A Washington Post Book World Best Book of the YearWhen her carriage first crossed over from her native Austria into France; fourteen-year-old Marie Antoinette was taken out; stripped naked before an entourage; and dressed in French attire to please the court of her new king. For a short while; the young girl played the part.But by the time she took the throne; everything had changed. In Queen of Fashion; Caroline Weber tells of the radical restyling that transformed the young queen into an icon and shaped the future of the nation. With her riding gear; her white furs; her pouf hairstyles; and her intricate ballroom disguises; Marie Antoinette came to embody--gloriously and tragically--all the extravagance of the monarchy.
#461472 in Books 2010-01-05 2010-01-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .33 x 1.01 x 5.73l; .75 #File Name: 0312355270400 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Our book club read the book and every single member was glad to have read itBy Suzanne WilliamsThe book was a well-written mix of information about Hellman's personal life with descriptions of his business dealings. I'm a long-time Californian who had no clue about the existence or impact of this man. Our book club read the book and every single member was glad to have read it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Highly Enjoyable History of California Business from the 1850'sBy furibonda ienaFrances Dinkelspiel has written a clear and absorbing business history of California; centered on her ancestor; I. W. Hellmann. She paints the raw atmosphere of Los Angeles in the 1850's and demonstrates why Hellmann earned the respect of the land grant ranchers and developing businessmen as well. His famous feat of producing a tower of gold on his front counter during a run on banks quieted a panic. He moved north to San Francisco and; through his marriage to an Our Crowd heiress; did major business involving all the natural resources of the West Coast. She points out his interest in the long view and the remarkable number of his descendants who have become civic leaders today. The bloodlines and the business dealings are clear and entertaining. She has taken a heroic subject and made it her own; which it is. She too is one of his many descendants living in the Bay Area today.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well-written; informative view of historyBy Marjem KalterThis book sheds light on the American West since before the civil war.It's explanation of life in Germany is also worth reading.
