Sena Jeter Naslund’s novel Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette offers a first-person account of Marie Antoinette’s life from the time she was 14 until her execution. This well-researched historical fiction draws on source documents such as correspondence between Marie Antoinette and her mother, the Empress of Austria, as well as other personal correspondence and memoirs of her contemporaries. Naslund employs published scholarly research into the life of Marie Antoinette, the French Revolution and the art and architectural history of the city of Paris to provide an accurate background in which to set her subject.
We meet Marie Antoinette on literally neutral ground, as she leaves her homeland and travels to France to become the wife of the future King Louis XVI. She is young and innocent, having been given in marriage to further strengthen the alliance between Austria and France. The writing style at the opening of the book is rather flowery, with a lot of attention given to description of the surroundings, buildings and clothing Marie Antoinette sees on her journey and during her first months and years at Versailles. As the book progresses and the marriage is finally consummated, these musings of Marie Antoinette mature as well.
The writing becomes still more cohesive as the Revolution begins and the Queen is more aware of the world outside her palace walls. The indulged girl has grown into a mature woman who understands that there are economic and political problems in the country.
This novel will give the reader an accurate portrait of the setting of the Queen’s life, as well as a fair account of how her thoughts may have been maturing as she grew into her role. It will pique one’s curiosity to learn more about the history of the time, the palaces in which she lived, and the people with whom she associated.
What is your favorite work of historical fiction? Some that I’ve enjoyed include The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, The Red Tent by Anita Diamont and Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.
I read The Other Boleyn Girl. It was ok. I did enjoy the Girl With the Pearl Earring immensely.
Excellent, I’m a giant historical fiction fan and have been looking for one that I have not read yet for my roadtrip next week. Now I know just what to get. Thanks.
Bluestocking – I haven’t read any other Philippa Gregory, but I probably will at some point. I loved _The Girl With the Pearl Earring_!
HFF – I hope you enjoy _Abundance_. I tried to convey in my writing that it is a bit “flowery” in the beginning, when Marie Antoinette is young and more immature; stick with it, as it really picks up. Let me know how you like it!
I felt a bit uncertain about this one – I liked it, but I think I didn’t like Marie Antoinette very much in it! I felt detached from her a little more than I would enjoy.
I love historical fiction! I really liked both The Red Tent and Girl with a Pearl Earring. My favorites, though, are the works of Sharon Kay Penman.
The book sounds very interesting; later this summer I’m reading Antonia Fraser’s biography of Marie. I think she’s a fascinating figure.
Thanks for the heads-up about Samuel Shem and your kind words about my review of _The Genizah_. I hope you like it. I thought it was wonderful.
Thank you for stopping by The Printed Page. I’d like to offer you my copy of “Marie Therese” by Susan Nagel if you’re interested once I finish it. I’m expecting it in the mail any day. It’s a non-fiction book about Marie Antoinette’s daughter and her life after the execution of her parents. You can email your snail mail info to woodbear97 AT Yahoo DOT COM.
Meghan – I agree that Marie Anoinette was detached from the reader, but I took that as a trait of her personality. I warmed up to her more after she stopped whining about her marriage being unconsummated – she was still distant (not warm), but more aware of what was going on politically in the country. I’ll look up Sharon Kay Penman; I’m not familiar with her books, thanks for the recommendation.
Marie – Antonia Fraser’s name is so familiar, but I haven’t read anything she has written! Must be that I’ve looked at her books in the stores, but never made my way home with any of them … I’ll look forward to your review of Marie Antoinette: The Journey.
Marcia – wow! what a kind offer, thank you! My calendar is filled for the first part of the summer – if it doesn’t have to be read/reviewed by me in a very short time frame, I’ll take you up on it; will email you!
[...] mail brought Marie-Therese by Susan Nagel. from Marcia at The Printed Page. Marcia read my review of Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette, and thought that I would enjoy this book about the daughter [...]