Customer Reviews

The Private Life of Marie Antoinette

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Campan gives the general reader and historians alike an eyewitness, description of events at this doomed court. It is well worth noting that such fine works such as Lady Antonia Fraser's MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE JOURNEY and MARIE ANTOINETTE, LAST QUEEN OF FRANCE by Evelyne Lever and Catherine Temerson (as well as many, many others) cite Madame Campan dozens of times throughout.

We're pleased to see that Madame Campan's memoir has attracted readers. It's a wonderful book and we are proud to be the publishers. Campan wrote her book shortly after the death of Marie Antoinette. It was among the first, if not the first, accounts of the young Queen's life. This book gives the reader a chance to experience the court first-hand for themselves.

This is a true report from one of Marie Antoinettes intimats. But also at the same time truly a piece of writing in the style of the time. The english translation here is true to that form so it is not an easy read. The chapters are fairly short but to each chapter there are a couple of pages of footnotes (which are quite interesting and I recommend you read them). All in all the narrative is very interesting but if you expect to hear what Marie Antoinette had for breakfast or an insight to her personality beyond a superflous devotional and admiring account of a faithful servant you have to look elsewhere. (I have to say I came away with a sense that even if Madame Campan knew of all of Marie Antoinettes personal habits her sense of respect and discretion would have forbitten her to reveal anything that private about her beloved murdered mistress.) Madame Campan wrote a true account of her dealings with Marie Antoinette and especially the political climate that had the queen in its grasp is openly revealed and makes one understand the trappings of etiquette, intrigue and politics. One gets to understand how a young woman who did not mean any harm could end up generally hated and misunderstood. The book gives a good insight on the sense of adoration and reverence that royalty brought forth in those times and how quite impossible a revolution must have seemed to the king and queen. As a summary I would recommend the book because to understand this unfortunate queen one has to try and understand her times and circumstances first - which this book gives you a chance to do!

Reading this book was like talking to someone who actually knew the ill-fated Queen. It is readable even in today's language, although it might help to have a basic working knowledge of Marie Antoinette's world before reading this book. The author is interesting in her own right as well. An excellent source for research.

I really enjoyed reading this book after seeing the current movie out about Marie.