HOW TO RUIN A QUEEN Marie Antoinette and the Diamond Necklace Affair

In 1785, scandal is running amok in France. Michael Page narrates with precise enunciation. What scandal? Marie Antoinette's signature is used to purchase a 2,800-carat diamond necklace, which promptly disappears. Fingers point to Cardinal Louis de Rohan, the prince-bishop of Strasbourg and the grand almoner of France, and to Jeanne de Saint-Rémy, Comtesse de La Motte-Valois, illegitimate heir of King Henry Valois. Page's brusque narration of political and monetary schemes aids listeners as they follow the mystery, complex relationships, Court intrigue, and a failing French monarchy. Page fluently switches between French, German, and English while recounting this complex history of theft, scandal, and fiscal mismanagement. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2016]