When I opened this book and in just the list of the people we were going to be meeting in the book Nancy Goldstone said that Marie Antoinette’s second son was fathered by Count Fersen I immediately began to suspect this book was not going to be the best historically. This is not the frame of mind you want to put your reader in before they have even begun to really read it. It did not get better from here.
I started reading this because while I have read and studied the French Revolution, so I am familiar with Marie Antoinette, I know very little about her mother and other family. My back was up and reading it I was unsure how much of what I was reading was true history or was Nancy pushing her opinion of the history. I really began to dislike the book and the manner that she handled matters when I read the fact that Nancy Goldstone decided to retroactively diagnose Louis XVI with autism. This is not what historians do. There is hesitancy and vigorous debate to even retroactively diagnose Winston Churchill with depression and we have a multitude of his writings that we can read, and people alive who knew him in their living memory. But to read things like "The fact that a healthy, intelligent, twenty-three-year-old male had to have the mechanics of intercourse explained to him would again seem to indicate some form of autism,” when you also have cultural explanations all the way up through the 18th and even some into the 19th century of sheltered men and women not having sexual intercourse explained to them is disgraceful. Marie’s own sisters had no idea what would happen during sex when they were sent off to be married, but Nancy doesn’t try to diagnose them with autism.
Then we get to the kicker that even though there is no evidence Nancy has decided to believe the propaganda against Marie Antoinette that she had a son with Count Fersen. “Fersen, who would remain the queen’s lover until her death, and who stayed with her many nights, both at the Petit Trianon and Versailles, was almost certainly the father of this child(Louis XVII).” There is no genetic proof, no written proof, nothing to say that he was the father of her child. Just her deciding because they were around each other, he’s the father.
This book was a disappointment to me. I would love to know more about the Hapsburg Empire and love to know more about female rulers, but I can not trust what I read in it. I would not recommend it to anyone to read because you will not know if you are reading historical fact or the authors opinions, which should not be put in a historical text without a disclaimer that it is nothing but an opinion. Thank you to NetGally and Little, Brown and Company for the copy of this book.

First line: It was a little after ten o’clock and darkness had only just fallen on this, the evening before the longest day of the year.

Summary: Maria Theresa was empress of the Austrian Empire and the mother of Marie Antoinette. But she was so much more than that. She ruled over a large portion of Europe, married her children into many of the monarchies of Europe and fought to keep her country from falling into the hands of Frederick the Great. She had a large family. Several of her daughters took after their mother in that they ruled over their kingdoms with strength and intelligence.

My Thoughts: I knew the name Maria Theresa before reading this but knew very little about her other than her connection to Marie Antoinette. As the oldest surviving daughter and therefore the heir of Emperor Charles VI. Even though her father fought hard to make sure his daughter would get her inheritance it was not easy for her. She constantly was battling others who saw her as an easy target. I found her fascinating. Her husband was the figurehead as the emperor but she was the real power and brains behind it all. And she did it all while having a large family.

As the author continued on we looked into the lives of three of her most prominent daughters; Maria Christina, Maria Carolina and Maria Antonia. I enjoyed learning about these women and the lives they led. They definitely learned a lot from their mother about state craft and image. Even though each one experienced some sort of tragedy in their lives they did it with the dignity that their mother instilled in them.

The one issue I had with the book was how some parts were written. I know this was intended for a general audience which is fine with me. I prefer my non-fiction to read like fiction but there were some parts that just did not flow right. At one point she compares Maria Theresa with an elementary student and her husband as a high school student. It was just out of place. But in all I really found this to be informative and interesting all the way until the very last page.

FYI: Very large book but worth every page.

Another excellent narrative nonfiction work by Goldstone. It's hard to write about multiple people and still present the necessary depth of information necessary to be a successful history writer but Goldstone threads that needle very well. This is not academic history writing but for readers who are looking for well researched but easily readable history, this will be an enjoyable read. Goldstone does speculate based on historical evidence but I thought she was pretty clear when she was speculating and why rather than stating that her speculations were proven fact.

The Historical Novels Review, November 2021:

Maria Theresa—Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria—was one of Europe’s greatest leaders of the 18th century. She brought unprecedented improvements that benefited all her subjects. Even Frederick the Great had to admit that she “executed plans worthy of a man of genius.” While being fully involved in governing and overseeing many wars including the Seven Years’ War, Maria Theresa gave birth to 16 children in 20 years, eleven daughters and five sons. The author focuses on Maria Theresa and three of her daughters, Maria Christina, Maria Carolina, Maria Antonia (Marie Antoinette). Maria Theresa arranged marriages for all her children that would benefit the Empire.

Maria Christina along with her husband Albert of Saxony successfully ruled the Austrian Netherlands together. She was very close to her mother and was allowed to marry for love. Maria Carolina married Ferdinand IV and became Queen of Naples. Ferdinand preferred to hunt and womanize, so Maria Carolina took the reins and ruled Naples. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she gave birth to 17 children while governing. The more famous Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI, becoming Queen of France. While Louis XVI ineptly ruled, she luxuriated in riches and frivolities, taking a lover once she provided an heir to the throne. We know what followed as the Revolution took hold and spread tenacles throughout Europe.

Goldstone has written a compelling, fascinating history of these remarkable women that is not only a well-researched scholarly work, but one that the average reader can enjoy reading. Writers can find a wealth of topics here, and readers will want to search out historical fiction of these women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read In the Shadow of the Empress and provide an honest review.

Nancy Goldstone is an enormously gifted writer who continues to bring history to life in her latest treasure, In the Shadow of the Empress. Those who have read Goldstone's works previously know that she enlivens the text of her exhaustive research with insightful asides and quips, resulting in an immensely enjoyable reading experience. I live for her footnotes! There is an enormous amount of history covered within the pages and even though I have read portions of these stories many times, Goldstone's retelling is fresh and inspired.

An enlightening biography of Maria Theresa and three of her daughters through war, heartbreak and revolution. It was good to read about two other the other daughters, So much has been written about Marie Antoinette.

I want to thank NetGalley for gifting me the ebook. This book was very informative! I have always tried finding a book about their life's and this one was stuffed full of information! Thank you!

The vibrant, sprawling saga of Empress Maria Theresa—one of the most renowned women rulers in history—and three of her extraordinary daughters, including Marie Antoinette, the doomed queen of France.

That is the blurb on this very interesting look at this Empress and her daughters. And with Nancy Goldstone as the author, I knew this would be good. She has such a way of making Non-Fiction read like the best story you can imagine. Never dull or dry. I adored this book.

This is the story of eighteenth-century Maria Theresa, a strong woman who ruled the entire Habsburg Empire. We also learn about her daughters, who were also strong rulers in their own right. The Governor-General of the Austrian Netherlands, Maria Christina. Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples, and of course, Marie Antoinette, Queen of France and the one you have probably heard the most about.

But all of them were extraordinary. The imagery of the royal courts is well done. The research put into this book is astounding. Reading this was a history lesson inside a story. A story of hope, desire, betrayal, and every hardship one could imagine.

This is one I shall keep and share for a long time.

NetGalley/ September 21st, 2021 by Little, Brown, and Company

Best book I have read in a long time, Nancy Goldstone is a great author and I have enjoyed all her previous books but this is a home run. It takes a period of history not normally covered in general non fiction history books and does a deep dive on all the personalities of the Hapsburg dynasty under Empress Maria Theresa. I was genuinely sad to finish the book because I wanted more.

Nancy Goldstone is one of those authors who has the ability to write non-fiction in such a way that the reader doesn't feel like they are reading a textbook. This book is not a comprehensive biography of these women. It it more of an overarching look at how each woman's life defined, and were defined by, the politics of the world around them. The ever shifting political alliances are enough to make ones head spin and certainly had a definite impact on Maria Theresa and her children. The parts of the book dedicated largely to Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette were very informative and interesting to read but did not reveal anything new. The chapters focused on two of the other daughters, Maria Christina and Maria Carolina were fascinating and rich with content. It was very interesting reading about how the differences in ruling styles and beliefs by their brothers, Emperor Joseph II followed by Emperor Leopold II, impacted their ability to successfully govern and maintain their families' safety. Not only does this book provide context n Maria Theresa's family, but it also showcases the rise to power of Frederick the Great, the French Revolution, and the rise of Napoleon.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

What a complex family and history! The Hapsburgs in the 18th century (and into the 19th) were not only numerous but all over Europe. This book sorts out Maria Therese's daughters and their stories with good understanding of their moments in history. Highly recommend for history buffs.

In the Shadow of the Empress: The Defiant Lives of Maria Theresa, Mother of Marie Antoinette, and Her Daughters by Nancy Goldstone

The author, who previously depicted European royal women from the medieval era and Renaissance, provides a tour de force joint biography of four eminent females of the 18th century Hapsburg dynasty. The dominant and most influential figure is Maria Teresa, unexpected heiress of the Austrian empire—which included Hungary, Bohemia, Silesia, portions of Italy, more. From the outset of her reign, the young empress had to contend with masculine diffidence, or in the case of various military officers, incompetence, while her territories were encroached upon and frequently seized by Frederick of Prussia, whose “greatness” arose from schemes, persistent betrayal of allies, and determination to conquer as much and as many lands as possible. Often he defeated the empress’s forces, but sometimes she prevailed. An adoring wife to a philandering spouse, designated emperor by her design, mother to more than a dozen children (not all of whom lived), intensely Catholic, and reform-minded, she was a powerful influence on the three daughters whose lives are also minutely and incisively examined.

Artistic Maria Christina, “Mimi,” an older daughter, was a favorite of her pleasure-seeking father Francis, and served her empress-mother as helpmeet, confidante, and best friend. Her matrimonial happiness was initially stymied—the man she loved was initially disregarded as unworthy of a Hapsburg archduchess. Once married, the pair were sent off, though not very far in terms of distance, to rule Hungary. After her mother’s death, Mimi’s older brother Joseph—nearly as dangerous a character as Frederick, whom he revered—placed the skilled and diplomatic couple in the Netherlands, where they and their extensive and valuable art collection were potential victims of the radical republican wave flowing from France, and were eventually forced to flee from Napoleon Bonaparte’s forces.

Her sister Maria Carolina had the great misfortune to be united in wedlock to the dreadful Ferdinand, King of Naples. It turned out to be the making of her. As forceful a character as her mother, she succeeded in winning a seat on her husband’s council—by virtue of bearing the requisite male heir—and essentially became ruler in his stead, leaving him to enjoy hunting and bedroom exploits. She found a friend in Emma, Lady Hamilton, the beautiful and scandalous young wife of the venerable British Ambassador, and who enlisted her help in supplying Lord Nelson with ships in his time of need. She bore numerous children, losing several when fleeing an invasion by the French as Napoleon rampaged across Europe by land and by sea.

The most famous, or infamous, is the youngest of Maria Theresa’s daughters, Maria Antonia. Her youthful frivolities as archduchess accompanied her into a new life as dauphine of France, where she became Marie Antoinette. Though the future Louis XVI was neither as uxorious as Maria Cristina’s spouse, nor as repulsive as Maria Carolina’s, he was no great catch—his prospects notwithstanding. Goldstone convincingly makes the case that his awkwardness, halting speech and reclusive habits were indicators of an autism spectrum disorder. Over time he formed a bond with his wife, who, to her credit, seemed capable of accepting him as he was. After the couple ascended the throne, Marie gradually became more serious, even more political, and was a devoted mother. Axel Fersen, her lover, went to extraordinary lengths to remove Marie and Louis from France, relying on the assistance of her two older sisters. His relationship with the doomed queen, the author asserts, was not only romantic but also sexual. She identifies him as the father of her two youngest children, including the short-lived Louis XVII, who died soon after his parents were led to the guillotine.

The family saga is brilliantly rendered, sweeping the reader from the earliest part of the 18th century into the Napoleonic age in the first part of the 19th. Her subjects are presented as women who were tested almost beyond endurance, deeply flawed yet inherently moral and honest, and all too often misjudged. Goldstone’s style is eminently readable and entertaining—this is no dry history—no small feat when covering such a lengthy timeline and the myriad complex relationships, familial and royal and political. She has a gift for connecting events and dates, tossing in reminders of precisely how past actions and decisions affected and relate to what transpired afterwards. Very highly recommended, to the dedicated and the casual reader of history, and anyone seeking proof that royal women were more than symbolic mannequins swathed in velvet and wearing a crown.

(Little, Brown and Co., hardcover/ebook, 640 pp, 21 September 2021)

A nonfiction book about the history of queen Victoria’s contemporaries. I actually really enjoyed reading about this. While it’s non-fiction it actually reads like a novel.