The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes

by Stanley Loomis

“The hallmark of his writing, in this as in his previous book on Paris during the Terror, is fairness. He never stretches a fact to suit a thesis. He never chooses among conflicting interpretations the one that will best advance his narrative… These qualities of measure and restraint contribute to the persuasiveness of his account.” Sanche de Gramont, New York Times, April 16, 1972,

Genres: History, French Revolution, Biography, 18th Century, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

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

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The question of whether Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen were lovers has divided historians and biographers for centuries, with some firmly in the one and some firmly in the other camp. Loomis offers his own opinion on the matter (which I personally tend to agree with), but ultimately lets his readers decide for themselves where they believe the truth might lie. Taking a well balanced look at the lives and relationship of the doomed queen and her Swedish friend and potential lover as well as the role Fersen played in the events of the French Revolution, he delivers an account that is evidence-based, insightful, and objective.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book way back in 1975 when I was still at school and I've never forgotten it, Stanley Looomis is an excellent writer and historian - the subtitle to this book is key because although he looks at the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Fersen it is mostly within the context of the failed flight to Varennes. Loomis picks through the evidence and tries to draw sober and sensible conclusions about the likely hood of an affair between Marie Antionette and Fersen but admits there is no way to be sure - the letters which might have contained proof were thoroughly censored by one of Fersen's descendants. That censorship might suggest that the proof was removed but it might just have been evidence of suggestion, which an over zealous, and narrow minded bigot, excised. But Loomis handles the question with historical sense and refuses to indulge in wild speculations, he realises that though fascinating, it is only a side show to the important event - the attempted flight of the French royal family from Paris to Varennes.

Fersen's involvement was central, its failure possibly preordained by Louis XVI insisting that the family travel together. His account of the fatal flight and its consequences was sober and meticulous. That it has been overtaken by later historical studies is inevitable, but doesn't totally disqualify it from use. The high politics of the flight, the king's intention, and the queen's are understood now with greater detail through the discovery of new documents but the basic story of the planning, implementation and failure of the flight has not greatly altered and Mr Loomis's account stays in my memory as one dispassionate and well told historical tale.

For that reason I give this work four stars even though it is so long since I read it. Books that stay in the memory for nearly fifty years have something special - even a work of history - when I read this I was actively cultivating a serious 'historical' outlook and discrimination in my reading. I was actively dismissive of anything overly trite, romantic, simplistic or popular in history books. That Loomis passed muster in my censorious youth says a great deal about his quality as a historian and writer.

[Ralitsa Mitova · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In politics as in all phases of man's social exsistence there have always been problems to which there are no solutions. And there have been periods in man's history when the control of his destiny seems to have been torn from his hands by forces that are more powerful than reason, intelligence, of expediency. The French Revolution was one of these periods." Stunning book! :)

[Karen Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author looked at the relationship (possible affair) between Marie Antoinette and the Swedish Diplomat, Axel Fersen. I didnt find the book that compelling, but it was enlightening about the chain of events which led up to the execution of King Louis XVI and his wife.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok - he duplicates his wonderful style from his work on the Terror, but this book lacks something of the grandeur and insight of that excellent book.

[Nupur Tustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched and insightful look at the tragic queen's life and her relationship with Fersen. Loomis has a fine understanding of the French Revolution and its causes and he distills the complexity of the times in a readable and easy-to-understand way for the lay reader.

Loomis also shows himself to be more objective than many of Marie Antoinette's other biographers. We see the queen for what she is. Loomis neither excuses her flaws nor does he go to the other extreme of portraying Marie Antoinette as a shallow, frivolous bubblehead.

While there are a number of good biographies of the queen, there are few books that provide as much insight into the French Revolution itself and the numerous factors that triggered it.

[Pearl · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second Book on MA ;P this time with more of Count Fersen throwen in, I though this book was going to be about the so called 'affair' they had, but it was about (well, what the name of the book is...) 'the fatal friendship' indeed it was fatal in the end. The author lets the reader decided if they did have an affair or not, personally, I'm still not sure since there is no in fact 'proof' of the whole incident. But affair or not it was still a really good read and its a MUST for history fans.

[P.J. Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Nonfiction. With lots of suspense and a hint of illicit romance.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I walked away with a different view on the Fersen/ Antoinette relationship than I had at the beginning. I really enjoyed his personal accounts in particular.