The Lost King of France

How DNA Solved the Mystery of the Murdered Son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

By: Deborah Cadbury

Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon

Louis-Charles, Duc de Normandie, enjoyed a charmed early childhood in the gilded palace of Versailles. At the age of four, he became the dauphin, heir to the most powerful throne in Europe. Yet within five years he was to lose everything. Drawn into the horror of the French Revolution, his family was incarcerated and their fate thrust into the hands of the revolutionaries who wished to destroy the monarchy.

In 1793, when Marie Antoinette was beheaded at the guillotine, she left her adored eight-year-old son imprisoned in the Temple Tower. Far from inheriting a throne, the orphaned boy-king had to endure the hostility and abuse of a nation. Two years later, the revolutionary leaders declared Louis XVII dead. No grave was dug, no monument built to mark his passing.

Immediately, rumors spread that the prince had, in fact, escaped from prison and was still alive. Others believed that he had been murdered, his heart cut out and preserved as a relic. As with the tragedies of England's princes in the Tower and the Romanov archduchess Anastasia, countless "brothers" soon approached Louis-Charles' older sister, Marie-Therese, who survived the revolution. They claimed not only the dauphin's name but also his inheritance. Several "princes" were plausible, but which, if any, was the real heir to the French throne?

©2002 Deborah Cadbury (P)2019 Tantor

Very good but VERY heartbreaking!

After reading about the French revolutionS I come to realize that in hindsight everything is 20/20 . After 7 or 8 different revolutions since Louis XVI and each one of them absolute power corrupted absolutely and little "monarchies" would arise and seize control under the guise of "Democracy and fraternity" anyways... the horrible things they did to the royal family is beyond monstrous. Im no royalist but in reality I would rather be led by ONE great leader than 1,000 corrupt politicians. The information and little personal facts makes you feel as if you are a fly on the decapitated head in 1792 during this royal families plight. You will also find much disturbing treatment of the young Dauphin due to the fear of him becoming a tool for the royalists. Still tho those revolutionary bastards really tortured that poor kid and took their anger of the mother and father out on him. Personally I feel that little Dauphin must have been a very strong child to put up with it for as long as he did. That little boy had more courage and honor than most of the "Sans Coolots" or wtf they're called In finish this is somewhat of a dark but open and flowing story using 1st hand accounts and it goes pretty fast. I think I finished it in a few days. I would also get another book called "The Head of Marie Antionette. Memoirs of her Hair Dresser Leonard" . Its her closest friend and hair dresser Leonard memoirs. Some say its fake but I don't think it is. There are too many separate unrelated sources that have the same contemporary information and Marie Antionette was a slave to fashion and vanity for most of her life. Its another very good read

Superb storytelling and narration!

A fascinating and detailed account of the French Revolution. Places you right there in Paris in 1789. Excellent narration!

This is a Compelling, Fascinating, and Factual view of a tragic and misunderstood Revolution

For people who simply know the phrase “let them eat cake” and may have seen “Les Miserable”, they will be completely fascinated and shocked by this book. This book paints the king, queen, and prince as products of their time, when monarchs were the way of the world. They are all martyrs who will never get their true story into the national narrative. The rumors and jealousy and hatred of Marie Antoinette was almost all fiction spun up by the peasants and the Jacobins. Why should the burden of proof be on king and queen to dispel rumors and fiction because of propaganda spread by the people. This book overturns what seems to almost be common knowledge at this point; that Antoinette was a mean and cruel woman who didn’t care about her people. She was anything but, and the king and prince were good decent people, who were all put to death for crimes out of their control or even committed by them. Tragic and sad story, which was only to be repeated 120 years later to The Romanovs.

Really Great!!

Love this book. If you are interested In French history or in the history of royalty, this book is for you. The reader is great and the story will leave you wanting more. So interesting!

If you love history, read this book!

I absolutely loved this book. I am so amazed at the story and how many pretenders came forward over the years. This truly proves that truth is stranger than fiction.

Perfection

This book is beautifully detailed, well documented, absorbing, and masterfully read. I loved and lived every moment of this delicious read.

Too sad

With 7 hours, 19 minutes left, I had to shelf this book. While historically accurate, I could no longer bear hearing the grueling details of the abuse suffered by the child King. :-(

Not For the Faint of Heart

Extremely detailed story illustrating what happens when mobs rule. It may have happened a long time ago, but it should break your heart. Be forewarned: the subtitle is a little misleading because it will be a long time before you get to the DNA part, and along the way you will hear every excruciating detail of what little Louis-Charles suffered. Well read by Jennifer Dixon.

Interesting with flaws

Part I was downright depressing. I do not know if, as has been claimed elsewhere, that the author is an ardent royalist. I rather doubt it but she has indeed taken care to squeeze out the last depressing details of the lives of Louis XVI and his unfortunate family. The story got depressing to the point that I would find excuses not to listen to it and yet in a macabre sort of way felt compelled to listen on

Part II was much better and indeed the reason that I had bought the audiobook in the first place. Interesting to say the least. Truth as they say is indeed stranger than fiction.
I thought the performance was very dry. Bit of a monotone droning on and on about the endless travails of the captives but I suppose it may have been the subject matter being read and she honestly couldn’t do better

In summary, this is neither one of the best nor one of the worst books in my audiobook library

Captivating story

There was so much to like about this book that I finished it in 2 days. Jennifer Dixen, the narrator, always does a fantastic job. The book was emotionally difficult at times when you hear about the abuse. Overall, one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Second, only to A Distant Mirror.