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29th out of 43 books
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37 voters
The Secret Diary of a Princess: a novel of Marie Antoinette
by
Melanie Clegg (Goodreads Author)
The dramatic and often tragic years of Marie Antoinette’s early life, told in her own words. This book follows her privileged childhood and adolescence in the beautiful palaces of Vienna as the youngest and least important of the daughters of the all powerful Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and invites the reader to share the long journey, both emotional and physical that...more
Kindle Edition, 236 pages
Published
March 7th 2011
by Madame Guillotine
(first published 2010)
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Before she was Marie Antoinette, she was Maria Antonia, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and Emperor Francis I. As the title suggests, young Maria Antonia keeps a secret diary which gives the reader an intimate look at her thoughts, her family relationships and the daily life of an archduchess and the duties and responsibilities that go with it. I really liked Maria's voice and loved her impish sense of humor,
"Consequently, I did not learn very much today."
"It was I who put salt in t...more
"Consequently, I did not learn very much today."
"It was I who put salt in t...more
If you’ve ever wondered how an awkward, uneducated girl who was never supposed to become queen of France became the belle of the fashionable world, this is the novel to read. It's beautifully written and accomplishes what I love best about good historical fiction: the delicate balance between research and voice so that the reader not only learns about the period, but also feels along with the character. I loved it and would recommend it for even the most diehard of Antoinette fans who think they...more
Let me begin by saying that I am so glad Melanie Clegg (Erzibet) wrote this novel about the young Marie Antoinette. The reason I say this is because it’s not often that we get such a tender look at what lay at the basis of this martyred queen. Marie Antoinette is probably one of the most maligned queens in history and perhaps by looking into her young life we can get a better sense of what she was really all about.
Melanie Clegg’s novel is written (as the title suggests) in diary format and is a...more
Melanie Clegg’s novel is written (as the title suggests) in diary format and is a...more
The book is very engaging and I could really feel the young Marie Antoinette.... the descriptions were very vivid too, I felt like I was in Vienna in the 18th century. I finished it in one sitting. The author also included many historical facts into the novel, which makes it even more believable. It is the antithesis of Carolly Erickson's diary on Marie Antoinette, which is just plain awful.
Two very minor points on Marie Antoinette's sister Maria Amalia and Karl of Zweibrucken: Karl did not app...more
Two very minor points on Marie Antoinette's sister Maria Amalia and Karl of Zweibrucken: Karl did not app...more
I didn't always like the diary format of this, especially in the beginning when Marie Antoinette is still very young and her childlike writing and behavior didn't appeal to me - for example, the constant prank confessions got old. But it definitely improves as the book goes along and she gets older.
It was great to see more focus on her life before she left Austria, which took up most of the book. With her tragic later life, I think it's easy to overlook her comparatively uneventful childhood bu...more
It was great to see more focus on her life before she left Austria, which took up most of the book. With her tragic later life, I think it's easy to overlook her comparatively uneventful childhood bu...more
Who thinks of Marie Antoinette before she arrived at the french court? The french people came to hate 'The Austrian' as the embodiment of the frivolous, profligate nobility who were draining the coffers of the country. But Marie Antoinette arrived in France, a naive and charming fourteen-year-old, among strangers, and committed to a marriage that was distinctly not a love match.
This delightful book focuses on her childhood years in Austria; years within a large family and in a more relaxed court...more
This delightful book focuses on her childhood years in Austria; years within a large family and in a more relaxed court...more
This is, quite simply, a fantastic read. I absolutely raced through this novel, anxious to find out what happens next and Marie's reactions to the wild history unfolding around her. You really fall in love with ith her character during the course of reading her 'diary' - it feels very intimate and as though only you know her innermost thoughts. The descriptions of clothes, palaces and courts are magnificent, overwhelming and thrust the reader into the very heart of whatever is taking place. It's...more
I adored this look at the early life of Marie Antoinette. The author's research and descriptive style transported me to the palaces of Austria from page one and brought the childhood days of the young Archduchess to life. The diary format and Clegg's voice drew me straight into Antoinette's head and heart. This is the first book I read by Melanie Clegg, and it won't be the last. This secret diary is a much recommended read for Marie Antoinette fans or anyone interested in how Maria Antonia becam...more
http://vivelaqueen.blogspot.com/2012/...
The Secret Diary of a Princess by Melanie Clegg is the fictional diary of Marie Antoinette which covers her earlier years as a young archduchess. Other fictional diaries and memoirs written from the point-of-view of Marie Antoinette tend to focus on her life and downfall as queen of France, or her life as dauphine, this novel focuses almost exclusively on her years in Austria and ends just as she is being wedded to Louis-Auguste in the chapel of Versailles...more
The Secret Diary of a Princess by Melanie Clegg is the fictional diary of Marie Antoinette which covers her earlier years as a young archduchess. Other fictional diaries and memoirs written from the point-of-view of Marie Antoinette tend to focus on her life and downfall as queen of France, or her life as dauphine, this novel focuses almost exclusively on her years in Austria and ends just as she is being wedded to Louis-Auguste in the chapel of Versailles...more
Marie Antoinette – think you know her?
You might think you know something about her, may even have had the pleasure of reading Antonia Fraser’s biography – but what about her as a young girl? I am lucky enough to have read about Marie Antoinette the Queen, and to have visited the Hofburg, having some knowledge of the reign of her mother Maria Theresa.
I’ve just recently had the pleasure of reading The Secret Diary of a Princess, a fictional account of Maria Antonia’s life from about the age of nin...more
You might think you know something about her, may even have had the pleasure of reading Antonia Fraser’s biography – but what about her as a young girl? I am lucky enough to have read about Marie Antoinette the Queen, and to have visited the Hofburg, having some knowledge of the reign of her mother Maria Theresa.
I’ve just recently had the pleasure of reading The Secret Diary of a Princess, a fictional account of Maria Antonia’s life from about the age of nin...more
1 like · like · see review
A recent (cheap) Kindle acquisition...although I am not usually (read: never) a devotee of French history, this was really, really good!! The (fictionalized) diary of Marie Antoinette from ages 10 through 14, culminating in her marriage into the French royal family. I actually had to go do a little reading up on Marie afterwards, out of curiosity to learn a little more about this era in history and this person. I do recommend! It's fun to learn about teenage life in other eras!
I adored this look at the early life of Marie Antoinette. The author's research and descriptive style transported me to the palaces of Austria from page one and brought the childhood days of the young Archduchess to life. The diary format and Clegg's voice drew me straight into Antoinette's head and heart. A recommended read for Marie Antoinette fans or anyone interested in how Maria Antonia became France's most infamous queen.
A lovely introduction to the life of Marie-Antoinette by a talented young British writer, this book would delight any lover of history with its details and deep understanding of life with the Habsburgs. The teenaged Archduchess Antonia is made vivid by the amusing anecdotes in the form of diary passages that will make you laugh and cry. Looking forward to reading more of Ms. Clegg's work.
Lovely novel about Marie Antoinette's early years in Vienna as an archduchess of Austria before she marries the French Dauphin Louis Auguste, the future Louis XVI. I loved this glimpse of Antoinette's life and family that we don't often see. An easy and extremely pleasant read that's got me really interested in and reading about Antoinette again.
Feb 21, 2013
Kerry
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
MA fans, history buffs
Recommended to Kerry by:
Suzi
I really enjoyed this book and felt like I was transported back to the 1760's. There was much about Marie Antoinette I did not know, including all the death that surrounded her in childhood. The book begins when Marie is 9 years old and ends with her actual wedding day to Dauphin Louis of France.
An absolutely wonderful read. The attention to the locations in both France & Austria is beautiful as well as the descriptions of the clothes and people. I have a feeling this may well become a favourite reread!
A light but gripping read, I powered through this very quickly and was entirely satisfied with it. Recommended for fans of Georgette Heyer especially.
I loved it! I love my historical factual-fiction (ahem) and the detail Melanie goes into is fantastic. It was slightly addictive and I read it in an afternoon.
Such an interesting point of view writing from the voice of Marie Antoinette before she was queen! I thought it was wonderful.
I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate the in depth background research which gives the narrative a rich, textured feel like a beautiful tapestry
This was fascinating - the research that has gone into this unassuming little book is absolutely amazing. Loved it.
I actually enjoyed this book very much. However, the ending disapointed.
Very entertaining...quite the abrupt ending though! Would love to see a sequel.
$2.99
Read my review of
The Secret Diary of a Princess
1 like · like · see review
Clegg really captured the spirit of the girl who would be the ill-fated Queen of France. I got really wrapped up in the world of her Austrian childhood. Also, I want her wardrobe! Looking forward to a sequel!
Melanie Clegg makes 18th century Paris come alive with this account of the life and suffering of Marie Antoinette! I highly recommend the book to anyone who loves reliving the drama of Revolutionary France!
It's cute. I enjoyed Juliet Grey's series more; it's a shame I read Grey's first, as this one felt like a copycat- although it was published first! Quick read, interesting book.
Really good, first novel I've read from this author & I've downloaded her next one to my kindle :)
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A pink haired art history graduate, casual historian, GIN taster, lapsed goth, failed Parisienne, Versailles obsessive, proud Ripperologist, Georgette Heyer fanatic and Victorian Prostitute re-enactor who lives in deepest darkest Somerset with her family but would rather be in either Whitechapel or Paris.
Meticulously researched and elegantly crafted,'The Secret Diary of a Princess' is her first no...more
More about Melanie Clegg...
Meticulously researched and elegantly crafted,'The Secret Diary of a Princess' is her first no...more
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