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In the Shadow of the Empress

The Defiant Lives of Maria Theresa, Mother of Marie Antoinette, and Her Daughters

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In the Shadow of the Empress

By: Nancy Goldstone
Narrated by: Emma Newman
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About this listen

 In the Shadow of the Empress is the sweeping family saga of beautiful Maria Theresa, the only woman to inherit and rule the vast Habsburg empire in her own name, and three of her remarkable daughters: lovely, talented Maria Christina, governor general of the Austrian Netherlands; spirited Maria Carolina, the resolute queen of Naples; and the youngest, Marie Antoinette, the glamorous, tragic queen of France, perhaps the most famous princess in history. Unfolding against an irresistible backdrop of courts from Vienna to Versailles, this epic history of Maria Theresa and her daughters is a tour de force of desire, adventure, ambition, treachery, sorrow and glory.©2020 Nancy Goldstone 18th Century Europe Modern Politics & Activism Royalty Women French Revolution Middle Ages

Critic reviews

Adding wry humor to her lucid narrative, Goldstone clarifies the era's complex politics and pinpoints how these commanding women helped give shape to modern Europe. This mesmerizing history isn't to be missed.
Nancy Goldstone has the amazing ability of taking on huge subjects-in her latest work, she concerns herself with the life of Empress Maria Theresa and three of her sixteen children, her favorite, the archduchess Maria Christina, Maria Carolina, queen of Naples, and the tragic and famous Queen Marie Antoinette-and turning very complicated stories into a thrilling and coherent narrative. Her deep knowledge of the period, her clear-eyed empathy for her subjects and her effortless style makes for a riveting, entertaining and enlightening book.
In the Shadow of the Empress is engrossing historical storytelling, filled with suspense, tantalizing mysteries, intimate family drama, and details of terror, cruelty, courage, and passion, set in the revolutionary cauldron of eighteenth-century Europe.
In the Shadow of the Empress is a virtuoso performance, Goldstone at the peak of her creative abilities... the depth of her research and the acuity of her insights are outstanding. (Gerard DeGroot)
Nancy Goldstone's volume...has much to recommend it...What she does deliver is a highly readable narrative, with plenty of good anecdotes drawn from contemporary memoirs and lively pen-portraits.
Elegantly written... The author deftly interweaves the ups and downs of Maria Theresa's running contest with Frederick the Great with the vicissitudes of her life as Europe's most prolific procreator... a lively account... rich storytelling.
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed this very much, though I found the lack of detail frustrating at times. For example, several references were made to Catherine's chosen King of Poland..but his name was never mentioned.

This is the first time I have read that Louis was probably autistic. I wonder if that is just our modern urge to diagnose and label everyone with something?

I am definitely now interested in reading more about the life of the fascinating Queen of Naples.

Enjoyable

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very well written and equally as well narrated, enjoyable listening for those who like history

enjoyable

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Outstanding work and Nancy’s new research into Louis the 16th being autistic is extremely eye opening and interesting as an autistic individual myself and Nancy is kind enough to respond to emails about her book with such kindness it blows me away, Emma Newman’s narration, the emotions she puts into the chapters is incredible- when she began to get emotional, sad and sorrowful at the horrific end of Marie Antoinette and her family, something I’ve heard/read about most of my life, this version brought me to absolute tears even though I knew what was to come, Emma deserves high praise and an award for her work in this book.

The Narrator deserves an award

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The author frequently fails to name the people, places and events referred to. A few:
A famous architect of Caserta - who?
A famous general -who?
One of the most formidable fortresses -which?
English travellers in Italy, continually quoted but never named.
In a decisive battle - name? Why not name the battles fought against Frederick the Great. I think Wagram was the only one of Napoleon’s to be named. What happened to Austerlitz, was it referred to, hard to know?
It would be so much better to name these than to create elaborate references that frustrate, and make it difficult to place events in a familiar framework.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this history of a well-known European family by an author whose name escapes me.

A very enjoyable book flawed by annoying omissions.

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This well researched book gives a beautiful account of the life of a young Maria Threase, and stands out by looking into some depth the lives and times of Marie Antoinette and Marie Carolina, both the most fascinating of all of the Empress’s children. The author has researched some particularly fascinating little stories from their lives, from Maria Threase being lowered into her husbands tomb in a chair to Archdutchess Elisabeths unfortunate encounter with smallpox, which destroyed any possibility of a a marriage. The story delves into the rapidly changing world of the 2nd half on the 18th century with enthusiasm. The author does not shy away from making some big claims, such as Marie Antoinette’s 2 youngest children being the result of her long standing love affair, brought fourth by the author with such conviction, and refreshingly so, that it made my jaw drop. The book is also written in a way which is a delight to listen to for a modern reader. It flows well, telling a story of Europe during the enlightenment and brings those dusty historical people back to life in an easy going animated way. As someone who has studied the life of Marie Antoinette, I found the author daringly made statements about her, which other authors, including Antonia Fraser, only speculated on, or stayed away from. I personally found this somewhat refreshing, since history can so often be told with too much caution, without looking at the human nature of these people and the times to which they lived. Overall lovely read, would listen again.

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