The Marie Antoinette Romances, Vol 3: The Queen's Necklace (Version 2)
Alexandre Dumas
Read by John Van Stan
This 3rd volume of the Marie Antoinette Romances begins a decade after the close of "The Mesmerist’s Victim” and is based on a real scandal in Louis XVI’s court, commonly called “The Diamond Necklace Affair.” In this volume, the plotting of a powerful occultist, Count Cogliostro (or “Balsamo”), collides with the long-festering resentments of a previous royal house, Jeanne de Valois (de la Motte), a growing popular movement for sociopolitical reform, and a shrinking supply of bread. It is easy to see how converging sociopolitical challenges can threaten the monarchy, but how can the court of Louis XVI overcome these challenges amidst a famine? After all, in the words of his economic advisor, Turgot de l'Aulnes, “Ne vous mêlez pas du pain” (One must not meddle with bread)! - Summary by jvanstan (16 hr 40 min)
Chapters
| Prologue, The Predictions | 19:45 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Prologue, M. de la Perouse, Part 1 | 36:57 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Prologue, M. de la Perouse, Part 2 | 28:45 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Two Unknown Ladies | 14:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| An Interior | 10:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Jeanne de la Motte Valois | 20:40 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Belus | 10:18 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Road to Versailles | 14:12 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Laurent | 21:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Queen's Bed-Chamber | 25:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Queen's Petite Levee | 16:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Swiss Lake | 8:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Tempter | 12:45 | Read by John Van Stan |
| M. de Suffren | 12:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| M. de Charny | 9:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The 100 Louis of the Queen | 5:10 | Read by John Van Stan |
| M. Fingret | 9:45 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Cardinal de Rohan | 23:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Mesmer and St. Martin | 6:40 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Bucket | 11:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Mademoiselle Olivia | 11:01 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Monsieur Beausire | 6:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Gold | 8:35 | Read by John Van Stan |
| La Petite Mason | 22:21 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Some Word's about the Opera | 3:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Ball at the Opera | 29:50 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Examination | 4:50 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Academy of Beausire | 18:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Ambassador | 9:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Messrs. Boehmer and Bossange | 6:40 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Ambassador's Hotel | 11:10 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Bargain | 10:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Journalist's House | 13:35 | Read by John Van Stan |
| How Two Friends Became Enemies | 10:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The House in the Rue St. Gilles | 17:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Head of the Taverney Family | 8:50 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Stanzas of M. de Provence | 10:54 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Princess de Lamballe | 11:40 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Queen | 18:18 | Read by John Van Stan |
| An Alibi | 13:03 | Read by John Van Stan |
| M. de Crosne | 9:00 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Temptress | 7:35 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Two Ambitions that Wish to Pass for Two Loves | 4:35 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Faces under Their Masks | 16:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| In Which M. Ducorneau Understands Nothing of What is Passing | 11:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Illusions and Reality | 4:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Olivia Begins to Ask What They Want of Her | 6:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Deserted House | 3:21 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Jeanne the Protectress | 8:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Jeanne Protected | 9:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Queen's Portfolio | 6:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| In Which We Find Dr. Louis | 6:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Aegri Somnia | 7:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Andree | 8:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Delirium | 5:23 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Convalescence | 8:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Two Bleeding Hearts | 10:44 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Minister of Finance | 6:57 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Cardinal de Rohan | 12:10 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Debtor and Creditor | 9:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Family Accounts | 7:10 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Marie Antoinette as Queen and Madame de la Motte as Woman | 7:10 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Receipt of MM. Boehmer and Bossange, and the Gratitude of the Queen | 6:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Prisoner | 9:45 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Look Out | 3:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Two Neighbors | 6:55 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Rendezvous | 5:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Queen's Hand | 3:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Woman and Queen | 10:35 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Woman and Demon | 9:40 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Night | 7:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Conge | 7:40 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Jealousy of the Cardinal | 14:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Flight | 8:57 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Letter and the Receipt | 6:49 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Roi ne Puis, Prince ne Daigne, Rohan Je Suis | 10:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Love and Diplomacy | 8:42 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Charny, Cardinal and Queen | 8:26 | Read by John Van Stan |
| Explanations | 11:15 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Arrest | 10:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Process-Verbal | 7:11 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Last Accusation | 8:24 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Proposal of Marriage | 7:34 | Read by John Van Stan |
| St. Denis | 2:34 | Read by John Van Stan |
| A Dead Heart | 7:03 | Read by John Van Stan |
| In Which It Is Explained Why the Baron de Taverney Grew Fat | 5:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Father and the Fiancee | 7:55 | Read by John Van Stan |
| After the Dragon, the Viper | 6:55 | Read by John Van Stan |
| How It Came to Pass that M. Beausire Was Tracked by the Agents of M. Crosne | 4:30 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Turtles Are Caged | 23:45 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Last Hope Lost | 3:42 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Baptism of the Little Beausire | 2:05 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Trial | 8:25 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Execution | 10:50 | Read by John Van Stan |
| The Marriage | 5:20 | Read by John Van Stan |
Reviews
SUBTERFUGE REIGNS
AVID READER
Never has one novel presented so many plots and sub-plots. One can only marvel that Dumas could keep them all straight in his mind. This third novel of the five offers no sign of losing momentum, and the narration of Van Stam only enhanced. On to number four!
a facinating sequel
deborah isabela
well read. captivating characters. Thank you Mr. Van Stan for opening this door to me. A great companion to wash dishes with.
Excellent reading
Peggy
This is the second version of this book that I have listened to and I will say it was much more enjoyable.
Confusing
April Palm
I found this story confusing, especially with so many names that sounded similar.
Epic!
Uncle Ell Weisgal
great story ready by the inimitable Van Stan. thank you!