L'Assassinat de la Duchesse de Praslin

In 1847 a brutal murder shocked the July Monarchy, the killing of the Duchess de Praslin igniting a scandal that rippled through Parisian society. Contemporary gossip turned the tragedy into legend, spawning countless theories about hidden motives and secret affairs. This work pulls back the veil by grounding the story in the very documents that shaped the original trial.

The author, armed with archived correspondence and painstakingly reproduced courtroom records, reconstructs the fraught relationship between Théobald de Praslin and his wife, Fanny Sébastiani. Through careful analysis the narrative reveals the pressures of aristocratic expectations, the whispered rumors of an “angel of virtue,” and the stark realities of a family on the brink of collapse. Rich illustrations—portraits, engravings, and excerpts from the proceedings—bring the 19th‑century world to life, letting listeners see the evidence as it once appeared.

Beyond the murder itself, the book sketches the broader backdrop of the Praslin estate, its shifting fortunes, and the turbulent political currents of the era. By weaving together personal drama with the wider historical canvas, the study invites listeners to join a meticulous investigation that still leaves many questions unanswered.