An Adventure

Two determined young women set out for Versailles in the sweltering August of 1901, drawn by a vague fascination with the palace’s legendary charm. With only school‑room history and a few romantic novels to guide them, they wander the grand halls and the glittering Hall of Mirrors, their conversation drifting between the lingering shadows of the French Revolution and the looming presence of recent German occupation. Their curiosity leads them off the main routes, through winding woodlands and deserted drives, in search of the elusive Petit Trianon—once described to them as a modest retreat where Marie Antoinette once escaped court intrigue.

The narrative captures their keen observations, the subtle humor of misdirected steps, and the palpable sense of discovery as they encounter silent doors and unfamiliar gardeners. As the journey unfolds, the authors begin to piece together scattered clues, hinting at deeper psychological currents beneath the surface of their adventure. The memoir invites listeners to share in the thrill of early‑20th‑century exploration, where every turn promises new insight into history, memory, and the mysteries that linger in royal gardens.