I’m the exact opposite, so you can probably tell why I did not like her, but could at least empathize with her. From her early childhood, she is a spoiled princess, a dreamer who is not interested in academics at all. Most readers will probably like the character of Marie, but I did not simply because our personalities are far too different. Which was, of course, Carolyn Meyer’s goal when she wrote this book. The Bad Queen hasn’t made me like Marie Antoinette any more, but it has helped me understand her. They want to make the queen pay for her reckless extravagance-with her life. Meanwhile, 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-or 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. (Cover picture courtesy of Carolyn Meyer’s website.)
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