The Valletta Design Cluster is hosting a lecture and book signing in French on Marie Caroline of Austria, Queen of Naples and sister of Marie Antoinette, today at 6.30pm. The lecture will be delivered by historian Alain Blondy.
Of all the sovereigns of the 18th century, Marie Caroline was the one who found the least favour in the eyes of her contemporaries and later historians.
Initially praised by the enlightened, she was rejected by them when she vehemently opposed the French Revolution, which took away Marie Antoinette, her favourite sister.
Yet Marie Caroline, daughter of the great empress Maria Theresa of Austria, was a sovereign of the first order: she stood up to the greatest Bourbon of her century (her father-in-law Charles III of Spain) and had the guts to oppose Napoleon − something few men can boast.
A university professor, Alain Blondy taught for over 30 years at CELSA (Paris IV). A visiting professor (in Tunis, Cyprus, Moscow, among others), he has also taught at the University of Malta and is regarded as one of today’s leading specialists on the Mediterranean world, on which he has written several books.
His new book on Marie Caroline will be available for sale and signing thanks to Lireka and the Alliance Française. The event is organised by the French Embassy.
Attendance is free but one has to register here.
This information was provided by the French Embassy.
