tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post2279098881654771737..comments2024-03-26T12:19:52.801-04:00Comments on Tea at Trianon: Louis XVIII: The Other Brotherelena maria vidalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-1486229943648231972010-07-31T19:03:35.506-04:002010-07-31T19:03:35.506-04:00When I was reading through the books of Princess H...When I was reading through the books of Princess Henriette of Belgium (on Marie-Amélie and Madame Elisabeth), I was struck by how gentle she was with Provence/Louis XVIII. While she mentions, with regret, that he was infected by the Enlightenment spirit, that he lacked the kindness of the rest of the family, and that he turned his wit against Marie-Antoinette, she prefers to stress his intelligence and ability. I thought she was also awfully gentle with Louis XV, making a real point of praising his grace and majestic manners and even calling him 'un brave homme.' <br /><br />As far as criticizing kings goes, Henriette seems to spend more time critiquing poor Louis XVI, although he was a better person than either his brother or his grandfather. Louis XVI, we hear, had an 'upright and loyal nature' but was shy, awkward, lacking the noble manners of his grandfather, tactless with his relatives, weak in handling the revolution, and so on and so forth. When describing his signing of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, Henriette seems to lose patience altogether, saying: "As always, claiming good motives, Louis XVI gave in." She is very enthusiastic about Marie-Antoinette, Madame Elisabeth, and Madame Royale, but the only time she seems thoroughly, unequivocally positive about Louis XVI is when she recounts the way he faced his death. Sorry to go on so long, but I found the contrasts in the way she portrays the various kings very interesting.Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18230268418171628594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-49284415141642497832007-01-25T21:08:00.000-05:002007-01-25T21:08:00.000-05:00Hi, Maru! I saw the Napoleon series you are referr...Hi, Maru! I saw the Napoleon series you are referring to and I thought it was good. Although Clavier was a bit "too French," I thought, such a gentleman. I still think that the BEST Napoleon was Marlon Brando in "Desiree." Brando had that untamed brute aura simmering beneath his sullen exterior. I think that what they had Fouche saying to Napoleon was true. <br /><br />I do not like it when Louis XVIII is portrayed as a bumbling, lazy idiot. I may not like Louis XVIII, but I acknowledge that he was a political genius, totally devious, ruthless, and self-serving. One cannot deny his brilliance and yet they always do in such shows. <br /><br />I have never heard that Louis XVIII received any such secret message. He may have sent a message to himself and then told people - he was devious enough to do something like that. He was corresponding with some of the top revolutionaries - they called him a "crowned Jacobin" and a "King Voltaire" because of his leftist connections.elena maria vidalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-45336037197765666372007-01-25T20:04:00.000-05:002007-01-25T20:04:00.000-05:00Hello Again! Thanks for this description of Louis ...Hello Again! Thanks for this description of Louis XVIII, whom some people refer to as "the perfid" brother of Louis XVI. Last Tuesday, I saw the last chapter of the Napoleon series I was watching, and it is when Louis XVIII is shown returning to Paris, after the defeat of Napoleon, and he is portrayed as a very lazy and unworried king. By the way, after the defeat of Napoleon (Christian Clavier) in Waterloo, there is a scene when Fouché (Depardieu)-the double regicide- scorns him, and Napoleon says to him: "I should have had you hang" and Fouché replies: "Well, that phrase is for you to include it in your memories". Now, how much is true that episode where Louis XVIII receives a misterious message in his chamber foretelling he would be king as the two little princes Louis Joseph Xavier and Louis Charles would not live long enough to rule? Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com