About

Why was this blog created?
1. The dearth of bizarre personal weblogs on odd niche topics.

2. The dire need for modern advice given through an 18th century French perspective. (The time has come. And the time is now.)

Who maintains this blog?
The blog is maintained by the Mistress of the Web, an appointed and imaginary position. She welcomes your comments and suggestions and all manner of Marie Antoinette lore, info and miscellany.

How should I use this blog?
1. Comment and comment often. There might be prizes.

2. Be respectful. Profanity or outright rudeness will be deleted. Subtle rudeness, however, and elegant verbal smackdowns in a witty 18th century style are permitted and encouraged.

How can I contact the Mistress of the Web?
Your blog mistress would be delighted to hear from you. Possible correspondence can include: pressing etiquette questions, content suggestions and news from the ground regarding topics or trinkets related to the Queen. Alas, she takes criticism poorly, but will suffer your comments all the same, in the great name of Marie Antoinette. Email her at whatwouldmarieantoinettedo at gmail dot com

14 thoughts on “About”

  1. Gideon Querido van Frank says:
    Reply

    I really really love this blog, it’s very cute and clever. But… please stop refering to Marie Antoinette as Marie! It’s so ridiculous!

    Almost every woman in the 18th century had Marie in her name, it’s just a catholic statement. NOBODY called these women Marie, but mostly the name that followed this, thus in the case of the queen of France: Antoinette.
    Intimate friends called the queen Antoinette, and this is the name she called herself (she signed her letters with Antoinette).
    If someone would call her Marie, queen Marie Antoinette probably would think you’d be crazy and mistaken her with the mother of Jesus!
    Apart from this: this whole Marie-thing sounds rather silly, she was the queen of France, not some Southern belle, nor your best friend or some pet.

    On your Facebook it says ‘Marie Capet’ which is, apart from historically uterly incorrect, even offensive to Marie Antoinette. Capet was not the family name of her husband (king Louis XVI), but in order to humiliate him, they referred to him as such.

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    • mistressoftheblog says:
      Reply

      Gideon,

      Thanks for writing. I appreciate your time to look over my blog. I call Marie Marie because this is a modern blog and sometimes it suits my writing style. Of course the queen would not be called Marie. But she also wouldn’t have a blog, a Facebook account or a twitter feed *or* an advice column on sundays (she’s only Marie Capet on FB because they require a last name to register). As you see, I’ve already taken some license just to begin the conversation. I have tried to bridge modernity and history in the best way I know how. I’m very respectful of history and accuracy, and appreciate your care with it as well. I respect your opinion on calling her Marie, but do beg to differ on its importance on my particular blog. It’s much like Sofia Coppola’s use of pink converse sneakers in her 2006 movie, a small fun detail that also made people equally furious that I think most audience members knew was for style not for substance. Some times we like to have a little fun and that’s what I do on my blog.

      I love that we’re debating presenting a historical figure that we both care a lot about. This, of course, is just my blog, and if you have your own blog you can curate it in the way you think fits best. And if you do, I’d be happy to link to it as I do all Marie Antoinette blogs. Long live the queen!

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      • Scholar says:

        Just another note on this,
        There are stories of her husband calling her ‘Toinette’ (affectionately, of course)
        And Louis’ surname would have been ‘Bourbon’ not ‘Capet’
        The name Bourbon was also the name of rulers after Napoleon in France, and also rulers in Spain, Naples and Sicily.
        I love researching about Marie Antoinette and I am doing a research project on how she affected the French Revolution. Are there any interesting points that you think I should include? (aside from the fact that she never said ‘Let them eat cake!’)
        Thanks

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      • mistressoftheblog says:

        Scholar: Thanks also for writing. You likely know that the “Capet” name was applied to Louis and Marie Antoinette during the revolution. She was sometimes referred to as the Widow Capet or Antoinette Capet (Louis was a direct line descendent to the House of Capet). Of course, the revolution’s use of a surname was intended as an insult. But I think some time has passed since all that and I’m comfortable using it for things like the facebook profile I have linked with this page. I do appreciate, though, that a staunch monarchist like yourself might think it still too soon for that sort of frippery.

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  6. Anne says:
    Reply

    Marie,
    At last! I have found a home where people love Marie Antoinette! It pains me to hear bad about her, she the almighty. I love your blog. Keep it up. Thanks. I am being graced with the pleasure of visiting The Great Queen’s Petit Trianon on my trip to France this April. Any advice? Thanks again, Anne.

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