Books on French Royals

[Kimberly]

I've got it Liam. Excellent for "dipping into" but I have not yet read it cover to cover

[Eric_Lowe]

Books on the Orleans' family ?  

[lancashireladandre]

nancy Mitford's "Madame du Pompadour" and "The Sun King" are excellent reads...well written/researched if a little sugary.

[pers]

I got a 1910 copy of the Memoirs of Madame Campan about her life at the French Court during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI.  Well, basically it is memoirs about Marie-Antoinette, as she was attached to her household ever since the arrival of Marie-Antoinette in France as Dauphine.
Over the years, I have read excerpts from her memoirs in several excellent books, but never could find it.  So now for the first time, I am reading the complete memoirs.  Really enjoying it.  I highly recommend it, whether in French or English!

[elena_maria_vidal]

What a treasure! The entire book is now online, but I wish I had a 'hard copy.' There are a lot of details in there, many things that are not quoted anywhere!!

[coquelicot]

It's easy to find it in french. I even recently found an illustrated edition called "Marie-Antoinette et son destin", full of beautiful pictures !

Surely it's possible to get an edition on line ?

[Angie_H]

Can someone recommend a good biography on Louis XV?
I tried to find one on Amazon but couldn't
Thanks!
Angie 

[bell_the_cat]

It's definitely a gap in the market, Angie H!

Faute de mieux, I think you might enjoy Nancy Mitford's biography of Madame de Pompadour. It includes the famously dry description of the Parc aux cerfs (where Louis kept his mistresses) as "a nice little  brothel".

Not scholarly, but well researched.

[Imperial.Opal]

   The Duchesse de Tourzel 1749 - 1832, was the royal chidren's governess, her daughter Pauline and the Princesse de Lamballe were close companions of Marie Antoinette.luckily for the Tourzels they were spirited out of the La Force in time during the September Massacres, where as the Princess de Lamballe was murdered. Any  reference material on the Tourzels would be appreciated 

[Angie_H]

Bell,
  I have that book! That is why I was looking for a book on just Louis XV!
Angie

[Sissi]

Dear Imperial Opal I recommend her Memoirs which are very interesting! Great Thread! Here is some information on the faithful Tourzel:


She was born Louise-Félicité-Joséphine de Croŷ d'Havré, Marquise (later duchesse) de Tourzel (1749 - 1832) She was the last governess to the royal children of Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette after Madame de pOlignac left the country.

Louise-Félicité married in 1766, at the age of seventeen, to the Marquis de Tourzel. They enjoyed a happy marriage for twenty years, she had six children. Her husband was killed in a hunting accident in 1786.

As you mentioned she was close to die during the september massacre. She was greatly shocked at the news of the death of Louis Charles, and during years she was accosted by various men pretending to be "Louis XVII of France".

here is a portrait of the old Duchess (she was made duchess by Louis XVIII)

[Sissi]

This drawing is said to be Madame de Tourzel and the Dauphin!

[Ortino]

I haven't seen a biography on Louis XV yet. He's one of those royals who has been given little attention, it seems, by scholars. As to why that is, I haven't a clue. It's the same problem with Alexander III. There are no biographies about him! There's one on his wife, but not on him. How incredibly sad and frustrating.

[bell_the_cat]

Yes I agree. I find his reign utterly fascinating, and his relationships with his family from cradle to grave. What a story!

I guess we'll just have to wait....

[Imperial.Opal]

  Hi, Sissi
 Thank you for the information on Madame Tourzel, her memoirs would be interesting to read,a eyewitness to history, from Louis XV, French Revolution,rise and fall of Napolen.