
- 325 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Anew edition draws on fresh evidence from archive sources—including decoded secret correspondence—to peel back the layers of misinformation obscuring the Queen's great love affair and to reveal its impact on the destiny of the French Royal Family
The tragic life of Marie-Antoinette, last Queen of France, has assumed almost mythical proportions. A victim of political intrigue, she was known as the "Austrian whore" and accused of every imaginable sexual and political crime. Yet after the French Revolution she was reinvented as a martyr, and the image of the woman behind the propaganda grew even more distorted. Daughter of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, Marie-Antoinette was married at the age of15 to the heir to the French throne. The vivacious Archduchess had charm and intelligence, while the Dauphin, crowned Louis XVI in 1774, was boorish, gauche, and unable to consummate their marriage. Rebuffed by him, the young girl engaged in a hectic social life and looked elsewhere for love. This book charts her transformation from reckless teenager to dignified yet misunderstood Queen and maps out in detail her enduring relationship with Axel von Fersen. Their liaison, based on deep affection and mutual passion, began long before revolutionary storm clouds gathered over France. Although known to insiders at court, her love for the chivalrous and handsome Swedish Count was suppressed in the many attempts to manipulate the Queen's image.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Front Cover
- Title Page
- Praise
- About this book
- About the Author
- Half Title
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Preface
- A Note on Sources
- Chronology: Time Spent by Axel von Fersen in France, 1773–92
- Prologue: The Opera Ball
- 1 A Mésalliance
- 2 The Hero of a Novel
- 3 From Austria With Love
- 4 An Old Acquaintance
- 5 Worlds Apart
- 6 ‘Josephine’
- 7 ‘Le Chou d’Amour’
- 8 ‘Elle’
- 9 Her Majesty’s Secret Agent
- 10 Adieu, My Love
- 11 The Death of Kings
- 12 Love Lies Bleeding
- Epilogue: The Memory of a Dream
- Notes
- Biographical Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
- Plates
- By the same author and published by Peter Owen
- Copyright
- Contact Peter Owen
- Some Authors We Have Published
- Back Cover