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Marie Antoinette

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( 9,144 ratings, 914 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Marie Antoinette by Stefan Zweig delves into the life of the infamous Queen of France, exploring her journey from Austrian princess to the scandal-ridden figurehead of the French monarchy. Zweig paints a vivid portrait of her character, detailing both her personal growth and the historical circumstances that led to her tragic downfall during the French Revolution. This biography combines meticulous research with engaging narrative to bring a nuanced understanding of an iconic and often misunderstood historical figure.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by the dramatic and tumultuous life of one of history's most fascinating queens. Stefan Zweig offers a compelling and insightful portrait, capturing the complexity, opulence, and tragedy of 18th-century French court life. This biography provides an engaging exploration of personal and political dynamics during the French Revolution.

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Bringing to life one of the most complex characters in European history

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Stefan Zweig based his biography of Marie Antoinette, who became the Queen of France at the age of fifteen, on the correspondence between her and her mother, and her great love, the Count Axel von Fersen. Zweig analyses the chemistry of a woman's soul from her intimate pleasures to her public suffering as a Queen under the weight of misfortune and history.

Zweig describes Marie Antoinette in the King's bedroom, in the enchanted and extravagant world of the Trianon, and with her children. In his account of the Revolution, he details her resolve during the failed escape to Varennes, her imprisonment in the Conciergerie, and her final tragic destiny under the guillotine.

Zweig's account has been the definitive biography of Marie Antoinette since its publication, inspiring Antonia Fraser and the recent film adaptation.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Marie Antoinette by Stefan Zweig is highly praised as a powerful and engaging biography. It is noted for being potentially the definitive account of the life of the tragic queen, with remarkable detail and influence in its portrayal.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781906548308

Publisher: Pushkin Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 July 2010

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pushkin Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Eden Paul
  • Translated by Cedar Paul

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 592

About the Author

Stefan Zweig was born in 1881 in Vienna, a member of a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a translator and later as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and enjoying literary fame. His stories and novellas were collected in 1934. In the same year, with the rise of Nazism, he briefly moved to London, taking British citizenship. After a short period in New York, he settled in Brazil where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in bed in an apparent double suicide.

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