Tea at Trianon: BBC's New 'Louis XVI'

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Monday, August 15, 2022

BBC's New 'Louis XVI'

From Daily Star:

Bridgerton star Louis Cunningham is set to delight fans in a new BBC drama - but did you know that he is a member of a real life royal family? Louis, 24, who made his acting debut in the hit Netflix series as Lord Corning, is actually the grandson of the late Prince Charles of Luxembourg. He charmed viewers after bursting onto our screens in Bridgerton in 2021, with his only previous credited acting role as Rob in the music video for Crossfire. However, he is now set to become another royal as he takes up a leading role in upcoming drama series Marie Antoinette. The up-and-coming actor, and real-life royal, will play Louis XVI in the eight-part series, which has been created and written by Deborah Davis.
It will tell the story of famous queen Marie Antoinette, who was only 14 years old when she left Austria to marry the Dauphin of France. The part of Marie Antoinette is due to be played by Emilia Schule, alongside a star-studded cast including Oscar Lesage, Jasmine Blackborow and Jack Archer. (Read more.)

From Variety:

Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, has licensed eight-part historical drama “Marie Antoinette” to BBC First in Australia. Created and written by Deborah Davis (“The Favourite”), “Marie Antoinette” tells the story of the incredibly modern and avant-garde young queen, played by Emilia Schüle (“Ku’damm 56/ 63”). It was previously licensed to U.K. public broadcaster BBC2. Marie Antoinette was barely 14 years old when she left Austria to marry the Dauphin of France. Growing from a stubborn young princess navigating the rules of the French court under pressure to continue the Bourbon line, to a true fashion icon, she impressed with her charisma, and recreated life in Versailles in her image: free, independent and feminist. Even with rumours undermining her reputation, the notorious figure was able to defeat her enemies at the Versailles court with courage and dignity. (Read more.)