Erickson
Posted by Patricia R. on September 03, 1998 at 16:56:24:
In response to Marie Antoinette Biography, written by Marie-Bernadette on August 06, 1998 at 09:16:40
] I just read an exellent biography on Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson called To th Scaffold(ISBN 0-688-11611-6). I think that it is out of print now, but most libraries should have it. I first checked it out at the library then I liked it so much I hunted down a copy of it at a used bookstore. It is balanced, thorough and well written; it reads like a novel. In addition to giving a very good profile of Antoinette, this book also tells a lot about palace life and what it was like to be a courtier as well as some very intimate details of the lives of the royal couple. I now have a much better picture of the politics of the Revolution because Erickson presents this information is a clear, easy to understand manner and makes it interesting. Not only does Erickson give a complete picture of Marie Antoinette, she also details the personality of Louis XVI and so we get a good idea of them as people and not just names in a textbook and the author also dispels many of the myths and rumours that were spread about this fascinating, complex and couragous woman. Vive la Reine!
I really enjoy Carolly Erickson's books, I'm currently reading Our Temptuous Day (regency England) and i read The First Elizabeth (highly reccomended), I read most of To the Scaffold, but it was already a week overdue, so I had to take it back.
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