Upcoming Release: A Companion to the French Revolution by Peter McPhee

A Companion to the French Revolution by Peter McPhee

The French Revolution is one of the great turning-points in modern history. Never before had the people of a large and populous country sought to remake their society on the basis of the principles of popular sovereignty and civic equality. The drama, success, and tragedy of their project, and of the attempts to arrest or reverse it, have attracted scholarly debate for more than two centuries.

So why was there a Revolution in 1789? Why did it prove so difficult to stabilize the new regime? What factors caused the Revolution to take its particular course? And what were the consequences, domestic and abroad, of a decade of revolutionary change? Featuring contributions from an international cast of acclaimed historians,  A Companion to the French Revolution addresses these and other critical questions as it points the way to future scholarship.

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Re-Release: Farewell, My Queen by Chantal Thomas

Farewell, My Queen by Chantal Thomas is going to be re-released this summer with a movie-tie in cover to coincide with the limited theatrical release of the film based on the book. The new edition will be released on July 10th and is a paperback.

July 1789: at the eve of the revolution, occupants of Versailles live in a miniature universe, unconcerned by the increasing turmoil in Paris. But with the shocking news that someone has woken the King in the night, order begins to disintegrate and word of the fall of the Bastille seeps into court. 

Madame Agathe-Sidonie Laborde, the devoted reader for Marie Antoinette, refuses to leave her queen’s side. She watches as the Queen’s attempts to flee are aborted; her most intimate friend betrays her; and the King, appearing to sleepwalk through this crisis, never alters his routine of visiting the Apollo Salon several times a day to consult a giant crystal thermometer. From the tiniest garret to the Hall of Mirrors, where Marie Antoinette stands alone and terrified in the dark, Chantal Thomas creates an intimate portrait of the woman who, like “fire in motion,” was at the center of a world on the edge of oblivion.

Upcoming Releases

Welsh Responses to the French Revolution: Press and Public Discourse, 1789-1802 by Marion Loffler

Release Date: July 15, 2012

Publisher: University of Wales Press

The French Revolution inflamed public opinion in Wales just as it did throughout the world. Welsh Responses to the French Revolution delves into the mass of periodical and serial literature published in Wales between 1789 and 1802 to reveal the range of radical, loyalist, and patriotic Welsh responses to the Revolution and the Revolutionary Wars. This anthology presents an English-language selection of poetry and prose published in the annual Welsh almanacs, the English provincial newspapers published close to Wales’s border, and the three radical Welsh periodicals of the mid-1790s, all alongside the original Welsh texts. An insightful introduction gives much-needed context to the selections by sketching out the printing culture of Wales, analyzing its public discourse, and interpreting the Welsh voices in their British political context.

Napoleon and the Revolution by David P. Jordan

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Napoleon was much more than a warlord consumed by vanity and ambition. He was the very spirit of the militant Revolution. Virtually everything he did during the fifteen years of his preponderance was derived from and linked to the French Revolution. Much of his hold over contemporaries was his embodiment of the aspirations as well as the boundless energy of the Revolution. Even his enemies, foreign and domestic, were fascinated by the man and uniformly saw him as 'the Revolution on horseback'. He fought off vengeful reactionary powers long enough for the Revolution to sink deep and permanent roots in France. The Allies who finally defeated Napoleon found it impossible to undo his subversive work - the genii of the Revolution was out of the bottle, and for good. Through his incessant table talk and dictated autobiography he focused the attention of posterity, inculcating his version of himself, events, and their significance.

Louis XVI and the French Revolution, 1789-1792 by Ambrogio Caiani

Release Date: August 31, 2012

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The experience, and failure, of Louis XVI's short-lived constitutional monarchy of 1789-1792 deeply influenced the politics and course of the French Revolution. The dramatic breakdown of the political settlement of 1789 steered the French state into the decidedly stormy waters of political terror and warfare on an almost global scale. This book explores how the symbolic and political practices which underpinned traditional Bourbon kingship ultimately succumbed to the radical challenge posed by the Revolution's new 'proto-republican' culture. While most previous studies have focused on Louis XVI's real and imagined foreign counterrevolutionary plots, Ambrogio A. Caiani examines the king's hitherto neglected domestic activities in Paris. Drawing on previously unexplored archival source material, Caiani provides an alternative reading of Louis XVI in this period, arguing that the monarch's symbolic behaviour and the organisation of his daily activities and personal household were essential factors in the people's increasing alienation from the newly established constitutional monarchy.

Upcoming Release: The Frankenstein of 1790 and Other Lost Chapters from Revolutionary France by Julia V. Douthwaite

The Frankenstein of 1790 and Other Lost Chapters from Revolutionary France by Julia V. Douthwaite

Release Date: October 1, 2012

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

The Frankenstein of 1790 and Other Lost Chapters from Revolutionary France shows how five key events of the French Revolution took shape through newspaper and imagery produced during the turmoil, and how those same events remained alive for future generations in tales published in France, England, and the USA from 1795-1910.

Upcoming Release: Marriage and Revolution: Monsieur and Madame Roland by Sian Reynolds

Marriage and Revolution: Monsieur and Madame Roland by Sian Reynolds

Release Date: September 15, 2012

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Marriage and Revolution is a double biography of Jean-Marie Roland (1734-1793) and Marie-Jeanne Phlipon, later Madame Roland (1754-1793), leading figures in the French Revolution. J.-M. Roland was minister of the Interior for a total of eight months during 1792. The couple were close to Brissot and the Girondins, and both died during the Terror. Mme Roland became famous for her posthumous prison memoirs and is the subject of many biographies, but her husband, despite being a key figure in administration of France, seldom out of the limelight during his time in office, is often marginalized in histories of the Revolution.

Sian Reynolds examines the Roland marriage from its beginnings in an ancien regime mesalliance, opposed by both families, through its close cooperation in the 1780s, to its final phase as a political partnership during the Revolution. Both Roland's actions as minister and Mme Roland's role as a woman close to power were praised and blamed at the time, and the controversies have persisted. Based on manuscript sources including many unpublished letters, Marriage and Revolution sets out to examine an unusually companionate marriage over the long term: its intimacy, parenthood, everyday life in the provinces, friendships, academic cooperation, political enthusiasms and quarrels, and finally its dramatic ending during the Revolution.

Book Review: Blood Sisters by Marilyn Yalom

(This review was originally published on Inviting History.)

Blood Sisters: The French Revolution in Women's Memory by Marilyn Yalom is an exploration of the memoirs of women from a variety of social positions who, in some way, were affected by the French Revolution. These women range from female soldiers to the wives of prominent revolutionary figures to the only surviving child of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The memoirs encompass a range of different experiences during the revolution as well as range of different "memories" of these events which are colored by the context the time period the memoirs were written in and the own personal ideals of the writer. In the book, Yalom not only explores the importance of historical context when reading these memoirs (for example, a book written by a royalist during the Bourbon Restoration will naturally be colored by that context) but argues that the primary drive behind these memoirs - and indeed, many memoirs before and since the 18th and 19th centuries - is to bear witness to events which uprooted the country and resulted in the deaths of family, friends and countless others.

Blood Sisters excels in several ways. Yalom is clearly invested in this subject and her passion for these women and their writing shines in a narrative that is clear, engaging and incredibly hard to put down. The book also benefits because Yalom has chosen to engage the reader in these  memoirs not only from a narrative point of view - explaining what happened to the women and what they wrote - but also from a critical point of view, exploring how these women wrote about what happened to them. Memory and personal conviction can have a great effect on what we write about our lives later in life, something Yalom doesn't hesitate to explore.

The one downside to this book is that I personally wish it was longer! As a side note, Yalom does provide an extensive list of memoirs written by women who were affected by the French Revolution, although this list only contains the French editions of these memoirs.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in women's memoirs, the study of women's history, or the French Revolution.

Brief Book Recommendations: Caricatures in the French Revolution

The Wicked Queen: The Origins of the Myth of Marie Antoinette by Chantal Thomas

An exploration of how Marie Antoinette's public image transformed from a compassionate angelic dauphine to a bloodthirsty, evil, Austrian monster. Illustrated throughout and includes some translations of printed libels.

Taking Liberties: Satirical Prints of the French Revolution by Jean Paul Pitton

The album for a 1989 French exhibition showcases a wide variety of Satirical Prints from the revolutionary period, featuring illustrations (some in color) and a brief study of revolutionary caricature.

French Caricature and the French Revolution, 1789 - 1799 by James Cuno

A study on French Revolution caricatures, published in conjunction with a 1989 California exhibition on the French Revolution. Illustrations are primarily b&w.

Symbol and Satire in the French Revolution by Ernest F. Henderson

A text heavy work discussing the impact of symbolism and satire, as used in caricatures, during the French Revolution. This book is public domain.

Face a face: French and English caricatures of the French Revolution and its aftermath by James A. Leith

Another book which coincided with a 1989 exhibition, this book is dedicated both to French and English caricatures depicting the French Revolution. A nice comparison of how the French represented themselves and how the English represented the French.

Giveaway: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

I'm delighted to announce another book giveaway! I will be giving away one new copy of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.

Giveaway Information

The prize will be one new hardcover copy of Revolution by Jennifer Donnely.

This giveaway is open to Blogspot and Tumblr users living within the United States.

Rules

You may enter once through Blogspot OR once through Tumblr. Please do not enter on both sites. Only logged-in entries will be considered valid.

To enter, simply fill out the entry form and comment to the Blogspot contest page or to my Tumblr Ask Box. If you would like an additional chance to win, reblog this entry on Tumblr or post about this giveaway on Blogspot!

Entry Form

Name: (Blog name or first name)

Contact Email:

Did you reblog/post about this giveaway? If yes, please provide a link.

The contest ends on September 27th, 2011, at 11 PM EST. I will announce the winner on both blogs on September 28th.

Book Review: The Fall of the Blade by Sue Reid

Isabelle is a thirteen year old aristocrat living in a grand chateau outside of the city of Paris. The French Revolution has already begun, and as the city of Paris turns violent and the safety of aristocrats is threatened, her family decides they must flee further into the French countryside. There, they are threatened with discovery, burdened by a lack of supplies, and faced with the prospect of being taken to prison or even executed. All the while, young Isabelle keeps a diary to record her fears for her life, family, and France.

The Fall of the Blade, written by Sue Reid, is part of Scholastic UK's My Story series, a collection of fictional diaries set throughout various time periods, written by young characters. Some of the My Story books overlap with the Dear America and My Name is America books published by the American Scholastic branch, but there are many books original to the UK series, including The Fall of the Blade. 

The story itself, which takes place in the midst of the more violent events of the French Revolution, was fairly exciting and had a good amount of action, particularly for younger readers. I thought it was an interesting touch to begin the story somewhat removed from the turmoil of Paris, because there was a sense of strained normalcy in Isabelle's life - at least in the beginning. As the book goes on, Isabelle is taken from the assumed safety of her chateau into hiding, prisons, and the streets of Paris.

I did enjoy Sue Reid's writing, which reflected the time period but was modern enough that young readers will have no problem understanding Isabelle's diary entries. I think adult readers might find Isabelle a little flat, because I never really got a feel for who the character was, which was unfortunate as her story was interesting. I also felt that the book was too short and that the ending was abrupt, leaving many threads unresolved. And unfortunately, the My Story series does not seem to feature the epilogues that are found in the Dear America series, which tell the reader what happened after the book ended. Perhaps this is to counteract reader complaints that they thought the Scholastic diaries were real? Simply a guess!

Despite some misgivings about the sudden end, I would recommend, The Fall of the Blade to anyone who enjoys "Scholastic diary" fiction, and is looking for a light read set during the revolution. It's also a good beginner book for younger readers, although it does naturally feature some violence. I would also recommend Marie Antoinette: Princess at Versailles by Kathryn Lasky, part of the The Royal Diaries (or, in the UK, My Royal Story) series, as well as The Princess in the Tower by Sharon Stewart, part of the short-lived Scholastic Canada Beneath the Crown series.

Book Review: A Concise History of the French Revolution by Sylvia Neely

The trouble with some concise histories, short histories and general overviews is that the author tends to skip and jump between events that they find interesting at the expense of providing the reader with a real basic overview of a particular event. While they might be a delightful read, they don't truly fit the bill of a "concise history." Thankfully, Sylvia Neely's trim A Concise History of the French Revolution avoids this shortcoming by providing a general and fairly no-nonsense overview of the French Revolution, its primary causes, figures, and events.
 
Neely's conclusions on the nature of the revolution may be new to readers who are more familiar with the traditional outlook on the events of 1789, which are usually boiled down to a simple "the peasants rose against the monarchy." A Concise History, however, places the events of 1789 in a different context by exploring how the nature of the class system in France and how the nature of that class system, along with a failing tax system and burdening national debt, contributed to the initial revolutionary actions of 1789. I did not always agree with some of Neely's conclusions but the book is well footnoted and, in my opinion, an excellent addition to any history-lover's library.


I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an introductory read about the French Revolution or for anyone interested in 18th century France.

Book News: Upcoming French Revolution releases

I've been on the lookout for some new French Revolution book releases lately and thankfully, among the dozens of sketchy reprints of public domain books, there are a few new upcoming works that look very interesting.

Time and the French Revolution: The Republican Calendar, 1789-Year XIV by Matthew Shaw

Release Date: August 18, 2011

The French Republican Calendar was perhaps the boldest of all the reforms undertaken in Revolutionary France. Introduced in 1793 and used until 1806, the Calendar not only reformed the weeks and months of the year, but decimalised the hours of the day and dated the year from the beginning of the French Republic. This book not only provides a history of the calendar, but places it in the context of eighteenth-century time-consciousness, arguing that the French were adept at working within several systems of time-keeping, whether that of the Church, civil society, or the rhythms of the seasons. Developments in time-keeping technology and changes in working patterns challenged early-modern temporalities, and the new calendar can also be viewed as a step on the path toward a more modern conception of time. In this context, the creation of the calendar is viewed not just as an aspect of the broader republican programme of social, political and cultural reform, but as a reflection of a broader interest in time and the culmination of several generations' concern with how society should be policed.

Revolution and the Republic: A History of Political Thought in France since the Eighteenth-Century by Jeremy Jennings

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Revolution and the Republic provides a new and wide-ranging interpretation of political thought in France from the eighteenth century to the present day. At its heart are the dramatic and violent events associated with the French Revolution of 1789 and the birth of the First Republic in 1792. For the next two centuries, writers in France struggled to make sense of these and subsequent events in French revolutionary history, producing a rich and perceptive analysis of the nature of republican government. But, as Revolution and the Republic shows, these important debates were not limited to the narrow confines of politics and to the writing of constitutions. Such was their significance that they occupied a central place in discussions about religion, science, philosophy, commerce, and the writing of history. They also shaped arguments about the character of France and the French nation as well as polemics about the role of intellectuals in French society. Moreover, they continue to be of importance in France today as the country faces the challenges posed by globalisation, multiculturalism, and the reform of the welfare state. Integrating the perspectives of intellectual history, political theory, social and cultural history, and political economy, Jeremy Jennings has written a study of political ideas that appeals to all those interested in the history of modern France and Europe more generally. 

The Perfect Foil: Francois-Andre Vincent and the Revolution in French Painting by Elizabeth C. Mansfield

Release Date: December 22, 2011

Art history is haunted by the foil: the dark star whose diminished luster sets off another’s brilliance. Relegated to this role by modern historians of Revolutionary-era French art, François-André Vincent (1746–1816) is chiefly viewed in the reflection of his contemporary, Jacques-Louis David. The Perfect Foil frees Vincent from this distorting mirror. Offering a nuanced and historically accurate account of Vincent’s life and work, Elizabeth C. Mansfield reveals the artist’s profound influence on the visual culture of the French Revolution—and, paradoxically, on the art historical narrative that would consign him to obscurity.

By giving us a detailed and faithful portrait of this artist poised at the turning point of history, Mansfield restores a critically important body of work to its rightful place in the story of French art and reorients Revolutionary-era French art history toward a broader, more inclusive understanding of the period.

A New Dictionary of the French Revolution by Richard Ballard

Release Date: January 17, 2012

The French Revolution was a huge, brutal yet inspiring phenomenon that changed global political thinking and action, and its echoes resound even in the twenty-first century. It was an intensely complex mix of events, concepts and individuals and 'The New Dictionary' is an invaluable aid to unravelling its complications, and an essential companion for students and general readers alike. There are over 400 entries covering the main events, personalities, parties, ideologies, political ideas, philosophers, writers, artists, rebellions and wars, as well as touching on colonial and international developments, the interaction of church and state, science, law reform, events in the provinces and overseas territories and the reverberations in other European states. The Dictionary provides a full and vibrant history from the outbreak of revolution in 1789 to the Terror, the Revolutionary state, its wars and the rise of Napoleon. Entries contain much more than just bare factual information: they provide a detailed commentary and include suggestions for further reading - both in print and online - which reference the extensive literature of over 200 years of scholarship and the latest historiography. Cross-referencing is extensive and the index provides reference to minor but important subjects contained in main entries.

Staging the French Revolution: Cultural Politics and the Paris Opera, 1789-1794 by Mark Darlow

Release Date: February 27, 2012

Over the last decade, the theatre and opera of the French Revolution have been the subject of intense scholarly reassessment, both in terms of the relationship between theatrical works and politics or ideology in this period and on the question of longer-scale structures of continuity or rupture in aesthetics. Staging the French Revolution: Cultural Politics and the Paris Opera, 1789-1794 moves these discussions boldly forward, focusing on the Paris Opéra (Académie Royale de Musique) in the cultural and political context of the early French Revolution. Both institutional history and cultural study, this is the first ever full-scale study of the Revolution and lyric theatre. The book concentrates on three aspects of how a royally-protected theatre negotiates the transition to national theatre: the external dimension, such as questions of ownership and governance and the institution's relationship with State institutions and popular assemblies; the internal management, finances, selection and preparation of works; and the cultural and aesthetic study of the works themselves and of their reception.

Book Review: Blood Sisters by Marilyn Yalom

These compelling human dramas -- moving accounts of survival on the cusp of catastrophe - add suffering faces to the canvas of lofty thinkers and fiery orators who dominate the historiography of the Revolution. They tell us what it was like to suffer a miscarriage as the result of a street demonstration, to choose between nursing a baby and following a husband to war, to resist jailers' demands for sexual favors. A tragic note prevails: the sense of having survived when so many others perished often produced what we might now call "survivor's guilt." Their testimonies, Yalom argues, spring from an inner urgency to bear witness for those who were sacrificed on the revolutionary altar. Their writings eloquently attest to the human costs of radical social change. -Basic Books

In Blood Sisters: The French Revolution in Women's Memory, Marilyn Yalom takes a look at the memoirs of women from a variety of social stations, political alliances and ages--maids, wealthy wives, even female soldiers... all of these women were, in some way, affected by the French Revolution. In Blood Sisters, Yalom examines not only what happened to these women, but how they chose to write about it years or decades afterward.

Choosing to look at the actual narratives written or dictated by the women allows Yalom to examine how the women responded to those events, and how they wanted to be remembered for them. It's one thing to tell the reader about the life of Charlotte Robespierre, and quite another to examine how Charlotte Robespierre wrote about herself.

I can't recommend Blood Sisters: The French Revolution in Women's Memory highly enough. It's a compelling look into the memoirs of women who went through everything from fighting in the counterrevolutionary war to rickety carriage rides through darkened woods, pursued by soldiers with the intent to kill. I wish the book had been twice the size, because I was sad to have finished it!

Giveaway at Hist-Fic Chick: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

Hist-Fic Chick is hosting a giveway of Michelle Moran's Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution! It ends April 1st, 11:59 PST!

Book Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape. 


Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly is a blend of historical fiction, modern teen fiction, with a touch of mystery and time travel added to the mix. It's written in the fast paced first-person perspective of Andi Alpers, with excerpts from the diary of a young 18th century aspiring actress named Alexandrine scattered throughout.

For fans of French history, the story did use an interesting historical angle: Andi, because of her discovery of Alexandrine's diary and her genius scientist father's DNA work, became obsessed with uncovering the real fate of Louis Charles, the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Did he die? Or survive? Her hope that he has somehow lived was amplified by her own guilt over her younger brother, who bore a striking resemblance to the doomed French prince.

While Donnelly's writing is vivid and compelling, the characterization of the main character, Andi, was not as interesting. Andi does not have much to do in this book. Her struggle was mainly an internal one, which, after 400+ pages, got a little tiring. Because of Andi's upbringing, connections, and personal characteristics, most of her external dilemmas were solved for her. The unfortunate result of this is that Andi's story lacks a particular sense of oomph. She doesn't do much other than lounge around Paris and read the diary until very late in the story. I didn't really connect to Andi, because I got no sense of who she was. On the other hand, Alexandrine's story within the novel, though occasionally cliche, was full of action and intrigue and suspense, and you come to care about her life. It's unfortunate, because if Andi's angst was toned down and she was forced to confront more than her angst, I feel that the story would have had a greater emotional impact.
That criticism aside, I do highly recommend this book. While Andi can be a bit tiresome, Donnelly's beautiful prose, interesting historical angle and messages about life, death and grieving were well worth the occasional eye-roll at a too-well-connected main character.

Book Review: The Princess in the Tower by Sharon Stewart

"They want me to remember everything that happened, and to write it all down. Do they think I could forget any of it? My god, do they think I don't wake up in the dark of night, remembering? ... I will give them the account they want. ... But my own deepest feelings I will not tell them. Not for them this story, the real story, of our journey from sunshine to shadow..."

The Princess in the Tower by Sharon Stewart begins in October 1795, as the young princess, Marie Therese Charlotte, is told to write her account of the last tumultuous years of her family's life. She agrees, but is determined only to give them the cold facts, and not her true memoir. The "true memoir" is the book. The reader is then quickly taken back to June 1789, much happier days for the princess and her young brother, Louis Charles. But the days are not so happy for their parents, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, nor for the adult world inside and outside the palace. Although the children are largely ignorant of what's really taking place, and are content to play games of hide and seek in the narrow servant's corridors, the events of the revolution quickly force the harsh reality into their lives. The revolution takes Therese and her family from the glitter of Versailles to imprisonment in the Temple tower, and she must struggle to remain strong as everyone she loves is taken from her - all the while wondering, "Will I be killed next?"

This book was initially published as The Dark Tower, but was republished under its new name as a part of the Beneath the Crown series. The series, intended to be similar to The Royal Diaries, was short-lived - only three books were published before the line was discontinued.

I'm glad it was republished by Scholastic as a Beneath the Crown book, because otherwise I might never have come across it while browsing Scholastic's web pages! I really enjoyed this book, particularly because it was from the perspective of royal couple's daughter and not (as it tends to be) from Marie Antoinette's point of view.

Although the book was similar to the style of books in the The Royal Diaries series, it was not told in a day-by-day diary format, but instead in a series of longer memoir chapters. This was not a problem, however, as Stewart's writing style keeps the events moving and alive. Stewart was able to capture the voice of the young princess as she grows from a childish, somewhat spoiled girl into a teenager who had gone lost everything and everyone in her life.

Naturally, many historical events and characters were simplified or tweaked for this book, because of its intended age range. The only historical change that I definitely did not agree with was Stewart's complete removal of Louis Joseph and Sophie, Marie Antoinette's other children. The book's events began in June of 1789, the month that Louis Joseph died, but there wasn't mention of him throughout the entire book. I admit I'm baffled at completely ignoring their existence entirely, because their deaths, and Louis Joseph's in particular, would have had such an impact on Marie Therese and her family.

I do highly recommend this book, however, because it does provide an intimate perspective on Marie Therese's childhood and personal growth throughout the revolution. I believe that younger and older readers will enjoy this read for the fresh material and different point of view it brings.

Book Review: Versailles by Kathryn Davis

Versailles: A Novel by Kathryn Davis is not your everyday historical epic about Marie Antoinette. It tells the story of the ill-fated queen in a series of scenes and vignettes, supplemented with several poems and play scenes. She begins as a 14 year old girl on her way to the splendid palace of Versailles, and ends as a ghost of her former self, walking up the steps to the guillotine. In between, we learn of her hopes and dreams, her fears, her life as she moves from gilded room to gilded room at Versailles, or breathes the fresh air at her beloved Petit Trianon.

This was such a different read for me. I was hesitant at first, because I wasn't sure that the writing style would hold up for the entire novel, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much the prose sucked me into the world Davis has crafted.

Although Versailles covered her life from birth to death - and after - it did so in a refreshing, experimental way. Unfortunately, the detailed nature of many historical novels can leave the reader feeling dry and overwhelmed. Davis' brief style was very engaging and a completely different take on how to write a historical story. Most of the vignettes were told from Marie Antoinette's point of view, but it never felt stale or static. Davis carefully cultivated Marie Antoinette's changes and growth, resulting in a human portrait of a woman who gained more courage in several years than many will ever do in a lifetime. Marie Antoinette's words were alternatively charming, passionate, witty - and as the revolution waged on, desperate, somber, and finally, haunting.

Unlike a typical historical novel, Davis assumed the reader has a familiarity with the subject. This decision did make for a more lively read, as there didn't need to be additional paragraphs explaining the details of every event in her life. However, this could be a hindrance to those who are not familiar with the history. For example, Davis did not stop to explain that Marie Antoinette had two sons, so the reappearance of "the Dauphin" after he (Louis Joseph) was described as dying may confuse some readers. Davis didn't describe political situations at length, nor did she take much time explaining historical characters... in some ways, felt like a novel for those who have studied her life, or at least the time period. I did appreciate that Davis touched on the subject of historical debate - of course, using Marie Antoinette's witty prose to make her point. Marie Antoinette takes a jab on the speculation surrounding her alleged affair with Axel Fersen: "Nor does it matter, really, if Axel was my lover, in the physical sense at least... It matters to historians, most of them men. It matters to gossips, most of them women. The pleasure is in the speculation... Were we sexually intimate? What difference could it possibly make to you?"

This novel may not be for everyone. If you are looking for a detailed fictional account of Marie Antoinette's life, I don't recommend this book. But if you are hoping to find something new in the world of Marie Antoinette fiction, I highly recommend picking it up!

Book Review: The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley tells the story of Isabelle, a young, third generation lacemaker living in Paris. She is sent to deliver lace to the Princess de Lamballe at the palace of Versailles, but is nearly trampled by courtiers who are in a mad rush to see the queen. It is the queen herself who comes to Isabelle's rescue, and invites her to play with her own daughter, the princess Marie Therese Charlotte. Isabelle is invited to return to the palace each day, and she enjoys the luxury and privilege only afforded to a select few in France.

But Isabelle begins to struggle with the complete opposition of her two separate lives. At Versailles, she is the playmate of a princess. She is dressed in fine clothing, and fed more food at one royal supper than her family eats in several weeks. in Paris, she lives in a small home with her mother and grandmother, both of whom need more and more help to keep up with the tedious and even painful task of making the fine laces that drip from the gowns at Versailles.

As revolution brews in Paris and at court, Isabelle herself begins to wonder: Is it fair for some to live in luxury, while others mere miles away starve to death?

This is one of my favorite youth novels set during the French Revolution. The focus on Marie Antoinette's daughter was a pleasant change from the flood of Marie Antoinette in fiction, as was the inclusion of Ernestine, an actual girl that Marie Antoinette raised alongside her real daughter. Brubaker greatly surprised me by not relying on stereotypes or black and white morality when approaching the subject of the revolution. It's a very refreshing change from typical youth fiction set in this time period! She does not condemn any particular point of view, and allows Isabelle - and the reader - to make their own judgments about the revolutionaries, the royal family, and the revolution itself.

My only complaint about this novel is that the ending seemed strangely quick and abrupt. I wonder if perhaps Brubaker was told to "wrap things up" by an editor and condense the last events of the novel into a few brief pages, because the rest of the book was written at a nice pace, even for adult readers.

That small complaint aside, I can't recommend this book more highly for youth or adult readers. It really seems like one of "those" books that gets a younger reader more interested in history, and I truly hope it will be!

Fiction: The Revolution

The Frenchwoman by Jeanne Mackin

"As a seamstress in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette, Julienne marries a young officer who fought with Lafayette in America, and when he dies, she flees to Pennsylvania where Royalists try to recreate their lives in France."

Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors

The noblewoman Gabrielle de Montserrat, married off to an abusive rich husband, becomes entangled in the court of Louis XVI, and caught between her current status and her former love, now a lawyer on the Revolutionary Tribunal, as the Revolution forms around them.

The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent

The story of Claudette, dollmaker who is lured into revolutionary intrigues and dangerous friendships after returning home to Paris when the queen herself requests a meeting to discuss Claudette's exquisitely made dolls.

In the reign of terror : the adventures of a Westminster boy by G.A. Henry

A young adult historical novel about (you guessed it) the adventures of a Westminster boy during the French Revolution.

Bluebird; or, the Invention of Happiness by Sheila Kohler.

"A tale based on the life of an eighteenth-century aristocrat finds Frenchwoman Lucy Dillon using her beauty and wit to gain entry into [exclusive] circles ... and struggling to protect her family during the Revolution when her contemporaries, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, are executed."

The Glass-Blowers by Daphne de Maurier

"... The tale of the Busson family, master glass-blowers ... leading up to and through the French Revolution. Told through the POV of Sophie, [a daughter] as she looks back on her life ..."

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
A historical fantasy about a 14 year old voice-thrower and mind reader, whose life is torn apart by the French revolution. His life is intertwined with a debt-ridden marquis, his daughter, and a dangerous count.

The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner

A sequel to The Red Necklace. Yann returns to France in 1794 to smuggle out aristocratic refugees, while dealing with a thwarted marriage, strange kidnappings, and the violence of the Revolution.

Dish Taken Cold by Anne Perry
Just days before the French Revolution, Celie’s baby dies when her friend leaves the baby alone to meet her lover. Later, amidst the Prussian invasion of Paris and the height of the bloody terror, Celie learns the true meaning of revenge.

City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge PIercy
"Depicting the experiences of three brave women – Clair, an actress; Manon, wife of a bureaucrat with her own mind for politics; and Pauline, owner of a chocolate shop – Piercy explores the human reality of the French Revolution, bringing to life the immense role women played in bringing down the monarchy. Their three stories are deftly braided with the lives of three men – the incorruptible Robespierre, the opportunistic Danton and Nicolas Caritat, an academician trying to walk the high wire between old and new."

The Eight by Katherine Neville
"A young novice during the French Revolution risks her life to keep a jeweled chess set that Moors gave Charlemagne, and in the 20th century, a computer expert and a chess master try to solve its mystery."

This Splendid Earth by V.J. Banis
"When the vintner de Brussac family must flee after supporting the royalty during the French Revolution, its members take cuttings from the vineyard to California and build a wine empire."

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
A classic tale of adventure and drama, the Scarlet Pimpernel follows hunt for a mysterious man who saves aristocrats from the guillotine during The Terror in Revolutionary France.

Vindication: A Novel by Frances Sherwood

"Publication of A Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792 made Mary Wollstonecraft the most famous woman in Europe." This compelling fictional biography narrative tells the embellished story of her life.

Non-Fiction: The French Revolution (Misc Topics)

The Fall of the Monarchy

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette During the Revolution by Nesta Webster *

The second volume of Webster's excellent dual biography of the king and queen before and during the Revolution.

The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes by Stanley Loomis

An account of the relationship of Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen, with a major focus on his role in the plan for the royal family's escape which was fatally cut short in Varennes.

The Road from Versailles: Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the Fall of the French Monarchy by Munro Price

Munro Price, a specialist on 18th century France, uses memoirs, diaries, and official documents to discuss the true intent of Louis XVI regarding the revolution in France. An exhaustively research study of the diplomatic history of the fall of Louis XVI.

Threshold of Terror: The Last Hours of the Monarchy in the French Revolution by Rodney Allen

A detailed picture of the final hours and collapse of the French monarchy following the attack on the Tuileries Palace on August 10th, 1792.

Traumatic Politics: The Deputies and the King in the Early French Revolution by Barry M. Shapiro

Shapiro addresses a classic question about the failure of constitutional monarchy in France with fresh insights from trauma research - he explores the logic and illogical of political decision making in stressful times.

When the King Took Flight by Timothy Tackett

Tackett skillfully shows how the infamous failed flight of Louis XVI and the royal family, which both destroyed his public image and inspired fear of foreign invasion in France, led to the eventual victory of racialism in revolutionary France.

Women and the French Revolution

Liberty: The Lives and Times of Six Women in Revolutionary France (P.S.) by Lucy Moore

The public and private lives of six women in Revolutionary France.

Rebel Daughters: Women and the French Revolution (Publications of the University of California Humanities Research Institute) by Sara E. Melzer and Leslie W. Rabine

A collection of essays examining the important and paradoxical relation between women and the French Revolution.

Women's Rights and the French Revolution by Sophie Mousset

A biography of Olympe de Gouges, who published "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen in 1791 and was silenced for her actions.

Women and the Limits of Citizenship in the French Revolution (Donald G. Creighton Lectures) by Olwen H. Hufton

An analysis of the female reaction to revolutionary policy and the male authority's perceptions and misconceptions of women, and how those perceptions limited women in revolutionary society.

The Women of Paris and Their French Revolution (Studies on the History of Society and Culture) by Dominique Godineau

An illumination account of female revolutionaries, the common women who struggled to live while still finding time to demonstrate, participate in assemblies, and fight for recognition as citizens.

Blood Sisters: The French Revolution in Women's Memory by Marilyn Yalom

A thoughtful, heavily quoted, feminist analysis of the French Revolution.

Women and the Public Sphere in the Age of the French Revolution by Joan B. Landes

"This is an outstanding scholarly work by a well-respected scholar of Old Regime France and the role of women in history. ... One of the purpose of this book is to explore the power of rhetoric and the (lack of) influence women were able to exert in pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary France."