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‘This is history as it should be. It is stunningly written, I could not put it down. This is the best account of the French Revolution I have ever read.’ Alison Weir, author of ‘Henry VIII, King and Court’The fascinating, moving story of the brief life and many possible deaths of Louis XVII, son of Marie-Antoinette.Louis-Charles Bourbon enjoyed a charmed early childhood in the gilded palace of Versailles. At the age of four, he became the Dauphin, heir to the most powerful throne in Europe. Yet within five years, he was to lose everything.Drawn into the horror of the French Revolution, his family was incarcerated. Two years later, following the brutal execution of both his parents, the Revolutionary leaders declared Louis XVII was dead. No grave was dug, no monument built to mark his passing.Immediately, rumours spread that the Prince had, in fact, escaped from prison and was still alive. Others believed that he had been murdered, his heart cut out and preserved as a relic. In time, his older sister, Marie-Therese, who survived the Revolution, was approached by countless 'brothers' who claimed not only his name, but also his inheritance. Several 'Princes' were plausible, but which, if any, was the real Louis-Charles?Deborah Cadbury’s ‘The Lost King of France’ is a moving and dramatic story which conclusively reveals the identity of the young prince who was lost in the tower.This book is available as a print-on-demand product only.
This work investigates the mysterious fate of Louis-Charles, the son of Marie-Antoinette, and seeks to resolve the historical debate surrounding his death or potential escape during the French Revolution. Deborah Cadbury utilizes extensive archival research and modern forensic evidence to reconstruct the tragic life of the young Dauphin. By examining the political chaos of the era and the subsequent emergence of numerous imposters, the author provides a definitive account of the prince's final days in the Temple prison. The narrative framework balances the intimate details of the Bourbon family's downfall with the broader geopolitical shifts of the late eighteenth century.
What You Will Find
This book is regarded as a meticulous and compelling piece of historical detective work that successfully bridges the gap between academic rigor and narrative accessibility. The author's ability to synthesize complex forensic data with the emotional weight of the prince's life provides a definitive resolution to a long-standing historical enigma.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
2009-08-01
Publisher:
Fourth Estate
ISBN-10:
000733379X
ISBN-13:
9780007333790
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