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Sadly, product reviews are still not working for me, so here I am: The Queen’s Confession by Victoria Holt I have always been fascinated by the French Revolution. Ever since I was taught about it in school, I wondered what could lead a people to, one day, decide to take things as far as what happened during those years in France. It was a mixture of factors, from the political, to the philosophical, the religious, the class system, combined with not a little greed and ambition. This fascinating novel offers an insight into the years leading up to the beheadings of France’s last monarchs, from the perspective – mainly – of the woman who became known as Marie Antoinette. When you hear about Marie Antoinette, it’s often about her excesses, her financial mismanagement and the lack of care she allegedly had for the people of France. “Let them eat cake,” she is said to have declared (although there is no evidence that she ever did). It is easy to condemn her, and to forget the human being behind those stories. A human being who was just 14 years old when she was sent from the home she loved to an unfamiliar country that certainly wasn’t ready to embrace her. Holt’s novel is centered around Marie Antoinette’s letters and journals. Whilst the author brings her character to life for the reader, her personality is not pulled out of thin air. The story is a well-researched one, making excellent use of a wide variety of sources. Marie Antoinette was a child when she married Louis-Auguste. The court in France was very different than the life she was used to. She was not accustomed to its strict etiquette, nor the plotting, scheming and constant shifts of power amongst those who surrounded her on a day-to-day basis. It soon becomes apparent that Marie Antoinette is not the evil person she is often portrayed as. She has her flaws. She’s naïve, not very interested in being educated, and she doesn’t consider the impact of her actions as deeply as she ought to. She does mean well, however. She wants to be a good queen, a good wife, a good mother. She wants to make her family proud. Her marriage is an odd one. Louis-Auguste – Louis XVI after ascending the throne – is not the easiest man to get to know. Eventually, however, they form an understanding. Marie Antoinette also manages to make friends at the court. However, the tide turns against her. Awful rumours are spread. Accusations made. The Affair of the Diamond Necklace (in which Marie Antoinette was innocent) especially caused public opinion to turn sour. Marie Antoinette sometimes does not help herself, yet I cannot help but feel some sympathy for her. She was placed in a difficult – some might say impossible – position. I do not know how she could have possibly saved France’s monarchy. At that moment in time I am not sure that anyone could have. What I liked: I liked how well-researched this novel was. The events of the French Revolution are complex and contain many layers, but you do not have to be informed about them to understand this novel. It’s a fascinating read, in which the reader gains true insight into the life and thoughts of France’s last queen. What I didn’t like: There isn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. There were times when I felt some frustration about the characters, but these are true events. There really was all this plotting and scheming. I am glad that I live a much simpler life! I would recommend this book to anyone. It’s a gem.  |
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