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Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Marie Antoinette?
From the palaces of Austria to the mirrored halls of Versailles, Marie Antoinette led a charmed life. She was born into royalty in 1755 and married the future king of France at age 15. By 21 she ascended to the throne and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle of masquerade balls, sky-high wigs, and extravagant food. But her taste for excess ruffled many feathers. The poor people of France blamed Marie Antoinette for their poverty. Her spending helped incite the French Revolution. And after much public outcry, in 1793 she quite literally lost her head because of it. Whether she was blameless or guilty is debatable, but Marie Antoinette remains woven into the fabric of history and popular culture.
112 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2015
179 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Dana Meachen Rau
488 books30 followersDana Meachen Rau is an author, editor, and illustrator of children's books. She has written more than 100 books for children, many of them nonfiction in subjects including astronomy, history, and geography, as well as numerous biographies. She lives in Burlington, Connecticut, with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
April 26, 2019
Sad story
A very sad start to this story and a horrific ending also. This puts it in a perspective that is easy to understand. Good book.
A very sad start to this story and a horrific ending also. This puts it in a perspective that is easy to understand. Good book.
July 31, 2018
At the first time, I read this without a dictionary; at the second, I re-read with 2 online dictionaries and at this time, I re-read with the audio from https://pt.scribd.com/. This last time, it was a piece of cake.
Read
October 2, 2023I can see why this series is so popular - we listened to it in advance of our Paris trip and we all loved it.
November 3, 2017
Is this series supposed to be for kids?! I recommend it for everyone to be honest! I've read 2 of it so far, but I'm definitely going to buy more from this series! They're very informative and well written.
July 14, 2017
I know I'm supposed to kind of resent the opulence that Marie Antoinette represented, but I just kind of feel sorry for her. Like any 15 year old girl asks to leave home forever to marry a chubby spoiled prince she's never met. Then, with no education in politics, is expected to be the face of a country going through an enlightenment era where they see the flaws in monarchies. Hers is just a tragic story. A victim of timing more than anything. My son found this boring, but I just think it's important that he just be exposed to these kinds of unfair moments in history whether he likes it or not. :)
July 18, 2017
Interesting book. Naturally, I am ardently against abuse of power, but at the same time the violence of the French Revolution got way out of hand. Surely, the Reign of Terror was not a Reign of Justice. It's a shame that Marie Antoinette was a victim of this outrageous violence, but at the same time her life is a stern admonition to political leaders and people in general who focus too intently on their own selfish desires and a life of debauchery rather than being considerate and caring of others. It is a warning we must all heed, for there are serious and possibly fatal consequences if we do not.
November 2, 2017
I picked this up on a whim, just to read a short book. It was really fascinating! They certainly hit all the highlights, debunked a myth or two, and presented a fair picture of the queen, flaws and all, while still making her very sympathetic. They also added in bits about the times and fashions, etc. Overall, I found it really interesting and enjoyable, which kind of took me by surprise.
Now I know why kids love these books. I'll definitely be picking up a few more about historical figures that interest me.
Now I know why kids love these books. I'll definitely be picking up a few more about historical figures that interest me.
March 12, 2021
A few of the interesting facts I learn from this book:
Marie Antoinette was from Austria.
She loved to wear wigs, called poufs, and decorated them with crazy things like gardens, birds with moving wings, and even a ship.
France used the guillotine until the 1980s!
“Let them eat cake,” was simply a rumor about what Marie said.
She was executed on October 16, 1793.
Her firstborn, Madame Royale, was the only one to survive.
Marie Antoinette was from Austria.
She loved to wear wigs, called poufs, and decorated them with crazy things like gardens, birds with moving wings, and even a ship.
France used the guillotine until the 1980s!
“Let them eat cake,” was simply a rumor about what Marie said.
She was executed on October 16, 1793.
Her firstborn, Madame Royale, was the only one to survive.
March 11, 2016
This was a nice basic overview of Marie Antoinette's life, and I even learned a few new things as well. I am excited to recommend this book to students who are always interested in the complexity of Marie's personality and story.
June 3, 2021
This was a really good book but in the future I will only be reading the happier stories of Marie Antoinette because the last few years of her life are heartbreaking 💔I still really liked learning about her and her life even though so many were killed...
February 2, 2016
I recorded this for Learning Ally for young readers. It is simple, clear overview of the life of Marie Antoinette and includes some historical background information.
April 10, 2016
A really informational and great book.
June 8, 2017
Very interesting. Quick read.
June 15, 2017
I'm hooked on this series! Quick, informative reads!
June 19, 2017
It was very factual, and got straight to the point. I was very surprised by some of the facts that were mentioned.
January 15, 2018
I’m reading the books my kids read. This is a fantastic biography series for elementary readers. My daughter is learning so much about history!
March 31, 2021
Solid biography for children about Marie Antoinette. Informative and age appropriate.
September 30, 2020
When Marie was 15 years old, she left her parents (who were the emperor of Austria) to marry Louis Auguste, the future king of France. She became the queen of France while still only a teenager. She had no idea how to be a good leader. The French were poor yet paid high taxes. Some of which to running the government, but plenty was spent on lavish things for the royal. The French were angry with the king and queen. By the end of Marie's life, the French people were cheering for her death.
Antonia had a beautiful singing voice. She was the same age as Mozart. When he visited Antonia when they were six years old. He slipped. When Antonia helped him up, Mozart declared that he wanted to marry her.
While married to Louis Auguste, they lived in the 700 room palace of Versailles. Anyone could watch Marie get dressed or get ready for bed. Marie had spies who she would confide in and they would report back to her mother in Austria. Maria's mother often scolded her and wanted her to pay more attention to her husband rather than the parties.
The people hoped that their poverty would end when Louis and Marie ruled. Within two years of ruling, King Louis 15th died of smallpox. Louis 16th (20 yrs old) and Marie (19 yrs old) became rulers. Marie's mother wanted her it influence her husband in making political decisions, but Marie didn't want to follow her mother's rules or France's rules for their ruler. Marie wanted to do what she wanted and enjoy herself. Marie set the fashion trends. Her dressmaker came twice a week and her wardrobe filled 3 rooms.
Her personal hairdresser, Leonard Autie. French noble commonly wore wigs. the most famous hairstyle was called the pouf. Besides being fashionable, poufs also told stories. Some held scenes of nature, with tiny figures of farmers or animals. Some had moving parts, like flapping birds. Once, Marie wore a model of a ship in her hair after a French victory at sea against the British. no matter how silly the poufs seemed, everyone copied the queen's hairstyle. A metal frame was set on the head to give structure to the shape of the hair. It was padded with both fake and the real hair of the wearer. Once the shape was created, the pouf was finished with white or grey powder. Some of Marie's poufs towered 3 ft above her head. A pouf would last for about a week or until it lost its shape. The poufs blocked the viewers sitting behind them at the theater. In carriages, ladies would sit on the floor if their poufs hit the ceiling. When sleeping, poufs had to be wrapped up like a package, and the wearer might even have to sleep sitting up. The warm dark space on a woman's head under a pouf was the perfect place for bugs and lice to live. Some ladies used long-armed tools to reach under the wigs and scratch their itchy scalps.
Marie giggled, flirted and made up her own rules. Many French noble families were offended by how she lived and many French people were beginning to dislike like her. They spread gossip and rumors about her. They made fun of her clothes and hair. They scoffed at the money she spent. She continue to do what she wished. Louis gave Marie a quiet house called Petit Trainon just for her and any guest she invited (even the king had to be invited in).
Marie’s mother and the French people were mad at Marie for not having an heir to the throne. The king, the royal family and a crowd watched the 23 year old queen give birth to a baby girl. Many people were disappointed. But Marie loved her daughter. A son would have been the property of the state. You shall be mine.
At this time King Louis 16tth sided with Americans to fight for their Independence from Britain which led to England declaring war on France. Once a mother, Marie spent most of her time at Petit Trianon and dressed much simpler. However, her people were starving. Nobles were made at Marie for not being invited to Petit Trianon, that she dressed so simply, and spent so much French money even though she wasn’t born French.
Marie had a son after her mother died. Then Marie had a second son.
Diamond Necklace affair where a lady of the court had forged a note from the queen asking the royal jeweler for a necklace. When the jeweler gave it to the lady, instead of handing it over to the queen, she gave it to her husband. The court found the jeweler innocent, but Marie had him sent away from court. This angered the noble families that supported the cardinal. Marie was still seen as guilty in the eyes of the people for sending an innocent man away.
The larger percent of French were the poor who were fed up with the noble’s spending. They were inspired by the American Revolution and broke away from the Estates General to form a new group-the National Assembly. They gave themselves the power to make laws which King Louis and Marie didn’t want. King let the National Assembly meet, but he also built up troops against them. After causing lots of trouble, the people escorted the King and Marie to Paris to end the separation between the royals and the people they ruled over.
King Louis gave into the demand of the people to create a constitutional monarchy, the king would share power with elected officials. This saddened Marie to see her husband slowly lose his control over France.
Marie, Louis and their family disguised themselves to escape. They were hoping to find people who were supportive of the king near the French border. But on their journey, someone recognized them and warded the next village where they were held captive. Officials from the National Assembly had their carriage go back to Paaris. They were under constant watch.
The French people attacked the royal’s house, killing servants and guards. The royal family became prisoners in the tower and lived much differently than they were use to. France was declared a republic. The king was stripped of all power and put on trial for treason, or working against the interests of his country. He was sentenced to death by guillotine. A few years later, Marie was sentence to death by guillotine.
Even after the king and queen’s death, the French Revlotuion didn’t end. The members of the new government disagree. For a year, the government executed thousands of people by guillotine. This became known as the Reign of Terror. The revolution finally ended when Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the republic six years later. He was a strong military leader who organized france’s laws, conquered other European lands and eventually crowned emperor of France.
Marie’s son dieed in the tower as a prisoner during the Reign of Terror. Marie’s daughter survived and was sent to Austria on her 17th birthday.
Antonia had a beautiful singing voice. She was the same age as Mozart. When he visited Antonia when they were six years old. He slipped. When Antonia helped him up, Mozart declared that he wanted to marry her.
While married to Louis Auguste, they lived in the 700 room palace of Versailles. Anyone could watch Marie get dressed or get ready for bed. Marie had spies who she would confide in and they would report back to her mother in Austria. Maria's mother often scolded her and wanted her to pay more attention to her husband rather than the parties.
The people hoped that their poverty would end when Louis and Marie ruled. Within two years of ruling, King Louis 15th died of smallpox. Louis 16th (20 yrs old) and Marie (19 yrs old) became rulers. Marie's mother wanted her it influence her husband in making political decisions, but Marie didn't want to follow her mother's rules or France's rules for their ruler. Marie wanted to do what she wanted and enjoy herself. Marie set the fashion trends. Her dressmaker came twice a week and her wardrobe filled 3 rooms.
Her personal hairdresser, Leonard Autie. French noble commonly wore wigs. the most famous hairstyle was called the pouf. Besides being fashionable, poufs also told stories. Some held scenes of nature, with tiny figures of farmers or animals. Some had moving parts, like flapping birds. Once, Marie wore a model of a ship in her hair after a French victory at sea against the British. no matter how silly the poufs seemed, everyone copied the queen's hairstyle. A metal frame was set on the head to give structure to the shape of the hair. It was padded with both fake and the real hair of the wearer. Once the shape was created, the pouf was finished with white or grey powder. Some of Marie's poufs towered 3 ft above her head. A pouf would last for about a week or until it lost its shape. The poufs blocked the viewers sitting behind them at the theater. In carriages, ladies would sit on the floor if their poufs hit the ceiling. When sleeping, poufs had to be wrapped up like a package, and the wearer might even have to sleep sitting up. The warm dark space on a woman's head under a pouf was the perfect place for bugs and lice to live. Some ladies used long-armed tools to reach under the wigs and scratch their itchy scalps.
Marie giggled, flirted and made up her own rules. Many French noble families were offended by how she lived and many French people were beginning to dislike like her. They spread gossip and rumors about her. They made fun of her clothes and hair. They scoffed at the money she spent. She continue to do what she wished. Louis gave Marie a quiet house called Petit Trainon just for her and any guest she invited (even the king had to be invited in).
Marie’s mother and the French people were mad at Marie for not having an heir to the throne. The king, the royal family and a crowd watched the 23 year old queen give birth to a baby girl. Many people were disappointed. But Marie loved her daughter. A son would have been the property of the state. You shall be mine.
At this time King Louis 16tth sided with Americans to fight for their Independence from Britain which led to England declaring war on France. Once a mother, Marie spent most of her time at Petit Trianon and dressed much simpler. However, her people were starving. Nobles were made at Marie for not being invited to Petit Trianon, that she dressed so simply, and spent so much French money even though she wasn’t born French.
Marie had a son after her mother died. Then Marie had a second son.
Diamond Necklace affair where a lady of the court had forged a note from the queen asking the royal jeweler for a necklace. When the jeweler gave it to the lady, instead of handing it over to the queen, she gave it to her husband. The court found the jeweler innocent, but Marie had him sent away from court. This angered the noble families that supported the cardinal. Marie was still seen as guilty in the eyes of the people for sending an innocent man away.
The larger percent of French were the poor who were fed up with the noble’s spending. They were inspired by the American Revolution and broke away from the Estates General to form a new group-the National Assembly. They gave themselves the power to make laws which King Louis and Marie didn’t want. King let the National Assembly meet, but he also built up troops against them. After causing lots of trouble, the people escorted the King and Marie to Paris to end the separation between the royals and the people they ruled over.
King Louis gave into the demand of the people to create a constitutional monarchy, the king would share power with elected officials. This saddened Marie to see her husband slowly lose his control over France.
Marie, Louis and their family disguised themselves to escape. They were hoping to find people who were supportive of the king near the French border. But on their journey, someone recognized them and warded the next village where they were held captive. Officials from the National Assembly had their carriage go back to Paaris. They were under constant watch.
The French people attacked the royal’s house, killing servants and guards. The royal family became prisoners in the tower and lived much differently than they were use to. France was declared a republic. The king was stripped of all power and put on trial for treason, or working against the interests of his country. He was sentenced to death by guillotine. A few years later, Marie was sentence to death by guillotine.
Even after the king and queen’s death, the French Revlotuion didn’t end. The members of the new government disagree. For a year, the government executed thousands of people by guillotine. This became known as the Reign of Terror. The revolution finally ended when Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the republic six years later. He was a strong military leader who organized france’s laws, conquered other European lands and eventually crowned emperor of France.
Marie’s son dieed in the tower as a prisoner during the Reign of Terror. Marie’s daughter survived and was sent to Austria on her 17th birthday.
April 13, 2021
I remember reading a book about princesses when I was a child and how sorry I felt for Marie Antoinette when I first learned about her. This book creates a similar feeling. She may not have been a great leader, but she was not really prepared or properly educated for the role, and she didn't actually have any ruling power in France. Despite her flaws, it's sad that she was basically a scapegoat. And while she may have been spoiled and silly, especially when she was younger, it seems like she was a good mother. It's sad how things turned out for her children as well.
I can't imagine living on display like she had to - having people show up to watch her bathe and get dressed in the morning! Seriously. This book also reminded me how uncomfortable the fashion of that era was. The descriptions of elaborate hairstyles basically being a breeding ground for lice made me squirm.
This biography contains a lot of good information, but the biggest takeaway for me is the fact that the famous quote attributed to Marie Antoinette - "Let them eat cake!" - was probably never said by her. How many other things about her have people gotten wrong?
Slightly lower rating for the mediocre illustrations, the full description of what happened to Marie Antoinette at the guillotine (too gruesome for me), and the rather abrupt ending.
I can't imagine living on display like she had to - having people show up to watch her bathe and get dressed in the morning! Seriously. This book also reminded me how uncomfortable the fashion of that era was. The descriptions of elaborate hairstyles basically being a breeding ground for lice made me squirm.
This biography contains a lot of good information, but the biggest takeaway for me is the fact that the famous quote attributed to Marie Antoinette - "Let them eat cake!" - was probably never said by her. How many other things about her have people gotten wrong?
Slightly lower rating for the mediocre illustrations, the full description of what happened to Marie Antoinette at the guillotine (too gruesome for me), and the rather abrupt ending.
September 5, 2018
You just know this book does not cover the whole story of Marie Antoinette and the many shades of misogyny and sexism in the narrative of her story. This poor young woman's morning and bedtime routines that included bathing and getting dressed and undressed were on full display, like a tourist attraction, for an audience of anyone who showed up at the palace to watch. Despite the absence of a deeper analysis, this is a good, fast, fact-based biography for young reader. It evens shuts down the "Let Them Eat Cake!" quote misattributed to young Marie. Unfortunately, the story does not end well for France's queen. At the age of 37 she was sentenced to execution without any proof to support the charges and ends up at the guillotine. Poor Marie.
December 27, 2024
I was not nearly as impressed with this book as with the Tuskegee Airmen title. I suppose it is hard to write a sympathetic book about Marie Antoinette when she was such an idiot, and ditto for her husband. But both were formed that way by their families and apparently did not have it in them to rise above their spoiled beginning. I had not known that her daughter survived and lived in Austria after the French Revolution.
I could not find the name of the interior artist but I was no fan of the black and white illustrations in this book.
It’s a decent biography of a spectacularly unsuccessful queen.
I could not find the name of the interior artist but I was no fan of the black and white illustrations in this book.
It’s a decent biography of a spectacularly unsuccessful queen.
October 24, 2024
Read this a while ago during my “obsessed with Marie Antoinette” phase. She’s still an icon, and I even have a type of French dress based off the ones from the mid-late 1700s called a Robe a la Francaise. She’s fueled my fascination for baroque architecture, and desire to be rich. But who doesn’t want to be rich? Now I must admit, I’m an old lady obsessed with expensive things and tea sets trapped inside the body of a 13 year old boy.
May 16, 2018
So you don't like the way your government is run, that doesn't mean cut off everyone's head!
June 10, 2023
Marie Antoinette was so miss understood, but I guess most women in history are.
I definitely recommend it.
I definitely recommend it.
December 9, 2018
plus audible Audiobook narrated by: Judy Winegard
April 19, 2021
Who Was Marie Antoinette? by Dana Meachen Rau and illustrated by John O'Brien is one of the books in the award-winning "Who Was..." series focused on the youth market of readers but also interesting for adults. This one is about Marie Antoinette, from Austrian royalty who was betrothed to the future king of France. This is, at its core, a story of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Upon the death of the current king, her husband was crowned as the new king of France. For a few years they lived the good life throwing parties and living extravagantly. This did not go unnoticed by the people of France of whom many were living in crushing poverty and were angry that the king and queen did not seem to care about their troubles. This was partly responsible for inciting the French Revolution and ended tragically with the king and queen being beheaded.
This book is an inspiring and illustrated biography and is perfect for young middle-grade readers with Black-and-white line drawings throughout, sidebars on related topics, a timeline, and a bibliography to enhance readers' understanding of the subject. Written primarily for the youth market it is also an excellent way for anyone to get an overview about a specific famous individual or moment in history or as a quick refresher of basic facts if you've already read other books and just want a summary.
This book is an inspiring and illustrated biography and is perfect for young middle-grade readers with Black-and-white line drawings throughout, sidebars on related topics, a timeline, and a bibliography to enhance readers' understanding of the subject. Written primarily for the youth market it is also an excellent way for anyone to get an overview about a specific famous individual or moment in history or as a quick refresher of basic facts if you've already read other books and just want a summary.
April 3, 2021
A quick easy overview of this famous monarch's life. Did she really say "Let them eat cake?" How far out of touch was she with the common people, and how much influence did she and her family have over the common people's fates? How was she raised, and what was her life like as a very young queen of France? What exactly is the chronology of her life and death? If anyone wonders how young people with privilege get out of touch with their relative influence on others, this is a great introduction.
March 2, 2018
I read this as a reference for my acting next week. I’m gonna be her, so i need to know more about her. I watched some stuff and read a lot but i felt i need to read this too. I loved how there’re some illustrations there, and how the story is described step by step with some explanations of what the words meant and how to pronounce them.
I obviously don’t like her, but i think i liked this book more than i thought i would.
I may even get some other books from this series(?)
I obviously don’t like her, but i think i liked this book more than i thought i would.
I may even get some other books from this series(?)
who-hq
May 15, 2020Last queen of France before French Revolution. Born an archduchess (princess) of Austria, she was married to the dauphin (crown prince) of France, who would later become Louis 16th. Lived extravagantly, which angered the French citizens, leading to the French Revolution. She and her husband were executed after the monarchy was abolished. The French Revolution was followed by the Reign of Terror and did not end until Napoleon took over.
February 10, 2021
I love it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews