author
Frédéric Barbey
1879–1970
A Swiss historian, diplomat, and humanitarian, he wrote vividly about European history and the people caught up in it. His books often bring the world of courts, revolutions, and public life close to the reader.
1 Audiobook
A friend of Marie-Antoinette (Lady Atkyns)
by Frédéric Barbey
About the author
Born in Geneva in 1879, Frédéric Barbey was a Swiss writer best known for historical works, while also building a public career as a diplomat and humanitarian. French reference sources identify him as an archivist-paleographer, historian, and later a Swiss minister plenipotentiary in Belgium.
His writing focused on history and biography. One of his best-known books is A Friend of Marie-Antoinette (Lady Atkyns), an example of his interest in European personalities and the political drama surrounding them.
Barbey was also connected with humanitarian work through the International Committee of the Red Cross. He died in 1970, leaving behind a body of historical writing shaped by both scholarly training and firsthand experience in public service.