The Secrets of Marie Antoinette by Marie Antoinette (1985, Hardcover)

While I find it absolutely intriguing to read the letters passed by perhaps the most famous Queen Consort of France to her advisor, mother, and brother, the editor/author (the letters are edited and commented upon,) presents laughable observations in several subscripts. For example, noting "The Empress is showing her hypocrisy again. Notice she says she is done speaking and then goes on..." etc. Pointing out said information is not only REDUNDANT, for it is obvious to anyone with enough sense to drink when thirsty and eat when hungry, and the editor/author further displays, very obviously, his contempt for both Louis XVI and Marie Antionette in several comments and passsages. The tone of animosity towards both monarchs throughout the text leads one to question how much of the editor/author's commentary is truly worthy of print. Given that the text/comments written by the modern author show a disgusting level of bias against both would say to me... if you are interested in the Queens letters, be sure to skip to these parts for the author/editor contributions are despicable.

While I appreciate most if not all historical texts have some bias for or against the persons being biographied, and while I also appreciate that the editor/author published this book almost 25 years ago, being ignorant of more recent discoveries, and even as this unfortunate book was not that written by a contemporary or confidante's account (such as the book by Madame Campan,) SOME level impartiality (especially considering the content was 75% composed by late courtiers and late monarchs more than 200 years ago,) would have given the book a far better review by yours truly.

This reviewer would not insist on a wholly glowing review on the French Monarchy, nor the doomed Marie Antoinette, however, having read many books on the French Revolution, found this one to be one of the most anti-Bourbon books of the modern era.

The end result was an unfortunate pairing of great historical fact (real letters,) paired with an uneducated and ignorant commentary. There are several wonderful books about the fall of the French Monarchy and Louis XVI and his Queen. This is not one of those books.