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.

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Book Review: The Private Realm of Marie Antoinette

I thought I'd occasionally share with you a book review, written by moi, of a recent book I've read about or related to Marie Antoinette. The first book I'll review is called The Private Realm of Marie Antoinette by Marie-France Boyer and Francois Halard (photographer). This book is not a biography, per say, but more of a collection of rare photographs of the various places Marie Antoinette spent her days while queen of France. There are also pictures of some of her personal belongings, like her gambling pouch and her desk. Along with the photos there are descriptions and some pages of text. The book is divided into the different sections of where she lived, including her own apartment and the Petit Trianon. This book is a must if you are interested in not only Marie Antoinette herself, but the architecture and decor of the time. When I read this, I felt as if I was touring Versailles myself! Buy it on Amazon.

-R*