Jaques-Louis Menetra's journal reads like a historian's dream come true. It conveys his understanding of what it meant to grow up in Paris, where he was born in 1738; to tramp around provincial shops on a journeyman's tour de France; to settle down as a Parisian master with a shop and family of his own; and to live through the great events of the Revolution as a militant in his local Section.

The cost of love and intrigue for real-life Scottish socialite and courtesan, Grace Dalrymple Elliott (1758–1823), was nearly a trip to the guillotine. Mistress to the Duc d'Orleans and in the center of Paris social life, Elliott was arrested and spent 18 months in prison, all the while expecting to lose her head. Despite his support of the revolutionaries and his hatred of his cousin the king, d'Orleans was beheaded. Grace Elliott was devastated. She soon had more to worry about since her own monarchist sympathies got her rounded up with other aristocrats. After her release, she penned this insider's view of the upper crust of French aristocracy during the Reign of Terror that followed the French Revolution. It was first published after her death. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE or download a sample.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. The Princess Lamballe's Murder--Incidents in the Escape of the Marquis de Chansenets--My Adventures in aiding him--Domestic Spies--Terror during Domiciliary Visit-- Interview and Conversation with the Duke of Orleans--The Duke procures the escape of the Marquis to England. I Have already given an account of the surprise of the soldiers on my entering Paris at such a moment of general consternation. On my road to Mrs. Meyler's, I met the mob on the Boulevard, with the head and body of the unfortunate Princess de Lamballe, which they had just brought from La Force, where they had murdered her; and in coming from thence they had had the barbarity to take it to the Temple, to show the poor Queen. At that moment, indeed, I wished that I had not come into Paris. On reaching my friend's house, I was much surprised to find that it was G poor Chansenets about whom she had interested herself. I had seen a great deal of him before the Bevolution, at the Duke of Orleans', but I had no very particular friendship for him. He was now in such a weak, state that he could hardly support himself. I was very much affected to see him in such a situation at such a moment. I thought by getting him out of Paris that night, which I imagined might very easily be done, he would have a good chance of escaping from the Jacobins. It was seven o'clock when I arrived at my friend's house. It was still too light to venture into the streets in an open cabriolet with this poor man. I therefore waited until it was quite dark. We then went directly to the Barrier de Vaugirard, which was our way out of Paris. I made not the least doubt that on showing my passport we should get out of Paris directly. I was, however, shocked and thunderstruck to find that they...