Marie Antoinette: The Journey

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In the past, Antonia Fraser's bestselling histories and biographies have focused on people and events in her native England, from Mary Queen of Scots to Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot. Now she crosses the Channel to limn the life of France's unhappiest queen, bringing along her gift for fluent storytelling, vivid characterization, and evocative historical background. Marie Antoinette (1755-93) emerges in Fraser's sympathetic portrait as a goodhearted girl woefully undereducated and poorly prepared for the dynastic political intrigues into which she was thrust at age 14, when her mother, Empress Maria Theresa, married her off to the future Louis XVI to further Austria's interests in France. Far from being the licentious monster later depicted by the radicals who sent her to the guillotine at the height of the French Revolution, young Marie Antoinette was quite prudish, as well as thoroughly humiliated by her husband's widely known failure to have complete intercourse with her for seven long years (the gory details were reported to any number of concerned royal parties, including her mother and brother). She compensated by spending lavishly on clothes and palaces, but Fraser points out that this hardly made her unique among 18th-century royalty, and in any case the causes of the Revolution went far beyond one woman's frivolities. The moving final chapters show Marie Antoinette gaining in dignity and courage as the Revolution stripped her of everything, subjected her to horrific brutalities (a mob paraded the head of her closest female friend on a pike below her window), and eventually took her life. Fraser makes no attempt to hide the queen's shortcomings, in particular her poor political skills, but focuses on her personal warmth and noble bearing during her final ordeal. It's another fine piece of popular historical biography to add to Fraser's already impressive bibliography. --Wendy Smith

Book Description

France's iconic queen, Marie Antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous "Let them eat cake," was alternately revered and reviled during her lifetime. For centuries since, she has been the object of debate, speculation, and the fascination so often accorded illustrious figures in history. Married in mere girlhood, this essentially lighthearted child was thrust onto the royal stage and commanded by circumstance to play a significant role in European history. Antonia Fraser's lavish and engaging portrait excites compassion and regard for all aspects of the queen, immersing the reader not only in the coming-of-age of a graceful woman, but in the culture of an unparalleled time and place.

Customer Reviews:

A Gripping Royal Life.......2007-08-29

Light on analysis and heavy on chronicling, MATJ efficiently and often movingly recounts a notorious chapter in history. AF does a fine job of evoking life in a European court in general, and in the times of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in particular. She treats her subject objectively, though with a reasonable measure of implicit sympathy. The Antoinette depicted in MATJ is far more nuanced a figure than the one many of us were first introduced to in public school history lessons. Though not without flaws, Marie Antoinette emerges in MATJ as no more flawed a person than most -- a product and a victim of circumstances that were largely of others' making. MATJ is particulary affecting in its treatment of the Terror, the collapse of the French monarchy, and Marie Antoinette's ultimate fate -- a fate as brutal as one can imagine. As a history of the Terror and the French Revolution, MATJ falls short. But it does not purport to be a broader work of historical synthesis or analysis. It hews closely to its subject -- the queen whose life intersected, tragically, with enormous national and world-historical events. In doing so, it offers a full and affecting portrait of one of history's most compelling figures.

Engrossing from beginning to end.......2007-08-09

"Marie Antoinette: The Journey" was my first experience with the work of Lady Antonia Fraser. Having read many biographies of famous British historical figures, I noticed that her name always seemed to crop up in various authors' "Acknowledgements" or bibliographies. In fact, the point at which I first recall reading her name was in reviews for John Guy's "Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart". My interest piqued, I ordered a copy of "Marie Antoinette" to test the waters of an author whose scholarship and style was, it seemed to me, almost universally respected. And I can safely say that I've never been more pleased with the outcome of an experiment.

Antonia Fraser's sparklingly eloquent and witty writing style lends itself perfectly to the glamorous story of the ultimately tragic French queen. What I appreciated most about the narrative (aside from its seamless fluidity) was the lack, thankfully, of shameless allusions to the subject's eventual disastrous fate. Lady Antonia stated in the introduction to her biography that she would endeavor to present Marie Antoinette's tale `without the perils of hindsight' (her words, although not in the introduction), as most authors I'm sure would have been prone to do. Despite the fact that I was aware of Marie Antoinette's death going in, I had little knowledge of the reasons for it.

And thusly I come to another brilliant aspect of this biography: the sound and thorough description of events leading, not only to Marie Antoinette's beheading, but the French Revolution itself. Obviously, Antonia Fraser's intention in presenting the queen's story was not to simultaneously provide the reader with an exhaustive analysis of the Revolution (for that, many would recommend Simon Schama's "Citizens"); so with that said, I found the author's breakdown of the events occurring throughout Marie Antoinette's adopted country entirely satisfying within the confines of a biography.

This is one of the few biographies in which I was so sufficiently engrossed by the story that I gradually disregarded my previous knowledge of how the story ends. So swept along was I by the narrative's current that I actually harbored quiet hope for the queen's rescue from the Conciergerie, where she was incarcerated prior to her execution. As a result, I was crushed when Marie Antoinette met her gruesome death. Such unquestioning absorption is, in my opinion, the mark of any quality biography, when coupled with an objective and engaging presentation of facts that envelopes you in the world of its subject. "Marie Antoinette: The Journey" shines vividly in that regard and many others.

Elizabeth Longford, Antonia Fraser's mother and a highly-respected biographer, stated in a later-edition introduction to her masterful "Victoria R. I." that the word `definitive', in describing biographical works, is meaningless. Various authors studying the same subject may interpret facts and events quite differently. Having never read another biography of Marie Antoinette, I cannot rightly speak of Lady Antonia's book as being the essential source for information. But based upon my own experience with it, and those of most other reviewers, I would wager that this is the best possible place to start.

A sympathetic biography of a much maligned queen.......2007-07-12

Always the victim of fate and controlled by external powers, Marie Antoinette warmed to her roles well. From her idyllic childhood in Austria to her life as a princess (the Dauphine) in France during her adolescence to her extravagant Queenship in Versailles and Petit Trianon to her staid motherhood and finally to her untimely death at the hands of the Jacobins, Marie Antoinette filled her role with grace and dignity. Fraser brings us a portrait of Marie Antoinette as she certainly would have liked to have been remembered rather than the villainous harpy she was portrayed as during her life and beyond.

Starting, as any biography of Marie Antoinette must, in Austria under the reign of Maria Teresa, the book proceeds to describe life in the Empress' household and the various intrigues therein. The book tries not to miss any significant points along the way, but the book soon moves to the marriage of Marie to the young French Dauphin Louis XVI. From there, the life and political machinations of the courtiers and Marie among them are highlighted. Fraser sometimes seems to get lost recalling all the courtiers and their significances, but Marie is always kept as the central figure. Through this storytelling the reader watches a young woman grow up, sometimes under bad influences, but mostly under the watchful eyes of responsible advisors.

There is quite a bit of focus on Marie and Louis' failure to consummate their marriage, with the lightness of the King's attitude towards the Prince (Louis) in sharp contrast to the heavy yoke of responsibility laid on the Prince by Marie's brother the Emperor Joseph. In time, the married couple figure out their roles and they give birth to the first Dauphin.

What stands out about Fraser's prose is her ability to evoke great joy in the reader, as well as great sadness. She gives the joy of the royal family at the birth of their first child directly to the reader. Likewise, when the Dauphin, a sickly child, dies at a young age, Fraser pulls no punches and the sadness of the royal family is also felt by the reader.

Naturally, the book goes on to cover the rule of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as she oversees her hobbies and children. The attempted escape, called the flight to Varennes, is well covered and Fraser does a good job of bringing out the tension and suspense of the incident. The recounting of this event reads very much like fiction, though the events are very real. Finally, the book wraps up with the incarceration and execution of the royal family at the hands of the French revolutionaries.

The inclusion of paintings and photographs of important people and places makes the book all the more enjoyable. From the cute portrait of the Austrian imperial family to the sketch of Marie Antoinette on her way to the guillotine, each picture frames the period discussed so well that the reader's imagination is free to explore the world of 18th century France and Austria.

Fraser's book is an easy, if long, read, but it is enjoyable and reads very much like fiction rather than a dry biography. The only places it lags are when the number of characters gets too unwieldy or when Fraser tries to explain the bloodline relationships between various courtiers. I think anyone wanting to get a solid background on the life of Marie Antoinette would welcome this book to their library.

Amazing Biography.......2007-07-08

This is an awesome book, written on such an intriguing person in history. Marie Antoinette has gotten a bad rap throughout the years, the whole French revolution has been blamed on her, which is wrong. There are MANY MANY reasons why the revolution happened, and many don't have anything to do with her. It's a great book and the movie by S. Coppolla is also great (if you liked Clueless, you'd like this because it has an innocent air to it). The Marie Antionette in this book comes off a little more sympathetic because the reader is able to see how young and vulnerable she was. We must remember she became Queen of France at such a young, immature age and it's no wonder she had all those lavish parties. This is a great book by a great author and I highly recommend it.

A Well Told Biography.......2007-06-16

Ms. Fraser is a well known author of historical biographies. She does her research and manages to be fair in all things when it comes to delving in past lives that have touched the world. Her attempt at penning Marie Antoinette's story is well done, fair, and shows the world a different young woman that is often portrayed in historical films.

Beginning at the young archduchess start in life to her horrid end, we travel beside this young woman, learning what she had to endure and seeing her in a way not always portrayed. With plenty of historic facts, color pictures the author has penned a fair biography that will give the reader insight into a much misunderstood woman. This is one book I highly recommend.

Gambling Houses: The Eight Quarter Journey to Overcome the Emotional, Mental and Physical Pain of Default and Foreclosure

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Gambling Houses: The Eight Quarter Journey to Overcome the Emotional, Mental and Physical Pain of Default and Foreclosure
Antoinette Marie Antone
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1425994989

Konnichiwa, Nippon: Furansu butsuri gakusha no Japonisumu hakken

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Konnichiwa, Nippon: Furansu butsuri gakusha no Japonisumu hakken
Antoinette Marie Dubois
Manufacturer: PHP Kenkyujo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 4569526160

Book Description

It has, most definitely, been A Beauuutiful Life for Bill Grigsby, a Kansas City icon and Grand Master of Ceremony. No one can paint a more illustrious image of Midwestern sports and its famous and not-so-famous participants than the man affectionately known as Grigs. From humble beginnings during the Depression through his war years as a code breaker to his development as a colorful broadcaster in Major League Baseball and the National Football League, Bill Grigsby is the supreme storyteller who crosses the generational timeline. He was there when Mickey Mantle took his first professional swing, when a brash entrepreneur by the name of Charlie Finley bought the A's, and when a reserved dreamer named Lamar Hunt came to Kansas City. Along the way his path has crossed with a virtual Who's Who of several Halls of Fame: George Brett, Lenny Dawson, Tom Watson, Whitey Herzog, Joe Montana, Dan Devine, Dick the Brusier, Phog Allen, Marcus Allen, George Toma, Roy Williams, Hank Stram, and even Baby Doe, the women's world champion midget wrestler from South Africa. Even Grigs himself is in two Halls--he Missouri Sports hall of Fame and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Grigs has had not one single full-time job during his life, but more than 40, from fertilizer salesman to federal deputy to big-league broadcaster. His loyalty and longevity, through, are legend. He was there for the beginning of the Kansas City Sportshow, now more than a half-century old, and the Kansas City Chiefs, who came to town in the 1960s. To this day he remains a vital part of both organizations. No one, in fact, has longer tenure as an NFL broadcaster than Grigs, who first began to imagine himself asa sportscaster during the 1930s in Lawrence, Kansas. Bill Grigsby grew up in a desperate time, but it forged a man who, along with Fran, his wife of more than 50 years, created a beautiful family and A Beauuutiful Life.

Customer Reviews:

Great Read!.......2007-02-07

For those in the midwest, Bill Grigsby is the MAN! This tells the story straight.

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The Definitive Guide to Screenwriting
Syd Field
Manufacturer: Ebury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Definitive Guide to Screenwriting
Syd Field
Manufacturer: EBURY PRESS (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K85M28

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Definitive Guide to Screenwriting
Syd Field
Manufacturer: Ebury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGR8KA

Product Description

Gill Tarot includes 78 magical and beautiful cards.

Customer Reviews:

Compelling, insightful, and beautiful........2007-09-23

I have owned this deck for many, many years. After purchasing and trying out numerous other decks, I seem to always return to this one. A tarot deck must speak to the reader, and this one speaks to my heart and always has something fascinating and new to tell me. The drawings are rich and multilayered, crossing boundaries of ethnicity and gender, but such authenticity seems to have been channeled through the author almost subconsciously, as it appears natural rather than intentional and forced. The colors in this deck are extensive and well utilized, ranging from pastels to primary colors. The cards are sturdy and a pleasing, practical size. Although based on the Tree of Life, they are easily adapted to any style of use as well as a wide range of spreads. I recommend this deck highly, and hope it will become a treasured companion on your life path, as it has been for me.

not received.......2007-03-12

I cancelled the shipment of this product because I was sent a notification that the delivery would be delayed another month.

Gets 5 stars for descriptive artwork!!!!!.......2006-09-09

You don't even need the book, the art work and captions get you started and the rest of the reading is easy. My favorite deck so far.

Review.......2004-01-15

Elizabeth Gill is my mother. Writing under her maiden name, Gill, she is actually Elizabeth Gray. My mother is the most intelligent, wise person that I have ever met. She has been the soul source of inspiration to me, throughout my life. To aspire to reflect some of her qualities would be a noble task.
My mother has taught me countless lessons in life. Her thoughts are profound, yes she doesn't claim to know all the answers, and rarely rates her own opinion. She is humourous and warm, yet sparklingly intelligent.
My mother wrote the tarot while I was a young child. I vaguely remember her doing so. I have learnt a lot from my mother, and I have a lot more to learn from her work. She has drawn from many sources, when writing her work. She has a poignant understanding of humanity, she heavily draws on Jungian Psychology, and Platonic archetypes.
What I am illiterately attempting to say is that this book, coming from such a wise and fine mind is condensed genius for me, personally. I wouldnt like to guess at what an audience will think of it, it's hard to be ambiguous on this particular subject, but read it, if you will... and maybe you can feel what kind of woman she is.

Gill Tarot - simple, but complex........2003-04-21

As a frequent Tarot reader for young people, I find myself having to give meanings for cards to participants over and over again. But that stopped just as soon as I discovered the Gill Tarot. I've worn out two decks of Gill Tarot cards, and am now on my third deck.

The pictures of both the Major and Minor Arcana are very beautiful and colorful. The backs contain a Tree of Life and the symbols for it. A great deal of the symbolism that inspired these cards comes directly from classical religious literature. The one thing I didn't like about the backs is that the Tree of Life background makes it obvious when reversed cards are dealt. But, since Elizabeth Gill recommends not using reversed meanings with her deck, maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.

The cards are a strange oversize, a little wider than quite a few of the other deck in my small collection. There's a small white border around the art, and names on all the cards. But I found the width easy to use, and the cards seemed to have good stiffness, without being too hard or inflexible.

The Major Arcana are enough like the standard Rider/Waite Tarot to be understandable to even a novice, but have enough symbolism to enchant the most dedicated readers. But it is the Minor Arana that stopped most of my questions from younger subjects. All of the Minor Arcana have a single word written on them to provide a basic meaning for that card. Although some may find this limiting, simple readings do not have to be an in depth look at the soul - just answers to simple questions. And the same level of symbolism is on all of the Minor Arcana - so if you want to "wing it" you can.

The small included 24 page booklet gives you the basics of these cards as well as a sample layout - and it's not a Celtic Cross either! It's a simplified "Tree of Life" layout that can add a great deal of richness and depth to a standard reading.

I find myself being drawn back to this deck over and over again from the ones I own. A good second deck for beginners, and experienced readers will find new meanings in Gill's cards. If you haven't seen it, it has one of my highest recommendations.

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Good basics, but needs updating

Concise and to the point, good for a beginner

Effective Presentation Skills : A Practical Guide for Better Speaking
Steve Mandel
Manufacturer: Crisp Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Presentation Skills Workshop: Helping People Create and Deliver Great Presentations (The Trainer's Workshop Series)

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Book Description

Give confident, enthusiastic, and persuasive presentations. With an emphasis on the need for preparation and practice, this course provides guidance on how to organize, create, and deliver effective presentations. Conquer your fear of public speaking. Prepare and deliver well organized presentations. Capture and maintain audience interest.

Learning Objectives: To explain how to build credibility and confidence as a speaker. To show how to use presentation technology to your advantage. To provide techniques for preparing and delivering a presentation well.

Customer Reviews:

Good basics, but needs updating.......2000-07-20

This book does a good job covering the many basics of making an effective presentation, including dealing with anxiety, personal appearance, planning and preparation. However, it needs to be updated to reflect the many changes in presentation technology (and technology in general) since 1993 that are available to the presenter.

For example, to quote from page 55, "CD-ROM Players--These 'read only' players (you can't record onto them from your own computer, yet!) can hold a gigantic amount of information. Some disks contain an entire encyclopedia. These devices can store color photographs, video clips, sound clips, huge data bases and other types of information that require a lot of memory. There is new technology available that will allow you to take a photograph, have it transferred to a CD-ROM disk and then bring it up on your computer screen." What next, phones without wires? Overall a good book on the subject of preparing for and delivering presentations as long as you're not looking for any tips on PowerPoint or technology-based presentations.

Concise and to the point, good for a beginner.......1999-03-02

I would say if you never put a presentation together, or looking for few ideas in putting a presentation together, this book is for you. The material is concise and gives good backgound on how to put a professional presentation together. I recommend it to a beginning managers and executives that want to evalute their presentation mode.

Effective Presentation Skills: A Practical Guide for Better Skills (Crisp Fifty-Minute Books (Paperback))

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Effective Presentation Skills: A Practical Guide for Better Skills (Crisp Fifty-Minute Books (Paperback))
Steven Mandell
Manufacturer: Crisp Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0931961246

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