A few:
A famous architect of Caserta - who?
A famous general -who?
One of the most formidable fortresses -which?
English travellers in Italy, continually quoted but never named.
In a decisive battle - name? Why not name the battles fought against Frederick the Great. I think Wagram was the only one of Napoleon’s to be named. What happened to Austerlitz, was it referred to, hard to know?
It would be so much better to name these than to create elaborate references that frustrate, and make it difficult to place events in a familiar framework.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this history of a well-known European family by an author whose name escapes me.

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2 people found this helpful

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this very much, though I found the lack of detail frustrating at times. For example, several references were made to Catherine's chosen King of Poland..but his name was never mentioned.

This is the first time I have read that Louis was probably autistic. I wonder if that is just our modern urge to diagnose and label everyone with something?

I am definitely now interested in reading more about the life of the fascinating Queen of Naples.

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Incorrect and Uncomfortable

2022 52 Book Challenge - 40) A Book With Photographs Inside

I found this audiobook to be a quite nice read, though it was really more of a historical fiction book than a history book, as the author likes to present contested points in history, ie, that Marie Antoinette's son Louis Charles was the son of her lover, as actual facts that have been proven. The citing of sources to support these statements was also incredibly light, especially as in history we can't actually prove that Marie Antoinette and Fersen were actually lovers. Yes, there are letters and it can be suggested that they were, but there isn't any proof. Considering how incorrect and historically inaccurate Goldstone was about Marie Antoinette, it makes me leary that the information about Marie Theresa and her other children was factually correct as well.

Further to that, the chapters where she discusses and diagnoses Louis with autism were so incredibly problematic. The author literally says that Louis didn't understand how to have sex and had to be talked through it step by step, and this is proof that Louis was autistic. It was a very bad part of the book, and it was actually quite uncomfortable to listen to because of how outdated and incorrect the information is.

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