The French Revolution is one of the great seismic events of global history. A devouring conflagration of bloodshed, violence and utopianism, it changed France and then latterly the whole of Europe forever. Yet, amidst the panoply of colossal, colourful names that defined this cataclysmic event, few have endured as iconically as that of Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who has in many ways come to embody the revolution in the popular imagination. Yet, from the moment of her arrival from Austria at the tender age of fifteen, Marie Antoinette was a contentious figure in France, with rumours circulating throughout her life of her insatiable sexual appetite and frivolity, her sapphic proclivities, and even her vampirism. But who was the real Marie Antoinette – voraciously decadent ‘it’ girl and snob or a well-meaning but naive scapegoat? Under what circumstances did she come to marry the Dauphin, the future Louis XVI, and to what extent did she truly spark the French Revolution, with her calls to “let them eat cake!”?
Join Tom and Dominic for the first instalment of their magnificent sweep through the outbreak and first years of the French Revolution, as they discuss the early life and character of one of its most celebrated and lambasted figures – an icon of style, a beacon of whimsical, bucolic giddiness, a rapacious monster – Marie Antoinette.
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Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett
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FIRST AO EXCITED THATS ALL I HAVE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE!🎉
How about publishing the last part on the the consequences of the Little Bighorn before starting this one. Just a thought.
Hello everyone!
Just to let you know, the last Fall of the Sioux episodes will be out in the coming weeks.
We wanted to ensure that the French Revolutions episodes are released as video around the same time as the audio version.
All the best,
The Rest is History Team.
Let's go! Been watching lectures on Robbespierre recently, the boys are off to the tennis court!
Frog is back on the menu, boys!
Given Marie Antoinette’s appearance at the long-running saga that was the Olympic Opening Ceremony, I think we can consider your proposition that she stands (in the popular mind) for the Revolution well and truly proved! Ps read Citizens when doing a historiography on the Terror at A-Level, such a good book!
Thank you for uploading this! Can you tell me if the RIH subscription club is purely audio or is it video like this? Thank you!
Wonderful chaps.
Initially concerned that with talk of cake and bourbons, cats and dolphins, TRIH had gone to the dogs.
There's something poetic about £1-10 croissants and concern that the plebs are eating their burgers in brioche buns.
The most horrifying future event I can imagine from this so far isn't The Terror, but the fact that with such "liberal" clothing, bowlers would be bowling underarm this very day!!
Greek mythology was created during the Greek Republic era. Christ was born during the height of the Roman empirical period. He was referred to as King of Kings. If humans are left to their hubris, humans will create strange concepts of deities. Our present times are displaying some Greek Republic Era cultures. The USA considered the superpower can not seem to deal with delusional concepts such as transgenderism, wokeness, and entitlement. It is being copied by other democratic nations. Perhaps Louis 16th is paying hubris of his grandfather Louis 14th (Sun King). Our genes change by foods consumed by grandparents, so does our characters.
'Citizens' by Simon Schama was a bore fest – the first book I ever left unfinished. I had hoped as it was described as a chronicle of the French Revolution it would make a good introduction. Disappointing.
I'm reading war and peace at the moment. Very fitting topic for me. Thanks lads 👌
Let them eat brioche
Her true words? What was the real quote? I couldn’t catch
Good to see another episode back on YouTube!
It has always struck me that the truly toxic element of the revolution was the 'fresh new day' element of enlightenment philosophy. The demand to constantly make the world anew seems to lead directly to the greater bloodbath and make any constructive governance impossible.
Though it takes place some years after the revolution, I love Marat/Sade (especially the brilliant RSC film production) as an elegant but brutal assessment of the historical moment.
Marie Antoinette is just like Ann Boleyn , wrong place , wrong time in a world dominated by men , be it male heirs or revolution , timing was everything , in fact , it still is
But if you ever go to Versailles, look at her cottage, all the buildings, and if you believe the accounts of the suffering peasants in a Paris burbling with filth, poverty, and disease, it all makes perfect sense, regardless of the particulars of her daily behaviors.
Wonderful analysis. Enjoying it immensely.
I'd love to hear Tom's comments on the Drag Queen Last Supper!
The French royals were as bad as the Tories. Their demise is a cautionary tale for all entitled scumbags in power.
Poor Marie! If Louis had been more decisive in trying to quell the revolution at its start. And cut all that spending at Versailles! Good grief! But as an American we are indebted to France for their help in the revolution war against Britain. Sad that it would cost their kings head & queen. Viva la France! 🇫🇷
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I love how Dominics got all his books facing forward😂
Now we're talking!
Check out the book Marie Antoinette's Watch – fascinating.
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