 |
| Final Rating: 4.3/5 |
"My blood alone remains: take it, but do not make me suffer long.”
From the moment I read the opening poignant words voiced by Marie Antoinette in her last hours and the author’s explained notable intentions for writing about the doomed woman’s darkest days, I had this unexpected positive feeling I may have found something special. I was right, not only did Marie Antoinette's Darkest Days: Prisoner No. 280 in the Conciergerie end as an impressive nonjudgmental toned narrative that encouraged final reflections about many events (including daring plots of escape and damaging scandals) and presented names from history but it also reminded me of the first non-fiction title I was ever handed many years ago. I didn’t think I would ever find a work about the renowned historic personality that could allow me that special smile of interest I remember experiencing when reading inviting history for the first time. It’s good to be wrong about certain things and through a distinctive delivery of facts and meticulous gathering of historic recorded eye witness accounts, memoirs, letters of importance and various documents- Mr. Bashor definitely allowed Marie Antoinette to come alive before this reader’s eyes once more.
However amusing and highly informative, Marie Antoinette's Darkest Days: Prisoner No. 280 in the Conciergerie asks for a little patience to get to the solid timeline of actions. Its slower pace in certain parts were thankfully few though and interestingly enough, the way this book is fashioned it reads as a novel and its slow reveal of events can easily be imagined to be the personal memories of the condemned. These “memories and observations” are described with vivid details but are pulled from true facts (very few particulars are held back with the somber views of prison life or the violence of the French Revolution). That may sound negative but let me assure those concerned the author offers a delicate respectable approach with certain topics and sections of translated dialogue. Finally I must mention the fascinating trove of drawn maps and photographs of paintings throughout this book which can be honestly hard not to stop and stare at (especially the portraits done by Kucharski) and it may be only me, but I can never turn away from little known fascinating legends (ex: “the queen’s dog”, final quotes, burial sites, the "Lost Dauphin" etc.) with scholarly looks at possibilities if there is any truth behind the colorful stories. Yes it’s all in here and for me this is how history is remembered: with a narrative you can’t put down until you turn that final page.
*I would like to thank Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy Marie Antoinette's Darkest Days: Prisoner No. 280 in the Conciergerie
Title expected to be released: December 1, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment