Customer Reviews

In Destiny's Hands: Five Tragic Rulers, Children of Maria Theresa

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I love all things Marie Antoinette, and have read many books about her life.

Many of the books on the life of Marie Antoinette begin and end with fated queen's life at Versailles. Author Justin C. Vovk takes us on a fascinating journey, and offers an intimate look at the life of the empress Maria Theresa, mother of Marie Antoinette, and the lives of the children of the empress. Never slow reading, or the type of book where the reader must commit to, In Destiny's Hands is irresistible from the very beginning. Vovk employs a remarkable insight into the Hapsburg dynasty and provides a wealth of information on the family of the empress. Marie Antoinette's relationship with her mother is carefully examined from the time of her birth to the death of the empress. Much of what I read in Vovk's book was surprising. Little known information is revealed on Marie Antoinette's siblings: Joseph, Amalia, Leopold, and Maria Carolina. Though a partial history of Maria Theresa's large family could be described as having been enchanted, unspeakable tragedy would eventually mark the lives of several of the children of the empress.

Justin C. Vovk is a gifted writer and accomplished historian, who truly has uncovered a great deal of little known information on the family of Maria Theresa. In Destiny's Hands is a must-read for any person interested in Marie Antoinette and/or the Hapsburg dynasty.

I Love Maria Theresa and I Love this book. What a truly extraordinary woman or person. Strong, loving, ambitious and sharp enough to know if someone had a better idea of what needed to be done in Peace and War. She was very strong and healthy. She bore 16 children in 21 years to a man whom she slept with almost every night which was extremely unusual in 17th century Europe.She also deeply loved Franz. They made a sucess out of their lives in spite of eithers flaws and failings. The story of the family is fascinating. What a wonderful and well written book.I have waited a long time for a book on this family and I am at last not dissapointed ,I read and reread it all the time. If you are at all interested in History, This book is a total Must!!!

This book was addictive. As soon as I started reading it I could not put it down! Towards the end I started getting confused with everyone's children's names but otherwise a great read for history buffs.

This book is great for those who realize that Marie Antoinette wasn't the only tragic royal of her time, or even of her family. This also offers an introduction to various branches of the famous Hapsburg dynasty that history has relegated to the sidelines. If you are travelling to Vienna, read this first and then enjoy the city a little bit more!

If you ever thought you had a pushy mother, read this and realize you didn't!