Maxime de La Rocheterie's second volume on Marie Antoinette opens with the powder keg of France already lit. The Bastille has fallen. The royal family is virtual prisoners in the Tuileries Palace in Paris, surrounded by a hostile city. The book follows their attempted escape—the disastrous flight to Varennes—and the slow, grinding pressure that follows. We see the King's indecision, the growing fury of the public, and Marie Antoinette's frantic, often secret, efforts to save her family and the crown. The storm breaks with the attack on the Tuileries in August 1792, leading to their imprisonment in the Temple tower. The final act is her lonely, brutal imprisonment in the Conciergerie, her show trial on outrageous charges, and her execution. La Rocheterie structures it as a tragic, inevitable march, focusing tightly on the Queen's perspective as her options vanish one by one.

Why You Should Read It

This book works because it makes history feel immediate. La Rocheterie, writing in the 19th century, had access to letters and firsthand accounts that let him build a detailed, intimate portrait. You don't just read about the Queen's fear; you feel the claustrophobia of the Temple prison and the chilling absurdity of her trial. What struck me most was her transformation. She starts as a politically naive queen, but under immense pressure, she finds a steely courage. Her final months reveal a dignified, resilient mother fighting for her children's lives. The author clearly sympathizes with her, which colors the narrative, but it also gives it a powerful emotional core. It’s a compelling study of a person stripped of everything but her character.

Final Verdict

This is perfect for anyone who loves character-driven historical drama. If you enjoyed the human story in books like Antonia Fraser's biography or the tension of Hilary Mantel's novels, you'll appreciate this older, more novelistic take. Be prepared for a dense, detailed read—it's a 19th-century French history book, after all. It's not a breezy introduction. But if you're ready to go deep, La Rocheterie offers a gripping, poignant, and surprisingly moving close-up of a famous life's tragic end. You'll come away thinking less about a queen, and more about the woman.