Antoinette's Sister

by Diana Giovinazzo

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Diana Giovinazzo’s Antoinette's Sister is a beautiful and captivating novel that suggests the work of Philippa Gregory. Novels about women forgotten by history spark our interest and imagination. Intrigue, adventure and romance is a great way to start off your new year and reading list!

As Marie Antoinette took her last breath as Queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch—Antoinette’s dearly beloved sister, Charlotte—was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister’s execution would change the course of history—and bring about the end of her own empire.

A Pennie's Pick book club selection.
 
“You are the queen. You are the queen that Antoinette wanted to be.”
 
Austria 1767: Maria Carolina Charlotte—tenth daughter and one of sixteen children of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria—knows her position as a Habsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her cherished sister, Antoinette, whose companionship she values over all else. But not yet. The Habsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte’s older sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and will soon take her place as queen. Before she can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes. After visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Shocked, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality: she must now marry Ferdinand in her sister’s stead.
 
Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband’s regent, Tanucci, a controlling and power-hungry man, has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help—which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man twenty years Charlotte’s senior who is tasked with overseeing the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength to do what her mother did before her: take control of a country.
 
In a time of political uprisings and royal executions and with the increasingly desperate crisis her favorite sister, Queen Marie Antoinette, is facing in France, how is a young monarch to keep hold of everything—and everyone—she loves? Find out in this sweeping, luxurious tale of family, court intrigue, and power.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538720127
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	01/11/2022
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	209,953
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Diana Giovinazzo is the co-creator of Wine, Women and Words, a weekly literary podcast featuring interviews with authors over a glass of wine. Diana is active within her local literary community as the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Women's National Book Association. For more information, please visit her website: dianagiovinazzo.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/15/2021

Giovinazzo (The Woman in Red) offers an exceptional portrait of 18th-century Austria’s Habsburg royal dynasty through the eyes of spirited archduchess Charlotte, who becomes queen of Naples and breaks with France after her younger sister Marie Antoinette’s execution. After Charlotte’s older sister Josepha dies of smallpox, Charlotte takes Josepha’s place at 15 as the bride of King Ferdinand, a weak and immature monarch. When Charlotte gives birth to a male heir in 1777, she is allowed to join Naples’s ruling body, as stipulated in her marriage contract; she assumes control of the kingdom from her disinterested husband, modeling her reign after her ambitious mother, ruler of the Austria-Hungary Empire. With Prime Minister Sir John Acton, her confidante whom she loves deeply, Charlotte creates a legacy of wealth and beautification by cultivating wasteland with olive groves, completing dormant projects for gardens and palaces, and launching French-style salons with artists, authors, and musicians. Then the execution of Marie Antoinette leads a grieving Charlotte to join an English fighting coalition against France. Charlotte also repeatedly snubs the French ambassador and bans the speaking of French, and in 1798, Charlotte sees the fall of Naples to Bonaparte. Giovinazzo vividly depicts a formidable monarch from a turbulent era of European history. This sprawling tale of power, intrigue, and ambition is a winner. Agent: Johanna Castillo, Writers House. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

12/17/2021

As the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire in the 18th century, Maria Theresa, a Habsburg of Austria, wields her children as political pawns to increase her power in Europe. In order to ally with Spain, she arranges for her daughter Maria Carolina, called Charlotte, to marry Ferdinand of Naples. After becoming Queen of Naples and Sicily at 15, Charlotte finds her new husband ill-equipped to be king. Charlotte, however, has been raised to rule, and she eventually gets her chance when she takes her seat on the governing council after giving birth to a male heir. She forges a relationship with Ferdinand and works to institute reforms and bring culture to Naples, despite resistance from some of the nobility. Meanwhile, her more famous sister, Marie Antoinette, suffers in France, and revolution is spreading across Europe. Charlotte desperately tries to rescue her sister and to ally Naples with England and Austria against France, but ultimately fails. VERDICT With a narrative focused on Charlotte and interspersed with letters from her siblings and mother, Giovinazzo's (The Woman in Red) captivating novel highlights the rise and fall of a strong female monarch against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.—Melissa DeWild, Comstock Park, MI

Library Journal

"The political landscape of Southern Italy during the period of the so-called Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is one of the most complex and daunting in the history of the Italian peninsula. But Diana Giovinazzo weaves a clear path for us through the historical minefield in her latest historical novel, Antoinette's Sister. Though the eyes of Maria Carolina Charlotte, queen and de facto ruler of Ferdinand I’s kingdom, we experience the personal struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of one of the most remarkable women of the eighteenth century. A fascinating biographical portrait as well as an engrossing, bittersweet tale."—Laura Morelli, Art Historian & USA Today bestselling author of The Stolen Lady

"A sweeping tale of power, love, and the bonds of family, Antoinette's Sister is a compelling coming-of-age story set to the backdrop of one of the most volatile periods in Europe. Giovinazzo has deftly weaved fascinating and rich details through the narrative, and in Maria Carolina Charlotte, created an endearing yet strong protagonist who must learn the demands of a monarch to save her country from ruin. I couldn't put it down!"—Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of The Next Ship Home

"Diana Giovinazzo's Antoinette's Sister is a fast-paced, dramatic retelling of the life of Maria Carolina Charlotte, Queen of the Two Sicilies. Giovinazzo deftly brings to life this fierce and brilliant Queen, who uses her prowess to become a savvy leader of Naples while trying desperately to save her beloved sister, Marie Antoinette, from disaster in Revolutionary France. With uprisings, love affairs, and plenty of court intrigue, this juicy historical story is like a rousing Philippa Gregory novel, only set under a warm Italian sun."—Stephanie Storey, bestselling author of Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome

"Antoinette's Sister is a feast of royal fiction, full of court politics, international intrigue, family loyalties, and power struggles. And at the center of it all is a determined and fascinating real-life historical woman. Diana Giovinazzo brings Queen Maria Carolina Charlotte to life, as well as the vibrant portion of Italy that she ruled. This book will absolutely sweep you away."—Alyssa Palombo, Author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

"Offers an exceptional portrait of 18th-century Austria’s Habsburg royal dynasty . . . This sprawling tale of power, intrigue, and ambition is a winner."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Philippa Gregory fans will love this story’s mix of real history and drama, made personal with the strong and relatable voice of the queen of Naples and Sicily."—Booklist

"With a narrative focused on Charlotte and interspersed with letters from her siblings and mother, Giovinazzo’s captivating novel highlights the rise and fall of a strong female monarch against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars."—Library Journal

"Rich, fascinating, and informative! Antoinette’s Sister is an alluring, compelling tale . . . of the struggles, sacrifices, hopes, fears, entangled relationships, love affairs, schemes, and treachery that surrounded one of the most powerful families of the time.”—BookBub

"A worthwhile read, and thanks are owed to Diana Giovinazzo. It may well encourage further exploration on the part of the reader, and perhaps other scholarly and creative work in regard to both Charlotte and the history of her kingdom."—New York Journal of Books

"Charlotte is a compelling character, and Antoinette's Sister proves she is worthy to break out of her sister’s shadow."—BookReporter.com

"Giovinazzo does what many historical fiction writers set out to do and few actually accomplish. She plucks a relatively obscure character from history and brings her wholly to life. Charlotte is a fascinating, strong-willed woman, and her struggles to cement her place in the Neapolitan court are compelling."—Manhattan Book Review

"Delivers meaningful, impactful interactions between characters that leave the reader with a sense of deep fulfillment . . . Vibrant."—BookBrowse

"An epic tale of one woman's fight to take control of her circumstances to create the life of her dreams . . . Ms. Giovinazzo has crafted a spectacular story."—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of Tony's Wife on The Woman in Red

"One of the greatest unsung heroines in history comes to passionate life . . . a feminist icon to die for."—Mary Sharratt, author of Ecstasy and Illuminations on The Woman in Red

"Diana Giovinazzo establishes herself as a worthy new voice in historical fiction with this irresistible tale of Anita Garibaldi: firebrand, lover, soldier, mother, revolutionary. Garibaldi isn't just fierce, she's ferocious. Her unstoppable energy propels this novel forward through tragedy and triumph, soaring all the way."—Greer Macallister, bestselling author of The Magician's Lie and Woman 99 on The Woman in Red

"[An] astonishing story of defiance and dedication . . . told in [a] bold and unflinching voice."—Erin Lindsay McCabe, USA Today bestselling author of I Shall Be Near To You on The Woman in Red

"Captivating . . . Giovinazzo adds realistic details to the fast-paced narrative. The novel's focus on a strong woman who defied the odds to follow her heart will appeal to fans of historical fiction."—Publishers Weekly on The Woman in Red

"A finely crafted, exciting page-turner and is highly recommended for readers interested in learning about strong and empowered women."—Historical Novel Society on The Woman in Red

"Entertaining and educational, as well as a wonderful way for readers to meet a lesser-known historical figure whose own life story could very well help influence their own by encouraging others to dig deep within to find courage and bravery."—Ovunque Siamo on The Woman in Red

From the Publisher