Abundance receives abundant bookseller praise I've been intrigued with the story of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette for some time, but nothing I've read so far compares with this beautiful new novel by Sena Jeter Naslund.  The way she has taken the raw material of meticulous research and from it sculpted this seamless narrative left me breathless to the last page.  This novel is so graceful and tangible that I almost feel as if Marie Antoinette herself has confided in me personally.  Although I knew from the beginning what the brutal outcome would be, I caught myself urgently hoping towards the end that somehow the queen's disaster could be avoided.   I can count on one hand the number of books I've read that have exerted such a powerful effect. --Jacqueline Hisock, The Three Arts, Poughkeepsie, NY Sena Naslund makes a triumphant return to the historical novel with this fully-realized portrait of Marie Antoinette.   Using superb research and scrupulously confining herself to known facts, Naslund gives us an indelible image of the ill fated French Queen and her role in a tumultuous society. -- Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI Having just finished reading Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund, I am compelled to write to you and tell you how much I loved this work. This 'picture' of Marie Antoinette that Ms. Naslund has portrayed is the one I will carry in my heart forever. I had thought it would be emotionally difficult to enjoy the story knowing full well what the end would bring, but was so captivated by the author's writing and her beautiful portrayal of 'Toinette, that my fear of the end evaporated, as it seemed to for her 'heroine'. I absolutely loved this book and look forward to offering it with love to many, many fellow book-lovers when it is released. It goes without saying that I have nominated it for a Booksense Pick, as it will undoubtedly rise like cream to the top of all national bestseller lists. --Karen Vail, Armchair Bookstore, Dennis, MA I LOVED IT!!  Marie Antoinette's voice is just brilliant - innocent yet self-centered, genuine but so oblivious.  I enjoyed the subtle wit scattered here and there, which balances nicely with the tragedy of the whole situation. Oh, I loved it and couldn't put it down. --Hilary Vonckx, Queen Anne Books, Seattle, WA I am a great fan of historical fiction but not all historical fiction is as well-written as this gem.  Ms. Naslund made me feel as though I had immersed myself in the intrigues of the French court of Louis XV and XVI ... I was entertained and educated simultaneously ...  I know a book is really good when I find myself thinking about it as I go about my workaday life and that happened on more than one occasion as I read this fantastic novel. --Lisa Novak, Atlantic Bookshop, Montgomeryville, PA I inhabited the Queen's dwellings and donned her clothing.  She became my best and closest friend.  I adored her and wanted so much for her life to end well, all the while knowing that such was impossible.  Truth or not, the writer shows through her artistry how the best of intentions and the kindest of hearts can be maligned and misunderstood.  While I would describe it as a book best suited for women, that description does not come with the usual associated disparity.  It is the finest of books, written without manipulation or sentimentality.  Here is an author who comprehends the female psyche, and writes of it with understanding and admiration, as well as unflinching evaluation and pragmatism.  There is in this book an Abundance of joy, an Abundance of beauty, an Abundance of sadness and an Abundance of tragedy.  As such, it is aptly named. --Linda C. Cooper, The Well Read Coyote, Sedona, AZ The story of the little Archduchess of Austria who became Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, is a familiar one, but in Sena Jeter Naslund's hands it becomes a fresh and absorbing tale. Surrounded by those who amuse and use her, this child bride takes pride in her rectitude and ability to charm. She grows into her role, as her husband the Dauphin becomes King and her marriage is finally consummated and bears fruit, but she is also the victim of that role. The focus of her days comes not from service but through increasingly extravagant entertainment and diversions. Little wonder that these excesses fuel the anger of an impoverished citizenry, but Naslund has won our sympathy for the doomed queen in this very richly detailed account, recounted in the voice of Marie Antoinette herself. We are newly fascinated in this historic period by the author's skill in recreating history in this intimate form. As with Ahab's Wife, this book will have a wide audience. --Betsey Detwiler, Betsey's Books And rave consumer reviews, too! Among the many novels on Marie Antoinette recently released, this one swiftly rises to the top. Naslund's prose is clear yet poetic, and she gives a realistic voice to the young queen, creating a more empathetic and complex character than the ruthless aristocrat portrayed in history textbooks. Hers is a tragic story of wasted potential. Abundance is a captivating read, sophisticated and engaging. Naslund hits just the right tone. A must-read for historical fiction lovers. --Deborah (Chambersburg, PA) While I know this work is fiction. Ms Naslund's knowledge of this era is awesome. She brings you right into the story with her opening and keeps you there with her development of the characters. I really did enjoy this book. --Kathy (Dunmore, PA) This was a very enjoyable book. It was easy to read and the story moved right along. Bearing in mind that it was fiction, it was interesting to see the events from Marie Antoinette's viewpoint. --Kate (Youngstown, OH) Abundance was a refreshing look at life within the French court and its politics - what a different individual Marie Antoinette was from the one portrayed in the history books. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what character she will write about next. --Frances (River Vale, NJ) Sena kept her character from falling into the two classic categories -- Marie Antoinette is neither a horrible, uncaring woman nor a silly, shallow girl. She is a person, not just a figment of history, and her story is vividly real and engrossing. --Riley (Elbridge, NY) Beautifully written story about Marie Antoinette and her life in France. I was mesmerized from the first words, "Like everyone, I am born naked." What an awesome opening line! I was fascinated until the very end. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends and my book group as well. Don't miss this fresh vision of one of history's most unforgettable women! --Jeanine (Dallas, TX) Anticipating a good read, I was not disappointed. Having read Ahab's Wife, I knew Sena Jeter Naslund to be a terrific writer. Naslund brings Marie Antoinette to life. The life of the Queen is told in diary form, as if Marie Antoinette is telling a long bedtime story. Even though the ending is well known, it is easy to hope for a happier one. I wanted to cheer for her in her bravery. Though it is taking place in poor, sad and politically difficult times, the book has humor and lightness and brings the eighteenth century alive with its descriptions. We come to understand the decadence of the aristocracy a little better and appreciate the battles the Queen fought with the people who hated her and defamed her with lies. It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. --Laura (Montgomery Village, MD) Abundance, by Sena Jeter Naslund, was the most informative and interesting novel about Marie Antoinette's life that I have ever read. Naslund made this historical figure so very human that you felt you were living and breathing Marie Antoinette's life--from her childhood days in Austria to her final thoughts at death. It broke my heart to experience Marie Antoinette's rejection by the same French people who once welcomed and revered her. Naslund combined research and imagination so that Abundance could not be put down until it was read--cover to cover. I loved this book! --Katie (Dover, DE)