The Queen's Lover

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A "deeply intelligent" and "spellbinding" historical novel explores the untold love story between Swedish aristocrat Count Axel von Fersen and Marie Antoinette on the eve of the French Revolution. Their romance ignites at a masquerade ball in Paris in 1774, where Fersen meets the captivating nineteen-year-old dauphine, soon to be the wife of Louis XVI. This encounter sparks a passionate affair that unfolds against the backdrop of the Revolution. As Fersen grows closer to the royal family, he uncovers the court's deepest secrets, including the troubling details of Marie Antoinette's marriage. However, his bond with her is disrupted when he joins the fight for American independence. Upon his return, he finds France on the brink of chaos, with the royal family relocated from Versailles to the Tuileries. Fersen devises an escape plan for Marie Antoinette and her children, but the attempt fails, leading to their grim imprisonment and eventual execution. Mourning his lost love in Sweden, Fersen becomes aware of the Revolution's impact on his homeland, where royalists are now persecuted. His naivety costs him dearly as he is viewed as an enemy and ultimately loses his life to a mob. This fate reflects the rapid cultural transformation of Europe during the eighteenth century, offering a fresh perspective on the Revolution and the royal family through a poignant love story.