Marie Antoinette

The Journey

By: Antonia Fraser

Narrated by: Donada Peters

Length: 20 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

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 listener not only in the coming-of-age of a graceful woman, but in the culture of an unparalleled time and place.

©2001 Antonia Fraser (P)2001 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The portrait is drawn delicately, with pleasant touches of humor...Fraser's approach is controlled and thoughtful." (Publishers Weekly)
"Absorbing as ever. Fraser's blend of insight and research persuade us that this unfortunate queen deserves neither the vilification nor the idealization she has received." (The New Yorker)
"Donada Peters...excels at injecting subtle irony into seemingly flat narrative. She handles the snotty comments and the lewd scandal-mongering of the court with equal aplomb. Fraser is one of the most highly respected and best-selling biographers of our time, and it's easy to see why in this enlightening glimpse into the turbulent France of the 1770s." (AudioFile)

Excellent look into a misunderstood figure

A word of warning! It’s good to have a basic knowledge of the French court and brief knowledge of Marie Antoinette before you take this biography on. The history of Marie is quite complicated and the court and the fall of the monarchy is also. Having a preface will help follow along better than going in without any knowledge of the time.
An EXCELLENT telling of her life, what lead to her destruction and an honest look at how history sees her. I high recommend this book if you are a lover of history and especially of the female experience through history.
Very well read! Really loved the narrator and the excellent French pronunciation.

Very Detailed

I think this book is probably the best biography around for those interested in Marie Antoinette's life and place in history. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and feel as though I am an expert now on the subject! It is very well written and detailed which really paints a lively and in-depth picture of the late queen of France.
As to Donalda Peters narration- I had no problem listening to her and do not think her voice detracts from the story at all.

UTTERLY CAPTIVATING

Where does Marie Antoinette rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I HAE LISTENED TO SO MANY... BUT THIS IS AMONG THE TOP.

Who was your favorite character and why?

THE PROTAGONIST

What about Donada Peters’s performance did you like?

SHE IS CURRENTLY MY FAVORITE READER -- SUCH INTELLIGENCE AND SENSITIVITY IN HER VOICE -- AND SHE CAPTURES THE IRONY AND HUMOR, AS WELL.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO, I'D RATHER SAVOR IT.

Any additional comments?

LISTEN TO IT!

Good learning experience and well-researched.

I enjoyed this book. It was very informative, but it wasn't boring and gave a well rounded picture of Marie.
It also showed that even the top tier of women in society daily courted death because they were(and many would argue STILL are) essentially brood mares and useful political pawns as their families trade them on the marriage market for their best political and financial gain.
If you're not interested in history, I probably wouldn't get this book as it goes into exhaustive detail about the Queen's life which might be boring for those not enamored with the subject.

loved the history and the politics of the time

looking to understand what had happened because we tend to learn and quickly forget history. Her death was tragic and for reasons more profound than "let themt eat cake" which was "fake news". comparing with today very little has changed over time.

Detailed and thought provoking

Any additional comments?

Yes, this is a long book. I purchased it because I was interested in getting allot more details of daily life and a story that was not rushed. I was not disappointed. This book offered detailed information about the complex relationships and hierarchy of French Court. It did an excellent job of pointing out the precise change in the public's view of Marie Antoinette and the probable causes. I found myself increasingly empathetic toward her. She did her very best to live up to all of the requirements of her role, but was sadly ill-prepared for some aspects of married life and politics. This book is for the person who wants a deeper look into the everyday life, relationships, politics, and obstacles of the premier queen of France.

Superb detail and well-read

Antonia Fraser writes a detailed account of Marie Antoinette's life supported by primary sources of differing perspectives. As a history teacher, I was delightfully surprised to learn so much more about circumstances surrounding the Queen's life and Europe as a whole during this time period. At times, the story seemed to move a bit slowly because of the detail, but it didn't impact my overall enjoyment. Also, I appreciated the epilogue, which resolved many unanswered questions about MA's legacy.

I was also very satisfied with Donada Peters' narration, especially after reading such critical reviews from others. I love that she used different voices and accents to personalize the LARGE number of people cited in this story, which made it much easier to put everything in context while listening.

Marie Antoinette Gets a Bad Rap!

What made the experience of listening to Marie Antoinette the most enjoyable?

I loved the narration and story of M.A. It goes to show that she was misunderstood in her times and ours. It shows how she grew from a naive and frivolity loving young girl into a woman (near the end) trying her best to understand France, politics and saving her children. The court intrigues are always fun and amusing. And her personal life, loves, losses, and tragedies are an interesting time in history.

Very Interesting

I really enjoyed this book. I usually read books on the Tudors, but found Marie Antoinette’s story just as compelling. Antonia Fraser has done it again, and, hats off to Donada Peters for her fine narration!

Impeccable research

This work is fascinating, dense, and impeccably researched. It features the perspectives of numerous people in the royal household, through their writings, her personal letters, and the government minutiae. Much of Marie Antoinette's story is heartbreaking; being married off at 14 to a weak husband who refused to consummate their marriage, a cruel press, and a conniving Royal Court full of social climbers who hated Austrians. The stuff this child had to put up with! If you've seen the movie by Sofia Coppola, you're familiar with some of the content. By the way, she never said, "Let them eat cake," and Fraser shares the history of this phrase in the book. It's a long slog, but I learned a lot from it.