DuBarry

by Stanley Loomis

“Told with brilliance and an admirable sense for comedy. Her [Du Barry's] later years are, fittingly enough, related in a more mellow, nostalgic key… Entertained at first, then moved, the reader, after the admirable final paragraph, is left pensive. Few books are published of which this could be said.” J. Christopher Herold, “She Lived for Love, Luxury and Louis,” Saturday Review, April 11, 1959.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Stanley Loomis was the author of four books on French history: Du Barry (1959), Paris in the Terror (1964), A Crime of Passion (1967), and The Fatal Friendship (1972). Paris in the Terror was named one of the “books of the century” by the University of California, Berkeley.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm not sure if this is QUITE five stars, because I may be biased because it's Madame du Barry, but this is again one of those books that I enjoyed more and more as I read it. I will always have a soft spot for Madame du Barry, and this book only added to that. She is a woman with a reputation damaged by years and years of slut shaming, and it's nice to see someone take a solid defence of her character and give her the sympathy and understanding she deserves. Loomis leaves off with a simple but true statement on this last mistress of France that speaks to what many say she was genuinely like: "she was kind."

[Susy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pleasure to read.
Very beautifully written, with brilliantly droll commentary by the author, Loomis. I made note of at least 20 quotable passages.

I should note that I am not even interested in the subject matter ( du Barry, Louis XV, or the French Revolution). I don't recall how I came to own this book. But I thought I might read it and then drop it off at St Vincent de Paul, but it has definitely earned a place on the bookshelf.

I wish the author had left behind a larger oeuvre, as I would love to read more of his thoughts outside the French Revolution time period.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book for Christmas by my father who found it in the “out of print/pulp” section of the strand. Certainly lives up to its pulp label (full of gossipy asides on French aristocrats on whim Loomis seemed to feel personally) but it was fun. Didn’t know anything of Du Barry before but now I’d like to finally read Nancy Mitford’s bio of another Louis XV mistress Madame du Pompadour.

I accidentally read this book right after reading Emperor, on the last members of Halie Selassie’s court and found it really interesting to compare the practices of two courts in a downfall.

[Ian McClintic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting telling of the rags to riches story of Comtesse Du Barry, from obscurity to King Louis XV’s last mistress. And, ultimately a victim of the guillotine. This entertaining story is to be expected from Mr. Loomis. The same level of quality that made ‘Paris in the Terror’ one of my favorite books. Loved the anecdote detailing the high drama as to whether Marie Antoinette would initiate conversation with Du Barry, deciding the fate of Poland.

[Martina Gaete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para mí, reivindicó la figura tan calumniada de Madame Du Barry, y logró que me enamorara de ella. Debido a eso, me encantó el libro.
También debo destacar que me gustó mucho la naturalidad y atrevimiento con el que escribía el autor.

[Liam Ostermann]

I read this book while in school - I thought it rather good and although I want to reread it to make a proper judgement it was superior to most of the sentimental slop poured out by amateur biographers and historical novelist - I am looking forward to reading this again.

[Manny Villa]

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[M]

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[del · Rating 4 out of 5]

siento que fue un 1.5 de la bibliografia de Maria Antonieta (que me acordaba algunas cosas)
me encanto
me gusta haber descubierto este tipo de libros
ahora necesito más

[Giornata_di_sole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biografia interessante e ben scritta dedicata all'ultima favorita di Luigi XV...Entrata nel dorato mondo di Versailles quasi contemporaneamente a Maria Antonietta, la contessa Du Barry condivide con la delfina molto piu' di quanto la loro accesa rivalita' lascerebbe pensare...gioielli meravigliosi, abiti sontuosi, castelli, amicizie illustri; ma Versailles non e' solo lusso e piaceri...e' anche un covo di intrighi, rivalita', invidie, fazioni perenemente in lotta...La Du Barry e Maria Antonietta sono il bersaglio di pesanti critiche e accuse divenendo oggetto di libelli diffamatori e volgari...Con la morte di Luigi XV inizia per la Du Barry un periodo di difficolta' ed esilio mentre Maria Antonietta diventa regina..Revocato l'esilio e reintegrata del suo enorme patrimonio la contessa si ritira nel suo castello di Louveciennes dove trascorre il resto della sua vita circondata dal lusso e da una cerchia di amici...Lo scoppio della rivoluzione riavvicina le due donne, le quali assistono alla distruzione del loro mondo, alla fine dell'ancient regime, ai massacri indiscriminati e condividono il tragico destino sul patibolo con uno scarto di pochi messi...

La contessa Du Barry e' descritta come una donna bellissima e di gran fascino, di indole buona ed estremamente generosa, amante della (bella!) vita e, diversamente dalla marchesa Pompadour, non interessata alle questioni politiche...La sua persona e' stata oggetto di giudizi fortemente negativi che l'autore cerca di ridimensionare in un'ottica piu' oggettiva.