When Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were executed they left two children. The daughter was quickly married off but the young son was a potential figure around whom opponents could rally and reintroduce the monarchy. In The Lost King of France Deborah Cadbury tells the story of the young Louis XVII and, through him, the story of the French Revolution.
This is an excellent book of history which retells quite well known facts from the point of view of the young prince who goes from his position as a member of the monarchy and a very privileged young man to someone who is seen as representing all that the revolutionaries hate most and who has also lost all those whom he loved. What happens to Louis is an act of extreme neglect and cruelty, as it would be had it happened to any young boy. The author takes us through the events and tries to explain why certain things happened and the fate of those who tried to do something about what was done to Louis.
In the end Louis died at the age of ten, having probably starved to death, but many people did not believe this and there were a number of pretenders to the throne and his position. This book shows how we can be sure that Louis died (there’s a heart and DNA involved) and also what happened to those who attempted to impersonate him.
This is a very sad story which reveals the level or barbarism and cruelty which was inflicted on people by the revolutionaries but also why they acted this way. It can be difficult to read about Louis’ suffering which mostly occurred because those who held him had no idea what to do with him, didn’t want to execute a child but feared the consequences of being seen to be kind or friendly to him. The author writes well and clearly and I found this book informative and interesting.
Anne Is Reading 