The author is lady antonia fraser, who has completed novels, biographies, and some nonfiction. She began with mary queen of scots 1969 and followed it with cromwell. Nov 06, 2015 antonia frasers bestselling 2010 memoir must you go. Louis literary award, and medal of the historical association 2000. Womens lot in seventeenthcentury england, the warrior queens, and the six wives of henry viii. She has received the wolfson history prize, the 2000 norton medlicott medal from britains historical association, and the enid.
The focus is firmly on antonia fraser s love of history and what history means to her. A fascination that began with reading our island story and her evacuation to an elizabethan manor house at the beginning of the second world war soon developed into an enduring passion, becoming, in her own words. Anne boleyn is absolved of everything but a sharp tongue and an inability to produce a male heir. Books by antonia fraser author of marie antoinette goodreads. My history lady antonia fraser novelist, historian, daughter of progressive aristocrats, and dame of the british empirefirst fell in love with history in 1936 at the age of five, when she received a copy of h. The several i have read are engaging, impeccably researched and on occasion and appropriately laugh out loud funny warrior queens. Nov 12, 2002 antonia fraser has written many acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. Antonia fraser s lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the reader not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, but also in the unraveling of an era.
Internationally bestselling historian antonia frasers new book brilliantly evokes one year of previctorian political and social history the passing of the great reform bill of 1832, an eventful and violent year that featured riots in bristol, manchester and nottingham. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Antonia frasers most popular book is marie antoinette. A scholarly yet evocative voyage into the life, loves and death of a colourful catholic princess somewhat maligned by history, it introduced many of the themes and variations that recur throughout antonia. Antonia fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works, including the biographies mary, queen of scots a 40th anniversary edition was published in may 2009, cromwell.
She was married to hugh fraser from 1956 until their divorce in 1977. Antonia fraser is married to the playwright harold pinter and lives in london. Antonia fraser was born on august 27, 1932 in london, england as antonia margaret caroline pakenham. Author antonia frasers complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. King charles ii by antonia fraser 19790801 jan 1, 1754. The book begins and ends with her passion for the story of mary, queen of scots antonia fraser finally had her own book about the unfortunate young queen published in may 1969.
Married in mere girlhood, this essentially lighthearted child was thrust onto the royal stage and. Antonia fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works including the biographies, cromwell. English biographer antonia fraser dbe is something of a paragon. She is the recipient of many literary awards, including the wolfson history prize, st.
Since 1969, antonia fraser has written many acclaimed historical works. Andrew roberts is impressed by a superb account of a revolutionary moment in british politics. In the past, antonia frasers bestselling histories and biographies have focused on people and events in her native england, from mary queen of scots to faith and treason. She has written five highly praised books which focus on women in history, the weaker vessel.
Lady antonia frasernovelist, historian, daughter of progressive aristocrats, and dame of the british empirefirst fell in love with history in 1936 at the age of five, when she received a copy of h. This book takes the reader on a journey through an incredible life, causing me to laugh, cry and at one point throw the book i was so incensed at the injustices love love love. Antonia fraser has 108 books on goodreads with 215111 ratings. Antonia fraser talks about learning to read fast, editing the pleasure of reading, her favourite childrens books, the book harold pinter kept next to the bed, and alexandre dumas. Antonia fraser s memoir describes growing up in the 1930s and 1940s but its real concern is with her growing love of history. She is the widow of the 2005 nobel laureate in literature, harold pinter 19302008, and prior to his death was also known as lady antonia pinter. She is the widow of harold pinter 19302008, the 2005 nobel laureate in literature, and, when married to him, was also known as antonia pinter. Discover book depositorys huge selection of lady antonia fraser books online. Antonia fraser has written many acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. Before biography was fashionable, antonia fraser made the past popular. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Now she crosses the channel to limn the life of frances unhappiest queen, bringing along her gift for fluent storytelling, vivid characterization, and evocative historical background. Antonia fraser has 108 books on goodreads with 215160 ratings. Antonia fraser books list of books by author antonia fraser.
Marshall as a christmas present in 1936, antonia frasers deep love of history has been a constant in her remarkable life. When she arrived as a boarder at the godolphin school in 1944, at the age of 12, antonia pakenham who would grow up to be the novelist and historian. A memoir of growing up by lady antonia fraser isbn. Antonia fraser simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Antonia fraser on reading fast, favourite books and harold. She was then married to the playwright harold pinter from 1980. Not the woman herself, of course she was beheaded in 1587 at the age of 44 but the groundbreaking biography written. She was awarded the medlicott medal by the historical association in 2000 and was made a dbe in 2011 for services to literature. Antonia fraser is the author of numerous novels and historical works including marie antoinette, the wives of henry viii, mary queen of scots, and faith and treason. Wolfson history prize 1984, for her book the weaker vessel. Mary queen of scots 1969 is a biography of mary, queen of scots, by antonia fraser.
Since 1969 antonia fraser has written nine acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. Antonia fraser does both and there is a degree of intelligence and maturity in her work that is lacking in, for instance, schamas somewhat superficial recent treatments on the television. For centuries since, she has been the object of debate, speculation, and the fascination so often accorded illustrious figures in history. She began life as the daughter of an austrian queen. Jun 16, 2011 internationally bestselling historian antonia fraser s new book brilliantly evokes one year of previctorian political and social history the passing of the great reform bill of 1832, an eventful and violent year that featured riots in bristol, manchester and nottingham. Antonia fraser picked quite an interesting subject, when she wrote the historical biography, marie antoinette. She is the widow of the 2005 nobel laureate in literature, harold pinter 19302008, and prior to his death was also known as antonia pinter. Somehow antonia fraser writes in a no nonsense way yet allows the reader to hear the music, and the swish of marie antoinettes skirts as she walked through versailles. She has received the wolfson prize for history, the medlicott medal awarded by britains historical association, and the. Explore books by antonia fraser with our selection at. The fascination began as a child and developed into an enduring passion. Nov 12, 2002 the new york times bestselling history of the legendary six wives of henry viiifrom the acclaimed author of marie antoinette. Antonia fraser she is also the author of the memoirs must you go. Antonia fraser does a great job here, outlining the lives and adventures of the kings and queens of england, from the time of the norman conquest.
Antonia fraser s mary queen of scots was published by weidenfeld, like all her nonfiction in 1969 and has never been out of print since. Book tvs peter slen interviewed antonia fraser in london about the political crisis in england in 1832 and the late playwright harold pinter. Mary, queen of scots by antonia fraser, paperback barnes. Antonia fraser is the author of many internationally bestselling historical works, including love and louis xiv, mary queen of scots, and marie antoinette, which was made into a film by sofia coppola. As she states in her authors note, fraser aims to test the truth or falsehood of the many legends on mary and to set her in the context of the age in which she lived. Born antonia margaret caroline pakenham on 27 august 1932. The new york times bestselling history of the legendary six wives of henry viiifrom the acclaimed author of marie antoinette. The book sparked a passion that, thirty years later, inspired her to write the acclaimed biography mary, queen of scots. Three highly praised books focus on women in history. Dec 06, 2015 when she arrived as a boarder at the godolphin school in 1944, at the age of 12, antonia pakenham who would grow up to be the novelist and historian lady antonia fraser, dame of the british.
Aug 12, 2015 antonia fraser talks about learning to read fast, editing the pleasure of reading, her favourite childrens books, the book harold pinter kept next to the bed, and alexandre dumas. She and her husband, harold pinter, live in london. The era, beginning with the accession of william iv, is evoked in the novels of trollope and thackeray. She is also famous for her jemima shore series of mysteries. She was previously married to harold pinter and hugh charles patrick joseph fraser. My history lady antonia frasernovelist, historian, daughter of progressive aristocrats, and dame of the british empirefirst fell in love with history in 1936 at the age of five, when she received a copy of h. She is best known for history books, biographies and detective stories.
Lady antonia margaret caroline fraser, ch, dbe, frsl nee pakenham. Her biographies are best sellers mary queen of scots that get made into movies by the hollywood elite marie antoinette. Lady antonia margaret caroline fraser ch dbe nee pakenham. Lady antonia fraser, cbe born 27 august 1932, nee pakenham, is an english author of history and novels, best known as antonia fraser for writing biographies and detective fiction. Antonia fraser has also written eight crime novels and two books of short stories featuring jemima shore investigator. Antonia frasers perilous question is a dazzling recreation of the tempestuous twoyear period in britains history leading up to the passing of the great reform bill in 1832, a narrative which at times reads like a political thriller.
She is a writer, known for jemima shore investigates 1983, tales of the unexpected 1979 and armchair thriller 1978. She is also the author of two memoirs, must you go. Under antonia frasers intent scrutiny, catherine of aragon emerges as a scholarqueen who steadfastly refused to grant a divorce to her royal husband. Antonia frasers bestselling 2010 memoir must you go. Marie antoinette is probably the most famous and memorable lady in french history, bar none. Sep 09, 1984 in her marriage certificate, antonia fraser is therefore immortalized as lady, writer, which one could consider as a progressive and apt description. Our chief of men, king charles ii and the gunpowder plot cwa nonfiction gold dagger.
We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Lady antonia was the daughter of the 7th earl and countess of longford. Antonia fraser by snowman, daniel history today, vol. Not the woman herself, of course she was beheaded in 1587 at the age of 44 but the groundbreaking biography written by lady antonia fraser in 1969. Antonia fraser, a popular historian, has delved into archives across europe to unravel the true story of the plot by fanatical roman catholics to blow up the houses of parliament and king james i at the opening of parliament in 1605. Antonia fraser is the author of numerous novels and historical works. Frances iconic queen, marie antoinette, wrongly accused of uttering the infamous let them eat cake, was alternately revered and reviled during her lifetime. In her new memoir, my history, fraser turns the clock back. Faith and treason by antonia fraser and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Antonia frasers lavish and engaging portrait of marie antoinette, one of the most recognizable women in european history, excites compassion and regard for all aspects of her subject, immersing the reader not only in the comingofage of a graceful woman, buaimedt also in the unraveling of an era. A 40thanniversary edition of the book was published in 2009. See all books authored by antonia fraser, including marie antoinette.
Antonia fraser s most popular book is marie antoinette. This is an extremely well done volume, fun to read, with. She is editor of the series kings and queens of england. Under antonia fraser s intent scrutiny, catherine of aragon emerges as a scholarqueen who steadfastly refused to grant a divorce to her royal husband. And of course its not just a history of england that we are reading here, from time to time it was also a history of the known world there were times when if england didnt own another country. In her marriage certificate, antonia fraser is therefore immortalized as lady, writer, which one could consider as a progressive and apt description. Aug 23, 2002 before biography was fashionable, antonia fraser made the past popular. Antonia fraser audio books, best sellers, author bio.
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