Abundance A Novel of Marie Antoinette

MarieAntoinettewasachildoffourteenwhenhermother,theEmpressofAustria,arrangedforhertoleaveherfamilyandhercountrytobecomethewifeofthefifteen-year-oldDauphin,thefutureKingofFrance.Comingofageinthemostpublicofarenas--eagertobeagoodwifeandstrongqueen--shewarmlyembracesheradoptednationanditscitizens.Sheshowshernewhusbandnothingbutloveandencouragement,thoughherepeatedlyfailstoconsummatetheirmarriageandinsodoingisunabletogivewhatsheandthepeopleofFrancedesiremost:achildandanheirtothethrone.Deeplydisappointedandisolatedinherownintimatecircle,andapartfromthesociallifeofthecourt,sheallowsherselftoremainignorantofthecountry'sgrowingeconomicandpoliticalcrises,evenaspoorharvests,bitterwinters,wardebts,andpovertyprecipitaterebellionandrevenge.Theyoungqueen,oncebelovedbythecommonfolk,becomesatargetofscorn,cruelty,andhatredasshe,thecourt'snobles,andtherestoftheroyalfamilyarecaughtupinthenightmarishviolenceofamurderoustimecalled"theTerror."Withpenetratinginsightandwithwondrousnarrativeskill,SenaJeterNaslundoffersanintimate,fresh,heartbreaking,anddramaticreimaginingofthistrulycompellingwomanthatgoesfarbeyondpopularmyth--andshemakesabygonetimeoftumultuouschangeasrealtousastheonewearelivinginnow.