Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

Marie Antonia, the youngest Austrian Archduchess knows that her carefree life won't last forever. One day, her mother will decide who she is to marry for political value only. When Antonia learns she is to marry Louis Auguste, the dauphin of France, she struggles to realize the full implications of this decision. When she is declared unfit to become the French Dauphine, work begins transforming the naive Antonia into the French Dauphine, Marie Antoinette. Lessons in French, dancing and walking lessons, painful dental work and boring political and history lessons are dumped on to the young girl. At Fourteen, she is sent to France to marry. This too proves painful, as all things Austrian, including her beloved dog, Mops are stripped from her. She charms her new Grandfather, the King, but fails to make an impression on those most important at court, including Mesdames Tantes, the King's Mistress and her husband. But Marie Antoinette must make the best of her situation.

This first novel in a planned trilogy showcases the young Marie Antoinette, shadowing her transformation from Archduchess to Dauphine. While still so young at fourteen, she shows fortitude and maturity, but lacks a guiding hand. She is almost flimsy compared to the backbiting French Court. Grey does an outstanding job showing Marie's fighting spirit, as well as her kind heart. In an age, where marriage often didn't equal friendship or affection, Marie takes the time to cultivate both with her husband, which is very touching. I enjoyed this novel immensely!!