What do You think about Queen's Confession: A Fictional Autobiography (1968)?
I really enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised to find that Victoria Holt can write a good historical fiction novel. Usually she sticks in the historical romance! I have only read one other book about Marie Antoniette and reading about the expensive necklace scandel, picking up an orphan to raise, her struggle to consumate her marriage, her expections to get dressed in front of all of her ladies matched in both books. Of course, I am not a researcher who has studied a lot on this subject but I really think she got a bum rap in her plight! She may have been bubble-headed and "flighty." She probably was horrible with finances but she was not taught any differently. I think the people of France were realy unfair to her and any queen at this point in history would have probably ended up beheaded and detested.
—Jodi
The Queen's Confession illuminated the naivete of the young queen Marie Antoinette, and the corrupt, decadent French court where she was placed after her marriage. Marie Antoinette was often seduced by luxurious living and material things, even as she struggled against these temptations. The book shows Marie Antoinette as adolescent and sophomoric, and maybe that is the most accurate portrayal of her youthful character. Both Marie Antoinette and her husband Louis XVI were too immature to understand the complex and dangerous politics of their French court, the deep problems facing their country, or to even realize their impending doom before it was too late. Following the brutality of the French revolution, Marie Antoinette was led to her execution where she faced her death bravely.
—Scott
Another sixth grade memory. Really got me in to European history and the truth (as truthful as we actually receive history) of it all. The fact that it is written in first person really made it real for me, at 12...This book also reminds me of our librarian at school. She recommended this book to me and I remember telling her it was a bit too much. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Darling, you read it one word at a time. Look up the words you don't know. And keep reading." She was great. What the heck was her name??
—Tracy Lee
