Marie Antoinette

"Marie Antoinette" by Hilaire Belloc is a historical exploration of the ill-fated Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, amidst the brewing storm of the French Revolution. The book journeys into her past, revealing how political schemes shaped her destiny and the events that paved the way for her downfall. Beginning with an overview of the 18th-century Diplomatic Revolution, the story uncovers Marie Antoinette's role as a figure deployed in political games, highlighting her marriage as a strategic move orchestrated by her mother, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. The narrative vividly recounts her early years, the challenges of her royal duties, and the sense of impending tragedy that overshadowed her life as she hurtled toward her tragic end.