But what she finds there is not what she was expecting. When she is ready to be married, Marie-Antoinette is sent to France, where she begins her life as the dauphine of France. With all the work to do to get Antonia presentable to her future husband, Antonia has no time – nor the desire - to think about what lies ahead. Antonia, as she was called in Austria, is to be married off to the dauphin of France – the next in line to the French throne. Most had been married long before, and now was time to watch the last few sisters and brothers leave and marry the man or woman who would best protect the Austrian throne. Marie-Antoinette was raised in Austria until she was fifteen years old, where she grew up the youngest of fifteen children. The most famous of Marie-Antoinette’s quotes – “Let them eat cake!” – has been studied by many historians over time and most agree that is was one of the (many) lies told about her. (And one that will always be worth it in the end.) No one can know which facts are true and which are not many have been deemed false.

Marie-Antoinette and her story are one big puzzle - one that will always be difficult to solve and sort through. So many statements that could have been true, so many affairs that might not have been true. There were so many facts, so many interesting ideas and concepts.

About history, about the personal life of Marie-Antoinette, about human nature. Includes historical notes, an author’s note, and a bibliography.

In this latest installment of her acclaimed Young Royals series, Carolyn Meyer reveals the dizzying rise and horrific downfall of the last queen of France. But as Marie-Antoinette's lifestyle gets ever-more recklessly extravagant, the peasants of France are suffering from increasing poverty, and becoming outraged. Desperate for affection and subjected to constant scrutiny, this spirited young woman can't help but want to let loose with elaborate parties, scandalous fashions, and unimaginable luxuries. She tried to please everyone: courtiers, her young husband, the king, the French people, but often fell short of their expectations. Perhaps no other royal has been so maligned- and so misunderstood- as Marie-Antoinette.įrom the moment she was betrothed to the dauphin of France at age fourteen, perfection was demanded of Marie-Antoinette. History paints her as a shallow party girl, a spoiled fashionista, a callous ruler.

The bad queen by carolyn meyer