Alexandre Maral Bücher

Featuring personal correspondence, lavish illustrations, and a wealth of unpublished material, this handsome slipcased volume reveals an intimate portrait of Marie Antoinette, her personal collections, and Versailles. Marie Antoinette was a mirror of her time. Never has a queen been so passionately admired and adulated, then hunted, vilified, and defamed. Spanning her tragically brief yet passionate life—from the young queen playing a shepherdess on stage, unaware of the turmoil in the capital, to France’s guillotined “martyr queen"—the author demystifies the legend, unveiling the woman behind the queen, and the wife and mother behind the sovereign. Readers will experience the palatial luxury of the queen’s Versailles by tracing Marie Antoinette’s footsteps through the royal residence, as well as discovering her voice through rare letters and encountering little-known works in her private art collection.

The life of Marie-Antoinette unfolds through a unique lens of objects and locations that defined her existence, from her opulent upbringing in Vienna to her tragic execution. This beautifully illustrated volume showcases not only the luxurious items of her court life, such as exquisite gowns and fine porcelain, but also personal belongings that reveal her private world, like her sewing kit and children's toys. Excerpts from her correspondence provide insight into her character, making this a visually rich exploration of France's last queen.

Marie-Antoinette n'a jamais cessé de fasciner. Issue de la famille des Habsbourg-Lorraine en Autriche, elle fut promise au trône le plus prestigieux d'Europe. Arrivée en France en 1770, épouse du dauphin le futur Louis XVI, elle sut conquérir le coeur des Français, a Paris et a la cour, ou elle... číst celé