Review: The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

Publisher:  Penguin

Pages: 300 

Format: ARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  The Queen’s Lover begins at a masquerade ball in Paris in 1774, when the dashing Swedish nobleman Count Axel Von Fersen first meets the mesmerizing nineteen-year old Dauphine Marie Antoinette, wife of the shy, reclusive prince who will soon become Louis XVI.  This electric encounter launches a life-long romance that will span the course of the French Revolution.  The affair begins in friendship, however, and Fersen quickly becomes a devoted companion to the entire royal family.  As he roams through the halls of Versailles and visits the private haven of Petit Trianon, Fersen discovers the deepest secrets of the court, even learning about the startling erotic details of Marie-Antoinette’s marriage to Louis XVI.  But the events of the American Revolution tear Fersen away. Moved by the colonists’ fight for freedom, he is one of the very first to enlist in the French contingent of troops that will fight for America’s independence.




Kritters Thoughts:  An interesting take on life behind the scenes in the palace of Louise XVI and Marie Antoinette.  As a reader that limits her historical fiction intake, the "story" must grab me to make me forget that it takes place beyond our current times.  From the summary, I was intrigued by the look at the French side of history, as I often read about the English kings.  The addition of an affair and Marie Antoinette's obvious fame were definitely points to pull me in.


Written from both the perspective of Axel, the queen's mister and his sister who is said in the prologue to have her chapters fill in the gaps, I loved hearing her take on her brother's life.  


I even learned a thing or two!  Beyond learning what went on in the marriage between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, I was excited to read about France's role on the Revolutionary War and what a Swedish man's input was on behalf of the French in the war.  The chapter written by his sister including letters he wrote from the states, including my home town of Williamsburg, VA, were informative and entertaining.  


A fan of historical fiction and those who love a little behind the royal scenes would enjoy this book.   




Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row


April-June Challenge 2012: Royal Flush


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.  


Other tour stops:


Monday, April 16th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Wednesday, April 18th: Life in Review
Monday, April 23rd: Kritters Ramblings
Wednesday, April 25th: Peeking Between the Pages
Thursday, April 26th: Broken Teepee
Friday, April 27th: Unabridged Chick
Tuesday, May 1st: Amused By Books
Wednesday, May 2nd: Life is Short. Read Fast.
Thursday, May 3rd: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
Wednesday, May 9th: Historical Tapestry
Thursday, May 10th: A Bookish Affair
Monday, May 14th: Scandalous Women
Wednesday, May 16th: Enchanted by Josephine