The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France

"The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France" by Charles Duke Yonge is a biography that paints a picture of Marie Antoinette's life, especially her involvement in the major events of the French Revolution. The story uses historical writings and letters to deeply examine her early years as an Austrian royal, her marriage to the French Dauphin, and the difficulties she faced as queen, including palace politics and her grim end. Yonge begins by stressing the importance of Marie Antoinette's own letters in showing her true personality and the events that molded her life. The book starts with her beginnings as the youngest daughter of the Austrian Emperor, her schooling, and the political deals that led to her marriage to Louis XVI. Readers witness her change from a lighthearted girl in Austria to a queen navigating the dangerous world of Versailles, acknowledging her early appeal and friendliness, as well as the growing problems she encountered due to jealousy and political groups within the court, creating a foundation for a gripping look at her life during the revolutionary changes in France.