The Last Letter of Marie Antoinette

[livviebway.livejournal.com]

One of bizarre stories I've heard floating around about the French Revolution is that Marie Antoinette's last letter to Mme Elisabeth was found under Robespierre's bed after his execution. Funny how no biography I've read of his has ever mentioned this, you'd think it would be important. Anyway, does anyone know where this story came from?

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's any basis for that; that's definitely something Courtois would have taken advantage of in his report on Robespierre's papers, and I don't remember it's being mentioned.

[livviebway.livejournal.com]

Ah ha. I was just informed that I "should read a biography of Marie Antoinette, but just so I know it was cited by Stanley Loomis in 'A Fatal Friendship.'" Stanley Loomis??

[livviebway.livejournal.com]

From what a google book search finds me, I am seeing references to it in G. Lenotre's "The Last Days of Marie Antoinette" from 1907, Hilaire Beloc's "Marie Antoinette" from 1909, John Richard Hall's "The Bourbon Restoration" from 1909, the aforementioned Loomis book. Deborah Cadbury's "The Lost King of France" (2003) says not only was the letter found under his mattress, but as were assorted locks of hair and other mementos.

Stefan Zweig's "Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman" from 2002 says it came from Fouquier-Tinville's papers that were searched by Courtois as well.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

It seems far more likely that Fouquier would have it than Robespierre. No doubt it's another "legend".

[livviebway.livejournal.com]

Ok, sorry, last reply! I've been searching through biographies of Robespierre looking for it and I haven't seen any mention of it in any biography of him.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Someone would have mentioned it in at least one biography of him if it were true, it seems to me.