Classic Book Reader
Cover of Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Volume 2

Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Volume 2

by Mme. Campan (1752–1822)

  • Free to read
  • 2 hours to read
  • 5 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Volume 2" by Mme. Campan is a historical account written during the early 19th century, detailing the intricacies of life at the French royal court in the years leading up to the French Revolution. The book contains a mixture of personal reflections and historical events, centering around prominent figures such as Marie Antoinette herself, King Louis XV., and various members of the royal family and court. At the start of the memoirs, the author recounts her experiences as a reader to the royal family, providing a vivid depiction of the tensions and dynamics at the court during the reign of Louis XV. She introduces us to the familial relationships, the influence of nobility, and the prevailing atmosphere of the court, including the replacement of more cultured court figures with those of lower standing. Key details about court etiquette, family interactions, and the gradual rise of young Marie Antoinette are presented, setting the stage for potential future intrigue and drama. The memoir highlights how the young queen navigates her new role amid a backdrop of political turmoil and societal expectations, offering readers both a personal glimpse into her life and a broader view of the challenges faced by the French monarchy.

Read free now No app, no sign-up. Your place is saved automatically. Or download for your e-reader ↓
  • France · Court and courtiers
  • Marie Antoinette, Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France, 1755-1793

Read the opening

Chapter I

I was fifteen years of age when I was appointed reader to Mesdames. I will begin by describing the Court at that period.

Maria Leczinska was just dead; the death of the Dauphin had preceded hers by three years; the Jesuits were suppressed, and piety was to be found at Court only in the apartments of Mesdames. The Duc de Choiseuil ruled.

Etiquette still existed at Court with all the forms it had acquired under Louis XIV.; dignity alone was wanting. As to gaiety, there was none. Versailles was not the place at which to seek for assemblies where French spirit and grace were displayed. The focus of wit and intelligence was Paris.

The King thought of nothing but the pleasures of the chase: it might have been imagined that the courtiers indulged themselves in making epigrams by hearing them say seriously, on those days when the King did not hunt, "The King does nothing to-day."—[In sporting usance (see SOULAIRE, p. 316).]

Keep reading Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Volume 2 →

Contents

  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III
  4. Chapter IV
  5. Chapter V

Download for your e-reader

Files are provided by Project Gutenberg. On a Kindle, the simplest route is to send the EPUB with Amazon’s Send to Kindle. Downloaded copies don’t sync with your place on Classic Book Reader.

About this edition

This free edition of Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Volume 2 by Mme. Campan comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #3885, released 2004-12-04. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, History - European, History - Royalty.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

More by Mme. Campan