Marie Antoinette

By Stefan Zweig, Cedar Paul (translator), Eden Paul (translator)

Book cover of Marie Antoinette

Book description

Bringing to life one of the most complex characters in European history

Stefan Zweig based his biography of Marie Antoinette, who became the Queen of France at the age of fifteen, on the correspondence between her and her mother, and her great love the Count Axel von Fersen. Zweig analyzes…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Marie Antoinette as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A concise, compelling, and beautifully told story by one of pre-World War II Europe’s finest writers.  Largely based on correspondence between Marie-Antoinette and her mother, Austrian Empress Maria-Theresa, then with the love of her life, Swedish diplomat Count Axel von Fersen, Zweig’s account clarifies the queen’s character development with grace and understanding, and paints a well-rounded, nuanced picture of Marie-Antoinette from her personal pleasures as a mother and lover, to her suffering and courage during the Revolution.  

Want books like Marie Antoinette?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Marie Antoinette.

Browse books like Marie Antoinette

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in France, queens, and Marie Antoinette?

France 921 books
Queens 86 books
Marie Antoinette 16 books