Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Book Review: Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire


I recently read the biography Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman, and thought I'd give my review of the book. If you are interested in Marie Antoinette and her time period, then this is a must-read! Georgiana, the wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, lived an intriguing life filled with politics, fame, extraordinary wealth, and scandal. She was also, as the book mentions, a close friend of Marie Antoinette. The author does mention that with the onset of the French Revolution, it became increasingly difficult for the two to keep in contact.
Reading Georgiana was almost like reading a novel--I found the story to be captivating and extremely interesting. Amanda Foreman has obviously done her research with this book, because it is filled with all the details you'd want to know. There are plenty of various letters and documents referenced as well, which really give you a peek into the time period and makes it feel all the more "real". And, most importantly, I found this biography to be a very intimate look into Georgiana's life--reading about her triumphs and struggles made her seem like a real woman with human faults, not just a celebrity who lived a seemingly glamorous life.
It should also be noted that this is the book upon which the recent movie, The Duchess, is based on. If you saw the movie and liked it, then this is a must-read book! Although the movie is great, it only focuses on a few select events taken from the book. Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire will give you the full story of this woman's fascinating life.
Buy the book on Amazon.

-R*

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Coming back again

I know it's been forever since I've posted here, but I'd really like to get back into this blog. New posts are coming soon! Look for some book reviews, as I've read some great books that are about Marie Antoinette or her time period in general. As always, if you know of or have any great links/resources on anything Marie Antoinette, please send them my way by leaving a comment! Thanks!

-R*

Monday, August 31, 2009

Interview on costume jewelry collecting

This interesting article was brought to my attention by a reader, and it's worth checking out if you have any interest in vintage jewelry, from any era:
Click here for the interview

-R*

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Jewelry obsession

I love Etsy.com-- I can spend hours just looking at all the amazing things people make and sell on there. One of my favorite things to browse through is the jewelry-you can't beat the handmade pieces for creativity. My latest jewelry obsession happens to be an Etsy find:

These beauties, aptly-named "Marie Antoinette Opulent Earrings with Faceted Glass Jewels", are so glamorous yet so simple. I think they capture the elegance of Marie Antoinette's style just right! They're by designer laralewis for $24.

-R*

Know of any great Marie-inspired jewelry finds? Leave me a comment! (I'm working on setting up an e-mail address specifically for this blog)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

New poll

I have just posted a new weekly poll on the right-hand side of this page--scroll down a bit and you'll see it!

-R*

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Back for the new year

You might have noticed that this blog hasn't been updated in several months. I debated whether or not I should continue with the hiatus or just stop blogging altogether. I've decided, though, to come back to it. Since my last post I have visited Paris for the first time! Visiting that beautiful city was one of the best experiences I've ever had so far, and I look forward to visit again soon. My trip also included a visit to Versailles, which was really one of the highlights for me...it was fascinating to actually "be there" and see everything for yourself. I came back with a few souvenirs: two 18th-century fashion plates postcards, which I will post later because I plan to use them as decoration in some way, and some apple candies...the package said they were made from apples in the King's Garden, and they were delicious! I highly recommend buying these from the souvenir shop there if you ever visit.
That aside, my point of this post is to basically get back into this blog, updating it with anything and everything Marie Antoinette-related! I'm always up for new ideas, so any comments/suggestions on what you'd like to see on this blog are welcome!

-R*

Sunday, September 14, 2008

An entrance fit for a queen

I am amazed at what people can do when it comes to restoring historical places and objects. Just take a look at the photo on the left, of the recently restored Royal Gate at Versailles. I must say it looks pretty magnificent. It is now located in the Palace courtyard for all to see as they enter. The project to restore the gate, which disappeared during the French Revolution, began two years ago and was finally completed in July of this year. The entire project(or feat I should say) cost 9 million Euros to complete, or almost 13 million USD! There are other restoration projects that have been happening at the Palace--you can find out more about them at the official Chateau de Versailles website.

-R*