MARIE ANTOINETTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 7 (Supplement)

MARIE ANTOINETTE.

"THE MOST UNHAPPY HEAD." Historical novels are said to be socalled because they contain so much novel history, but the sneer does not apply to the novel biographies which aro associated with the name of " E. Barrington." Under that pseudonym, tho prolific writer Mrs. L. Adams Beck, has written half-a-dozen books dealing with the life-history of famous men and women of the past. But, while using her imagination to reconstruct for her readers the period and persons of her story, she adheres with strict fidelity to historical fact, so far as it has been discovered by the impartial investigation of modern research. In her latest book, " The Empress of Hearts," Mrs. Beck re-tells the tragic stoiy of Mario Antoinette, the beautiful, impulsive young queen who galled by the rigid etiquette of the French court, plunged into reckless gaieties innocent enough in themselves, but most dangerous for one living amid enemies at Court who distrusted " The Austrian's" influence with her dull and decorous husband, and enemies among the people who saw in her extravagances another burden to crush them into the mire of poverty and squalor. Then, while already could bo heard the first mutterings of the storm which was to culminate in tho horrors of the guillotine, came the infamous " Affair of tho Diamond Necklace." Devised by tho cunning brain of the adventuress, Jeanne de Lamotte, the scheme was masterly in its completeness. Boehmer, the Royal jeweller, had gathered together a wonderful collection of diamonds out of which ho made a necklace unique in design and dazzling in its brilliance. With its chains, loops, ribbons, and tassels, all of diamonds, it was a veritable panoply of light. Knowing the queen's love of precious stones and the king's love of the queen, Boehmer hoped to sell his Royal clients the necklace at a handsome profit. But the price, equivalent to £400,000, was prohibitive even for the indulged queen, and Marie Antoinette put the temptation aside. Then Madame de Lamotte saw her way clear to a magnificent coup. That very unclerical cleric, Cardinal Prince Louis de Rohan, was out of favour with the Court. Pretending that the queen wished to buy the necklace secretly, de Lamotte induced the cardinal to arrange the purchase on the understanding that this service would restore him to favour. The scheme which involved a tissue of lying, forgery, and masquerade, was successful. The necklace was handed over to a man impersonating one of the queen's suite. The thieves at once broke up tho necklace ana made for London to dispose of the stones. Boehmer began to demand payment from the queen, who, naturally, denied all knowledge of the supposed sale. De Rohan was arrested, but managed to destroy all the papers which would have cleared the queen. A protracted trial took place. The proud Marie Antoinette was forced to endure a veritable crucifixion. " Frightful assertions were made by Jeanne de Lamotte and though her lies were disproved again and again enough survived to ruin tho queen in the eyes of those whoso earnest hope it was to find her guilty." Thus, party through her own folly, but much more through a systematic campaign of slander and vilification-, Marie Antoinette approached tho last act of the tragedy. But her sufferings ennobled her, burned out the dross and left .the gold. Like that other empress of hearts, Mary Queen of Scots, Marie Antoinette faced deatli with unflinching courage. In " Tho Empress of Hearts " she lives for us in her pride and her innocence, her folly and her disgrace.

" The Empress of Hearts," by E. Barrington (Harrap).