Marie-Louise et la cour d'Autriche entre les deux abdications (1814-1815)

In the turbulent years between Napoleon’s two abdications, the young Empress Marie‑Louise found herself uprooted from France and thrust into the sophisticated yet politically charged atmosphere of the Austrian court. Drawing on the intimate journals and previously unseen letters of a French secretary who lived alongside her in Vienna, the narrative offers a vivid, day‑by‑day portrait of palace life, diplomatic intrigue, and the personal struggles of a woman caught between duty and loss. The author’s careful reliance on contemporary eyewitness accounts lends the story an immediacy that transports listeners to the very rooms of Schönbrunn.

Listeners will hear excerpts from the Empress’s private correspondence, revealing her hopes for her young son and her attempts to navigate the expectations of a foreign monarchy. Interwoven with the secretary’s own reflections, the account highlights the subtle power plays among ministers, the lingering loyalty to Napoleon, and the quiet moments of humanity amid grand historical events. The tone remains scholarly yet accessible, making this a compelling window into a lesser‑known chapter of European history.