Diary and Correspondence of Count Axel Fersen: Relating to the Court of France

by Katharine Prescott Wormeley

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404 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2021

Reviews

[Dave Trembley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of letters and snippets from Count Axel Fersen, missing numerous entries, but overall, of great interest to anyone curious about Fersen's relationship with Marie Antoinette. Specifically, the correspondence delves into Fersen's apparent exhaustive efforts to secure the freedom of Louis XVI and the royal family during their captivity in Paris. What is particularly noteworthy is the recalcitrance of the Austrian Emperor in securing their release. The brother of the queen of France, more than international figure, dragged his heals and threw up barriers to a plan to use force to secure their release. Fersen's letters to Antoinette capture this very well. As for Marie's correspondence, we catch glimpses of her disdain for the Jacobean rulers of France, but nothing with respect to her alleged sexual relations with Fersen. (a lot of their correspondence was destroyed)

In addition, the letters deal with Fersen's involvement in the flight to Varennes, not substantially enough, though it is noteworthy that the plan, which he largely engineered, was not his first choice.