Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French Revolution

Gr 5-8-This attractive book presents biographies of the famous monarchs; a discussion of the French Revolution, including everyday life; and writings from people of the era. The print is clear and readable, and there are many color reproductions and illustrations. Unfortunately, Plain's effort fails in the end because she tries to do too much. All three topics are slighted, and the material conveyed is superficial, barely skimming the surface and omitting much. The book is poorly organized, jumping from one subject to another and back again, and there are several errors. (Just one example: the dauphine is the dauphin's wife, not the female next in line to become queen as the glossary states.) Nothing is available for this age group solely on Louis and Marie-Antoinette. Adrian Gilbert's The French Revolution (Thomson, 1995) is thorough and detailed, and includes time lines, maps, and many visuals. Older readers can use Susan Banfield's skillfully written The Rights of Man, the Reign of Terror (HarperCollins, 1990), which creates word pictures of Louis and Marie-Antoinette that, in a few paragraphs, reveal more than Plain does in several chapters.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Divided into three parts, the books in this series cover the lives of the individuals featured, as well as everyday life and the literature of the times. Interesting facts about society, clothing, housing, food, cosmetics, sports, and other daily activities are brought to life. The books are illustrated with plentiful archival art. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Rulers and Their Times titles: [cf2]Elizabeth I and Tudor England; Isabel, Ferdinand and Fifteenth-Century Spain; Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette and the French Revolution[cf1].] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.