I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like this better than I did. I think part of it may have been that, while quite sympathetic toward Marie Antoinette, there didn't seem to be many attempts to humanize the other people in her life, or to show them in a sympathetic light. There was some speculation, but not too bad. And the comma splices just about drove me crazy.

About the cake: I never knew this legend had been previously told about another, previous queen of France (the wife of Louis XIV) as well as one of the aunts of Louis XVI. It makes me wonder how such a story got started in the first place, but also why it appears to have been told only about women. ( )

I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like this better than I did. I think part of it may have been that, while quite sympathetic toward Marie Antoinette, there didn't seem to be many attempts to humanize the other people in her life, or to show them in a sympathetic light. There was some speculation, but not too bad. And the comma splices just about drove me crazy.

About the cake: I never knew this legend had been previously told about another, previous queen of France (the wife of Louis XIV) as well as one of the aunts of Louis XVI. It makes me wonder how such a story got started in the first place, but also why it appears to have been told only about women. ( )

Erickson's biography reads like a novel, full of descriptions of people and palaces, and political and social motivations. Though she doesn't analyze the politics in depth, there's enough background to have a basic understanding of the events that led to Marie's execution. A good, readable starter biography, and good for young adults too. ( )

944.035 092 ERI