IN THE SHADOW OF THE EMPRESS
THE DEFIANT LIVES OF MARIA THERESA, MOTHER OF MARIE ANTOINETTE, AND HER DAUGHTERS NANCY GOLDSTONE
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 616pp, £25 This biography of Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress, and three of her daughters ‘is a virtuoso performance, Goldman at the peak of her creative abilities’, Gerard Degroot enthused in the As Frederick the Great grudgingly conceded, Maria Theresa ‘executed plans worthy of a man of genius’, but she did more than that. She gave birth to 16 children, who drew confidence from knowing their formidable mother loved them. The fates of Maria Christina, Maria Carolina, and Maria Antonia, all of whom made dynastic marriages, are featured here.
‘The interlocking lives of these formidable women are played out against a turbulent century of social unrest, revolution and war,’ Degroot continued. ‘In describing these familiar political events, Goldstone holds her own against an impressive fraternity of scholars; the depth of her research and the acuity of her insights are outstanding.’ Goldstone, he acknowledged, ‘is fascinated by families’, understanding that behind the pomp and ceremony ‘these monarchs were real people … the way they lived their lives at home shaped how they behaved on the world stage.’ The book’s uniqueness ‘lies in the way these characters are brought to life’.
Kirkus praised ‘a colourful collection of dynamic, prodigiously ‘Goldstone’s depth of research and acuity of insights are outstanding’ researched portraits’, adding that Goldstone ‘is an empathetic biographer’. Indeed, Degroot noted that ‘In Goldstone’s hands, [Marie Antoinette] becomes more sympathetic and complex, a woman who did not deserve the fate dealt her.’ Her difficulties with education suggest that she may have had ADHD, while Louis XVI was possibly autistic, denying Marie Antoinette the affection she craved.
‘Goldstone has a distinctly casual way of discussing these women,’ Degroot noted. ‘Purists will find her offhand manner annoying, but it has an important effect. Described in 21st century terms, these characters become so much more accessible.’ And he noted that ‘the pithy footnotes alone are worth the price of the book’.