Marie Antoinette's Head: The Royal Hairdresser, The Queen, And The Revolution

by Will Bashor

For the better part of the Queen Marie Antoinette's reign over France, one man was entrusted with the sole responsibility of ensuring that her coiffure was at its most ostentatious best. Marie Antoinette's Head tells the story of Leonard Autie, Marie Antoinette's hairdresser and confidante, the man responsible for the style that made her the envy of France and for the uproar that dragged her to the guillotine.

• ISBN10: 0762791535
• ISBN13: 9780762791538
• Publish Date: 16 October 2013 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Imprint: Globe Pequot Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lianne]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Additionally, I reviewed it as part of a book blog tour in promotion of the title. This review in its entirety was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2014/02/06/review-marie-antoinettes-head/

Marie Antoinette’s Head was a fascinating read, providing a unique and fascinating look into Marie Antoinette’s life and the French court before, during and briefly after the French Revolution through the rise and fall of her hairdresser, Leonard Autie. The French Court in particular feels so cloistered and the paegentry involved so elaborate, the details featured in this novel really brings it to life, which also helps the reader understand a lot of the issues that sprung forth come the Revolution.

Following Leonard’s rise in the French court was just as fascinating. The details about the hairstyles were especially interesting to read; I never quite understood the craze of having the large hairstyles and the wigs and all so it was really informative to learn about them and its cultural place in France at the time.

Overall, Marie Antoinette’s Head is a fascinating read about the famous monarch and the man behind her extravagant hair-dos. The book itself reads like a novel at times and the information presented never feels like an overload. I learned a lot about French culture and the socio-political situation at the time as well as the fascinating figure of Leonard Autie himself. Readers of French history, cultural history and those just curious about the French court and the time of Marie Antoinette in the twilight of the French monarchy will want to check this book out.