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How to Ruin a Queen: Marie Antoinette, the Stolen Diamonds and the Scandal that Shook the French Throne - Hardcover
A tale of greed, lust, deceit, theft on an extraordinary scale, charlatanry, kidnapping, assassination attempts and an escape from the Bastille.
On 5 September 1785, a trial began in Paris that would divide the country, captivate Europe and send the French monarchy tumbling down the slope towards the Revolution. Cardinal Louis de Rohan, scion of one of the most ancient and distinguished families in France, stood accused of forging Marie Antoinette’s signature to fraudulently obtain the most expensive piece of jewellery in Europe – a 2,400-carat necklace worth 1.6 million francs.
Where were the diamonds now? Was Rohan entirely innocent? Was, for that matter, the queen? What was the role of the charismatic magus, the comte de Cagliostro, who claimed to be two-thousand-years old and capable of transforming metal into gold?
This is a tale of political machinations and extravagance on an enormous scale; of kidnappings, prison breaks and assassination attempts; of hapless French police disguised as colliers, reams of lesbian pornography and a duel fought with poisoned pigs. It is a detective story, a courtroom drama, a tragicomic farce, and a study of credulity and self-deception in the Age of Enlightenment.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
Glittering and gloriously goofy . . . This is a terrific tale, told with assurance and gusto (Guardian)
Jonathan Beckman has an eye for a good story. His account of the affair is full of human drama, including illicit sex, assassination attempts and prison escapes . . . a superb piece of research that separates myth from reality (Sunday Business Post)
A really fascinating history (Dan Stevens)
Stranger than fiction and told with a verve that suggests the author relishes his dodgy tale (Country Life)
Jonathan Beckman has tunnelled into the warren of misinformation . . . and has come out with what must be as near to the truth as we'll get (Daily Mail)
Jonathan Beckman tells his complicated tale with gusto (Observer)
A wonderfully enjoyable account of one of the most audacious cons ever perpetrated (John Preston, Evening Standard Books of the Year)
Jonathan Beckman dazzlingly rehabilitates Marie Antoinette in an atmospheric and evocative account of diamonds, fraud, intrigue and a 1785 case that stoked antiroyalist feeling in France (Telegraph Books of the Year)
A richly enjoyable account of one of the most audacious scams ever perpetrated (Mail on Sunday)
Beckman's tale of the Diamond Necklace Affair is full of character and tawdry details, and glistens with wit and insight (Daily Telegraph)
Book Description:
Jonathan Beckman has an eye for a good story. His account of the affair is full of human drama, including illicit sex, assassination attempts and prison escapes . . . a superb piece of research that separates myth from reality (Sunday Business Post)
A really fascinating history (Dan Stevens)
Stranger than fiction and told with a verve that suggests the author relishes his dodgy tale (Country Life)
Jonathan Beckman has tunnelled into the warren of misinformation . . . and has come out with what must be as near to the truth as we'll get (Daily Mail)
Jonathan Beckman tells his complicated tale with gusto (Observer)
A wonderfully enjoyable account of one of the most audacious cons ever perpetrated (John Preston, Evening Standard Books of the Year)
Jonathan Beckman dazzlingly rehabilitates Marie Antoinette in an atmospheric and evocative account of diamonds, fraud, intrigue and a 1785 case that stoked antiroyalist feeling in France (Telegraph Books of the Year)
A richly enjoyable account of one of the most audacious scams ever perpetrated (Mail on Sunday)
Beckman's tale of the Diamond Necklace Affair is full of character and tawdry details, and glistens with wit and insight (Daily Telegraph)
A tale of greed, lust, deceit, theft on an extraordinary scale, charlatanry, kidnapping, assassination and escape from prison.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFourth Estate
- Publication date1950
- ISBN 10 0007351534
- ISBN 13 9780007351534
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages300
- Rating
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