Review: Meet the charming Austrian
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 28, 2012
Who thinks of Marie Antoinette before she arrived at the French court? The French people came to hate 'The Austrian' as the embodiment of the frivolous, profligate nobility who were draining the coffers of the country. But Marie Antoinette arrived in France, a naive and charming fourteen-year-old, among strangers, and committed to a marriage that was distinctly not a love match.This delightful book focuses on her childhood years in Austria; years within a large family and in a more relaxed court. In this delightful diary, the author describes that life in fascinating detail, meticulously researched and deftly presented--never tedious or overbearing. You won't want to miss a single word.As unprepared as she is to enter the over-sophisticated French court, Marie forces herself to ignore the hints foreshadowing the difficulties on her horizon. This charming child captures our sympathy. She can't possibly imagine what her future life will really be.