Insieme, di notte, Maggie e Tristan lavorano per ridare vita al giardino abbandonato di lei, presso la costa del New England; e man mano che riscoprono le specie rare soffocate dalle erbacce, che restituiscono respiro ai cespugli e la forza ai rampicanti, liberano anche dentro di sé istinti, emozioni e ricordi sepolti, arrivano a capire il senso della propria esistenza...
The life of Marie Antoinette is explored with unprecedented intimacy and authority in Antonia Fraser's latest work. Known as the extravagant French queen often blamed for the French Revolution, her journey began at fourteen when she was sent from Vienna to marry Louis XVI. This narrative reveals a woman of greater complexity than previously understood. We witness her transformation into a scapegoat of the Ancien Regime, where her minor faults were met with severe punishments. As the youngest daughter of Austrian empress Maria Teresa, she was expected to advance Austrian interests but was more inclined towards philanthropy, particularly in the arts. Despite her lack of interest in state affairs, she faced accusations of political interference and ridicule for her perceived naivety. Longing for a family, she endured over eight years of public humiliation due to her barren marriage before finally giving birth to four children. Fraser intricately details Marie Antoinette's evolution from an ill-prepared girl seeking solace in pleasure to a courageous woman who faced her trial with remarkable intelligence, earning admiration even from her adversaries. This brilliantly written work, grounded in extensive research, avoids both hagiography and misogyny, resulting in a riveting and deeply moving biography.
In her powerful new book, Carolly Erickson brilliantly captures the queen’s voice, her hopes and her suffering. We follow, mesmerised, as she reveals every detail of a remarkable, eventful life – from her teenage years when she began keeping a diary to her final days when she awaited her bloody appointment with the guillotine. An historical entertainment that elaborates imaginatively and whimsically on the actual lives of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, Axel Fersen, and their peers. The Hidden Diary gives the reader the carthartic, visceral experience of reliving Marie Antoinette’s life – as fictionally elaborated. Erickson creates a memorable, sympathetic, vivid image of this Queen that she hopes will stay in the mind and heart of the reader after the book is closed. ‘Writers of historical fiction must tread a fine line between loving one’s protagonists while telling the truth about them. arolly Erickson has executed this balancing act with the same scorching wit and great-heartedness that has always illuminated her biographies.’ – Robin Maxwell, author of The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn. Carolly Erickson holds a Ph.D. in medieval history from Colombia University and was a college professor before becoming a writer. She has written many historical biographies, including The First Elizabeth, Her Little Majesty, and Alexandra.