Les mémoires de la lectrice de Marie-Antoinette, du 14 au 16 juillet 1789, alors que les nobles fuient Versailles à l’arrivée des révolutionnaires. Un texte court et dense, qui raconte les détails trivialement humains de la grande histoire. De salons en galeries, de conversations en disputes, elle y décrit le déni, le rejet, la peur, l’entraide ou l’amitié, de manière fictionnelle, historiquement bien documentée, mais au final peu émotionnelle. ( )

The book is translated quite well from French, originally, I think in 2002. I reviewed the film for my newspaper and, without my knowing much European history (sadly), I was moved by it to read the book and do a little other reading to fill in some of the gaps in my understanding. The book, narrated in first person by the protagonist, did not make her as much a figure of mystery as did the film. Sidonie Laborde, a reader to Queen Marie Antoinette at the court in Versailles, loves her. The book implies a relationship with some sexual elements between the queen and her friend/courtier Madame Gabrielle de Polignac, which Sidonie notices. Sidonie has many sources of information about goings on at court and also about what is happening in Paris. What is happening in Paris is that the bourgeoisie and the workers are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with having to bear the weight by taxation of a basically bankrupt economy. The nobility and the clergy are exempt, though of course it is they who continue to, for example, eat well, while many do not. The people storm the Bastille and a pamphlet is sent around which contains a list of the "268 heads that must fall." Finally, the king, queen, and nobility begin to understand just how serious this is. We follow the Queen's reader through the beginnings of the French Revolution and the fall of the Chateau in Versailles.

Some melodrama appears from time to time as Sidonie and those around her become upset. It is more than balanced by the description and dialogue. I'd give this a 3.75 stars if I could







Here is the link to my review of the film, if anyone is interested:
http://evanstonroundtable.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&Articl... ( )

Farewell My Queen has some great writing, some great scenes, some great impressions, but much of it is dull and uneven.

It recounts, almost hour-by-hour, Versailles on July 14th-16th 1789. The first day is a normal one as courtiers and servants do what courtiers and servants do. The second day begins with the residents learning that the King was awoken in the middle of the night to be told about the Bastille. By the third day everyone is making plans to flee and the monarchy appears to be over.

The story is told in flashbacks from the perspective of then-young woman who was a backup reader to Marie Antoinette. Her flashbacks are largely a series of people she interacted with and scenes she witnessed, like the animal keeper lamenting the death of his animals, the official court historian who is on volume 7 of his history, the man in charge of the household who is being ignored as everyone flees, and several other characters. The depiction of Marie Antoinette wandering around alone, knocking on doors and attempting--without success--to enter them is particularly moving, as Chantal Thomas explains that these are the first times she has even touched a door. It is interesting to understand that there is something infantile about the kings and queens who were helpless without people doing even the basic things for them.

It starts out telling all of these events in a witty and amusing manner. But then the method of telling does not sustain interest for the entire book, although it picks up again at the end when everyone is fleeing Versailles. ( )

-- Although I studied French language through college I didn't understand origins of Bastille Day until I read FAREWELL, MY QUEEN, a novel by Chantal Thomas. In 1789 Madame Agathe Sidonie Laborde is Queen Marie Antoinette's reader (& FAREWELL, MY QUEEN's storyteller). They live at Versailles in France. Madame Laborde describes rooms & passages in the chateau, servant roles, & royal famiy members. The Bastille was a prison in Paris. In mid-July 1789 inmates along with ordinary citizens revolted against royalty. Wearing a disguise Madame Laborde left Versailles on July 16, 1789. Safely in Vienna 20 yrs. later she tells her story of being reader to Marie Antoinette. Author Thomas is qualified to write this historical novel. She is Director of Research at National Center of Scientific Research in France & an 18th century literature specialist. She & FAREWELL, MY QUEEN won the Prix Femina in 2002. In 2012 film version was released. -- ( )

Farewell My Queen has some great writing, some great scenes, some great impressions, but much of it is dull and uneven.

It recounts, almost hour-by-hour, Versailles on July 14th-16th 1789. The first day is a normal one as courtiers and servants do what courtiers and servants do. The second day begins with the residents learning that the King was awoken in the middle of the night to be told about the Bastille. By the third day everyone is making plans to flee and the monarchy appears to be over.

The story is told in flashbacks from the perspective of then-young woman who was a backup reader to Marie Antoinette. Her flashbacks are largely a series of people she interacted with and scenes she witnessed, like the animal keeper lamenting the death of his animals, the official court historian who is on volume 7 of his history, the man in charge of the household who is being ignored as everyone flees, and several other characters. The depiction of Marie Antoinette wandering around alone, knocking on doors and attempting--without success--to enter them is particularly moving, as Chantal Thomas explains that these are the first times she has even touched a door. It is interesting to understand that there is something infantile about the kings and queens who were helpless without people doing even the basic things for them.

It starts out telling all of these events in a witty and amusing manner. But then the method of telling does not sustain interest for the entire book, although it picks up again at the end when everyone is fleeing Versailles. ( )