Select Bibliography

The following is a selection of some of the works used by the author of The Trial of Marie Antoinette in researching the play.

Primary documents

• Authentic trial at large of Marie Antoinette
  An account of the trial in English, published in 1793, and based on the transcripts compiled during the trial. Available to read at the British Library.
• The Journal of a Spy in Paris During the Reign of Terror, January-July, 1794 ... by Charles Robert Leslie Fletcher
  Wonderfully atmospheric and human description of life under the Revolution, written by a spy in the pay of the English government, working for the Committee of Public Safety.
  

Marie Antoinette

• Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser
  The best modern biography of Marie Antoinette, and a great place to start.

• Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber
  A useful account of the often overlooked details of Marie Antoinette's fashions, and an interesting examination of her personal and political motivations and tactics.

The Revolution

• Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution by Simon Schama
  Simon Schama's sprawling book tends to complicate rather than simplify the revolution, but it raises some key questions and uses intricate detail to vividly evoke the atmosphere of the times.
• Fatal Purity: Robespierre and the French Revolution by Ruth Scurr
  A gripping and thorough account of the life of Robespierre - the stuff of high tragedy.
• The French Revolution by Christopher Hibbert
  A great introduction to the hugely complicated story of the revolution as a whole.
• The Terror by David Andress
  A probing and convincing account of the Terror, and an unusually lucid explanation of the fluctuations of revolutionary politics.

The period

• The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815 by Tim Blanning
  An epic and immaculately researched account of almost every aspect of life in this period.

Online resources

• Marie Antoinette online
  Has a full selection of links and an active forum.
• Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
  A great collection of resources related to the revolution. Includes over 600 primary documents, and a very useful section on revolutionary songs, with downloadable recordings.
• Internet Modern History Sourcebook: French Revolution
  Collection of links to primary documents from the revolution.
• Tea at Trianon
  An interesting blog. with good articles on Marie Antoinette's life.
  
• Youtube Channel of Château de Versailles
  Official content from Versailles, including some good looks inside the more hidden areas of the palace.
• Culture&Stuff
  A blog about history and theatre from the author of The Trial.