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Marie Antoinette

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Marie Antoinette

By: Antonia Fraser
Narrated by: Lindsay Duncan
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About this listen

 Marie Antoinette's dramatic life-story continues to arouse mixed emotions. To many people, she is still 'la reine mechante', whose extravagance and frivolity helped to bring down the French monarchy; her indifference to popular suffering epitomised by the (apocryphal) words: 'let them eat cake'. Others are equally passionate in her defence: to them, she is a victim of misogyny.

In this biography Antonia Fraser examines her influence over the king, Louis XVI; the accusations and sexual slurs made against her; her patronage of the arts, which enhanced French cultural life; her imprisonment; the death threats made against her; rumours of lesbian affairs; her trial (during which her young son was forced to testify to sexual abuse by his mother); and her eventual execution by guillotine in 1793.

©2009 Antonia Fraser (P)2009 Orion Publishing Group 18th Century Europe France Historical Modern Politics & Activism Royalty Middle Ages

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I was very disappointed that Linsey Duncan only reads the unabridged version of this book, she is such a good narrator, it is a pleasure to listen to her.

Marie Antoinette the abridged version

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Lindsay Duncan is one of the best narrators on the planet. I have her reading Pride and Prejudice as well as this and she is genuinely incomparable, with a wonderful voice and the intonation is perfect. The biography is well written and captivating, although you do sometimes wonder where the basis lies for some of Fraser's conclusions. This is one of my all-time favourite audiobooks.

Brilliant narration and captivating narrative

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