Walks Through Marie Antoinette s Paris

After seeing Sophia Coppola’s latest movie, Marie Antoinette—I had an overwhelming urge to do something I hadn’t done in a long time… learn more about the person that the movie was based on.  But how?  Oh sure, I could get on the Internet... but a computer isn’t exactly relaxing and I always end up getting sidetracked with emails.  And lets face it- all of the books out there on historic figures such as this are just too long and far too boring! 

I could always rent a movie or a documentary, but were there any good ones out there?  And would they tell me anything different than Sophia Coppola’s movie?  And if they did, would they tell me everything I craved to know? 

Enter Diana Reid Haig, who previously wrote Walks Through Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris, a dainty hardback book that is packed with all of the most important information about Napoleon and Josephine and their life in Paris.  The book was small, pretty, and best of all- a quick, mesmerizing read.  After finishing the book I was shocked that I actually remembered all that I had read and was eager to tell others little tidbits on the couples’ life. 

Luckily, only weeks after I saw Coppola’s movie, I received word that Haig would be releasing a new book; Walks through Marie Antoinette’s Paris.  What impeccable timing!  I knew that if this new book was anything like Walks through Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris, then it was just the sort of book that I was hoping for.

Indeed, after finishing the last page of Walks through Marie Antoinette’s Paris, I closed the book completely satisfied.  The book answered all of the questions I had, it filled-in the gaps of the movie, and in the end, left me with a finished impression of the life of Marie Antoinette.
 
Walks through Marie Antoinette’s Paris follows the same layout and design as Walks through Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris, but in a different color-scheme (while Napoleon and Josephine’s is red and green, Marie Antoinette’s is blue and ivory).  And, just like Walks through Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris, this book takes readers not just through an abstract journey of the subject’s life, but an interactive physical journey- where the reader can follow one (or all) of the many walks inside which take you to the same places that were dear to the queen.

It is what makes Haig’s books so remarkable.  Authors love covering the lives of historical figures.  But how many actually incorporate this knowledge into a guidebook that has the reader walking in the same exact places the subject once walked?  Haig guides you along, making it seem almost effortless.  She tells you what turns to make, what trains to take, and what to look for.

The other thing that is great about Haig’s books is that they leave you with an overall image of the lives of these historical figures- and quickly.  They don’t take you a month to read, and you certainly won’t ever find yourself ‘forgetting’ that you were in the middle of reading a book.  Haig’s work is concise and to the point, yet completely thorough and very well written.

Perhaps it is the artwork that litters the pages, perhaps it is the fact that I am happy to display the books, or perhaps it is because I am proud to have actually completed a book on a historical figure without falling asleep in the middle of it.  Then again, it could be that Diana Reid Haig has hit the nail on the head for the perfect all-around book; functional for touring, pretty for the coffee table, educational for everyone, and completely memorable.

Here is the moral of the story… you see Marie Antoinette in the movie theaters and you think you know her… but if you only go by what is in the movie then you miss out on some of the most amazing places that were dear to her in her life; you miss her dairy at Rambouillet, you miss her boudoir at the Petit Trianon at Versailles where she had mirrors installed to cover the windows at night (it is rumored that she did this to hide her night-time parties and romps), and you miss the stores that the elegant queen frequented in Paris (yes, Haig even includes the addresses for Marie Antoinette’s favorite shops in Paris). 

After reading Walks through Marie Antoinette’s Paris, you feel as if you have really accomplished something.  You now know this queen.  You know the places that were most precious to her.  And you know you will never forget what you learned because the book is far too pretty to throw away or pass-on to someone else… that and it will only take you a few hours of reading to refresh your memory.  Plus you know that you will have to use it the next time you have a free day to stroll around Paris.

I spoke with the woman behind the books just a short while ago. 
What is the biggest difference between Walks through Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris and Walks through Marie Antoinette’s Paris? I asked.  She stated that while Walks through Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris largely took place inside Paris, Marie Antoinette’s book includes many palaces right outside Paris.  Great motivation for me to get my butt out of Paris and onto one of those trains that Haig so clearly and simply spells-out in her book.  I mean, a ten year old could follow her directions, so why not me?

Seeing as I am now somewhat addicted to Diana Reid Haig’s pretty little coffee table books, I ask, Will you do more books on other historical figures in the future? 
Haig coyly answers, “perhaps” 
Hmmm. 
Perhaps…