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UNMARKED copy without highlights, underlining and marginalia Each book individually inspected by staff inside and out. Book in good condition, which entails shelfwear and scuffing but the book is fundamentally sound with all pages intact. UNMARKED copy without highlights, underlining and marginalia Each book individually inspected by staff inside and out. Book in good condition, which entails shelfwear and scuffing but the book is fundamentally sound with all pages intact. See less

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Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France Paperback – September 24, 2000

by Evelyne Lever (Author)

4.6 77 ratings

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In MARIE ANTOINETTE, Evelyn Lever draws on a variety of resources, including diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts, to write this sumptuous, addictive delight. From family life in Vienna to the choke of the guillotine, this gripping work combines a fast-paced historical narrative with all the elements of scandalous fiction: Marie's wedding at Versailles to Louis XVI, the French court, boredom, hypocrisy, loneliness, allies, enemies, scandal, intrigue, sex, peasant riots, the fall of the Bastille, mob rule in Paris, imprisonment, and, finally, execution.

From primary source documents Lever fashions an insightful glimpse into the French court at Versailles. The characters of court are expertly drawn. There is the dashing Axel Fersen, Marie's great love; Maria Theresa, the scheming mother trying to place her daughter on the Hapsburg throne; the legendary Madame du Barry, lover to Louis XV; and, of course, Marie herself.

Luxuriously evocative of the Versailles court, historically sharp and witty, and detailing the compelling story of Marie Antoinette's life, Evelyn Lever's biography entrances readers.

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About the Author

Evelyne Lever is a leading French historian. Marie Antoinette is her first book to be published in the United States. She lives in Paris with her husband, Maurice Lever, the author of Sade.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0312283334
Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (September 24, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0274864991
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312283339
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.82 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,088,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,574 in Royalty Biographies
- #1,844 in French History (Books)
- #11,865 in Women's Biographies

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4.6 77 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

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L L M

Enjoyable Historical Author

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2021

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This paperback book is 300+ pages and is required reading for a college course. I wasn't expecting to like or enjoy it. Evelyne Lever writes a densely packed historical account with a casual and engaging style. After reading the first page, how her Mother gave birth to her 15th child, Marie Antonia (called Antoinette in French), I was relieved the task ahead would be pleasant, instead of a slog. The seller deserves a mention too for processing ahead of schedule, with care and concern for the product. The book was snugly bubble wrapped, inside a bubble envelope, which has never happened in all the years I've bought or rented books anywhere! Paperback was clean, odor free and perfect. A great way to start a new semester.

One person found this helpful

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Zuzana Namesna

Wow!

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2019

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I didn’t expect to like this book, but I must say this was one of the best book I’ve read.

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2013

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This was entertaining and beautifully read by the voiceover. I loved the voice telling me the story - not monotone as most are. It sounded like she was as enthralled by the story as I was. I learned so much about Marie-Antoinette!

3 people found this helpful

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E. Sontaran

Last Queen

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021

I am frustrated and disappointed. I ordered this book thinking it was a biography of Kyrsten Sinema, but instead I was sent a book about some French lady.

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2015

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For a used library book, this book is still in great condition! It was super cheap for a hardcover WITH a dust jacket. This is perfect for my French Civilization class. Thanks again!

2 people found this helpful

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RDB

Interesting.

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2014

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Really enjoyed reading this book

One person found this helpful

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Matt and Family😁

More A Misinterpretation than an Interpretation of Historical Events

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2017

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Lever's portrayal of Marie Antoinette is sympathetic--her marriage to a man as inept in bed as out of it and life in a court so full of intrigue that a woman as spontaneous and straightforward as Marie Antoinette could never negotiate its thick web of deceit. However, in blaming Maria Theresa and the Austrian court for all the ills that beset the Queen, Lever does the Habsburgs a great disservice. From her own experience, Maria Theresa knew what a burden the crown was and how fickle could be the support of the people; how unlikely to last unless the monarch instituted true reforms. She also knew the power of image--something Marie Antoinette never understood. The lies spread about the Queen gained traction because they were based on a foundation of truth---her pleasure-loving, heedless nature. Maria Theresa admonished her daughter again and again. It was important to put up with the tedium of court spectacle, to keep nobles and the population happy, to be thrifty when times were bad for the people. Marie Antoinette's older brother, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II enjoined her to do the same. He warned her that the revolution when it came might be of her own making.

Lever harps on the arranged marriage between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, but all marriages were arranged at the time. No one had any say in whom they married. Some like Catherine the Great and Marie Antoinette's sister, Maria Carolina, the Queen of Naples, were able to make the best of a bad job by playing their cards well and gaining political control. And while Maria Theresa was fortunate in being able to marry her beloved Francis of Lorraine, it didn't take her long to realize she'd married a weak man easily seduced by other women and willing to capitulate at the least sign of pressure. He was incompetent on the battlefield, but did at least have a gift for managing finances.

Lever also doesn't always tell us where she derives her information from. How do we know, for instance, that Fersen went straight to his other lady love at the time of the Queen's trouble? She tells us the Queen interfered in politics at the behest of her brother, Joseph II, when the truth is that whenever she did interfere it was to please her favorites, in particular Countess Polignac who had a remarkable hold upon the Queen's affections.

History almost always requires the historian to interpret sources, but this seems in so many ways a misinterpretation--deliberate, it would seem-- of the events and situation, in particular of the role Austria played.

5 people found this helpful

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Jill-Elizabeth (Jill Franclemont)

Jam-packed full of interesting history and delicious drama

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2011

I love history and the delicious drama that has unfolded in so many castles in so many countries so many years ago - Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France is a prime example. The all-too-human Marie apparently suffered not only at the hands of the revolutionaries but also at the hands of historians. History is, after all, written by the victors. So it is always particularly interesting to me to read the tales of history's losers. The story of Marie Antoinette is known to most - or is it? I consider myself relatively well-versed in history and even I found a few interesting tidbits I had not known in this engaging biography of the rise and fall of a little princess girl who would be queen - against her own will, at least in the beginning.

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Top reviews from other countries

stoniers husband

Rethink your history of France's last queen.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2020

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What an eye-opener this book has been. It goes without saying that it is a very good read but historically a lot of research has gone in to the writing. The book contains facts that are in themselves fascinating and gives you a deep depth of knowledge about France and the lead up to the start of the revolution. My view of Marie Antoinette was changed by reading this book.

2 people found this helpful

ClaraC

The result is absolutely excellent. I have read hers Madame de Pompadour's biography ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2018

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Stunning biography about one of the most discussed and unforgettable queen ever. It is a very captivating detailed narration, I would suggest to whom loves accuracy and archival and bibliographical reference.
Evelyne Lever masters how to access to those kind of sources and how to propose them in a very interesting way. The result is absolutely excellent. I have read hers Madame de Pompadour's biography too, and I just loved it.

3 people found this helpful

Lynn D.

You realize they were doomed from the beginning. Louis xvi had no formal training to be a king.

Reviewed in Canada on May 8, 2023

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I am watching the program Marie Antoinette on PBS, and I really enjoyed following her story by reading with the movie.

Francesca wellings

Good read so far!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2022

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