Forum Activity for @duchesse-de-montausier

Literary Recommendations

General Discussion

While reading Antonia Fraser's "Marie Antoinette - The Journey", I also read "The Secret Letters of Marie Antoinette" by Margaret Anne Macleod. This book contains the letters written by Marie Antoinette, her mother, and the Comte de Mercy between 1770 and 1780, and whenever in Antonia Fraser's book a reference was made to a letter, I read the complete letter in this book which was, as you can imagine, quite insightful.Without context this book is not so easy to read, because it gives not much background, but for many of us this is not be a problem, since we already know a lot of the background. In my opinion a "must-have" for those of us interested in the life of Marie Antoinette.

Literary Recommendations

General Discussion

On my vacation to Belgium and France from which I returned a week ago, I visited the Chteau de Vves near Houyet-Celles which is linked to the Marquise De La Tour du Pin (a beautiful chteau by the way, still furnished with original 18th century furniture).Quite nice I just read the Prince de Carpgne recommending a book, because at the chateau I bought the original French version of just that book ("Mmoires de la marquise De La Tour du Pin - Journal d'une femme de cinquante ans, 1778-1815"). I just started it, and so far, I already truly love it.

235 year old bottles of Veuve Clicquot found

General Discussion

Last week divers found still drinkable bottles of champagne in a ship wreck in the Baltic Sea. This champagne was made in the late 18th century, most likely between 1772 and 1785, and had been on its way to St. Petersburg.

It is incredible and in a way exciting that champagne is found that was bottled in the time when Marie Antionette lived in Versailles, and which is still drinkable and supposedly tastes very well!. Just think about it that you can, for about 50.000 euros, drink the same champagne as she did back then

For the full story see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/divers-find-oldest-champagne-in-baltic-wreck-2029007.html

updated by @duchesse-de-montausier: 06 Oct 2016 06:03:47AM

“Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette” by Madame Campan

General Discussion

For those interested, the Historic Memoirs of Madam Campan,
First Lady in Waiting to the Queen Marie Antionette, are in the public domain, and can be read and downloaded at many sites, for example at http://girlebooks.com/blog/free-ebooks/memoirs-of-the-court-of-marie-antoinette/ .

Madame Campan came to Versailles at the age of 15 to become the reader to the Mesdames Tantes, the three daughters of Louis XV, well before Marie-Antionette arrived at Court to marry Louis XVI. She became first lady-in-waiting to Madame La Dauphine, and was therefore in a perfect position to witness the events concerning Marie Antionette, and the general workings of life at Versailles. The memoirs were first published in 1823, and are now, fortunately, available in the public domain.

A real must for everyone who likes to know more about life at Versailles in the late 18th century, written down by an eye-witness. I hope you enjoy it!

updated by @duchesse-de-montausier: 06 Oct 2016 06:03:34AM