A place for friends to meet... with reflections on politics, history, art, music, books, morals, manners, and matters of faith.
A blog by Elena Maria Vidal.
"She was not a guilty woman, neither was she a saint; she was an upright, charming woman, a little frivolous, somewhat impulsive, but always pure; she was a queen, at times ardent in her fancies for her favourites and thoughtless in her policy, but proud and full of energy; a thorough woman in her winsome ways and tenderness of heart, until she became a martyr."
"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."
"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."
~Edmund Burke, October 1790
A Note on Reviews
Unless otherwise noted, any books I review on this blog I have either purchased or borrowed from the library, and I do not receive any compensation (monetary or in-kind) for the reviews.
Sir, I beseech you for all the love that hath been
between us, and for the love of God, let me have justice. Take of me
some pity and compassion, for I am a poor woman, and a stranger born out
of your dominion. I have here no assured friends, and much less
impartial counsel…
Alas! Sir, wherein have I
offended you, or what occasion of displeasure have I deserved?… I have
been to you a true, humble and obedient wife, ever comfortable to your
will and pleasure, that never said or did any thing to the contrary
thereof, being always well pleased and contented with all things wherein
you had any delight or dalliance, whether it were in little or much. I
never grudged in word or countenance, or showed a visage or spark of
discontent. I loved all those whom ye loved, only for your sake, whether
I had cause or no, and whether they were my friends or enemies. This
twenty years or more I have been your true wife and by me ye have had
divers children, although it hath pleased God to call them out of this
world, which hath been no default in me…
When ye had
me at first, I take God to my judge, I was a true maid, without touch
of man. And whether it be true or no, I put it to your conscience. If
there be any just cause by the law that ye can allege against me either
of dishonesty or any other impediment to banish and put me from you, I
am well content to depart to my great shame and dishonour. And if there
be none, then here, I most lowly beseech you, let me remain in my former
estate… Therefore, I most humbly require you, in the way of charity and
for the love of God – who is the just judge – to spare me the extremity
of this new court, until I may be advised what way and order my friends
in Spain will advise me to take. And if ye will not extend to me so
much impartial favour, your pleasure then be fulfilled, and to God I
commit my cause! (Read more.)
Marie-Antoinette "en gaulle" by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun
#1 in Kindle Biographies of Royalty!
Marie-Antoinette, Daughter of the Caesars: Her Life, Her Times, Her Legacy
An Audible Bestseller
Marie-Antoinette, Daughter of the Caesars: Her Life, Her Times, Her Legacy
An Amazon Bestseller
Trianon: A Novel of Royal France
My Queen, My Love: A Novel of Henrietta Maria
Available from Amazon
The Saga of Marie-Antoinette's daughter, Marie-Thérèse of France
A Novel of the Restoration
In Kirkus Top 20 for 2014! And #1 in Kindle Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
"In every Eden, there dwells a serpent . . . ."
#1 in Kindle History of France!
The Night's Dark Shade: A Novel of the Cathars
Listen to Tea at Trianon Radio
All about Marie-Antoinette!
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East of the Sun, West of the Moon
St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
"...Bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters. Give ye a sweet odor as frankincense. Send forth flowers, as the lily...and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works." —Ecclesiasticus 39:17-19
The fact that a link is provided here in no way constitutes an endorsement of everything on the other end of the link.
Comments Policy
Comments are moderated. If a comment is not published, it may be due to a technical error. At any rate, do not take offense; it is nothing personal. Slanderous comments will not be published. Anonymity may be tolerated, but politeness is required.
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