Marie Antoinette''s Head : the Royal Hairdresser, the Queen, and the Revolution

Winner of the Adele Mellen Prize for Distinguished Scholarship Marie Antoinette has remained atop the popular cultural landscape for centuries for the daring in style and fashion that she brought to 18th century France. For the better part of the queen?s reign, one man was entrusted with the sole responsibility of ensuring that her coiffure was at its most ostentatious best. Who was this minister of fashion who wielded such tremendous influence over the queen?s affairs? Marie Antoinette?s Head: The Royal Hairdresser, The Queen, and the Revolution By unearthing a variety of sources from the 18th and 19th centuries, including memoirs (including L?onard?s own), court documents, and archived periodicals the author, French History professor and expert Will Bashor, tells Autie?s mostly unknown story. Bashor chronicles Leonard?s story, the role he played in the life of his most famous client, and the chaotic and history-making world in which he rose to prominence. Besides his proximity to the queen, Leonard also had a most fascinating life filled with sex (he was the only man in a female dominated court), seduction, intrigue, espionage, theft, exile, treason, and possibly, execution. The French press reported that L?onard was convicted of treason and executed in Paris in 1793. However, it was also recorded that L?onard, after receiving a pension from the new King Louis XVIII, died in Paris in March 1820. Granted, Leonard was known as the magician of Marie-Antoinette?s court, but how was it possible that he managed to die twice?;Chronology; Cast of Historical Characters; A Note on Sources; A Note on Titles of Nobility; Prologue; PART ONE The Mania; CHAPTER 1 Léonard the Magician; CHAPTER 2 The King's New Mistress; CHAPTER 3 The Court of Versailles; CHAPTER 4 Captivating a Queen and Her Subjects; CHAPTER 5" Le Pouf Sentimental"; PART TWO The Queen's Confidant; CHAPTER 6 A Hairdresser's Gossip; CHAPTER 7 The Queen's Temperament; CHAPTER 8 The Monsieur's Theater; PART THREE The Clouds of Revolution; CHAPTER 9 The Fatal Banquet; CHAPTER 10 The Flight of the Royal Family; CHAPTER 11 The Other Léonard. "Marie Antoinette has remained atop the popular cultural landscape for centuries for the daring in style and fashion that she brought to 18th century France. For the better part of the queen's reign, one man was entrusted with the sole responsibility of ensuring that her coiffure was at its most ostentatious best. Who was this minister of fashion who wielded such tremendous influence over the queen's affairs? Marie Antoinette's Head: The Royal Hairdresser, The Queen, and the Revolution charts the rise of Leonard Autie from humble origins as a country barber in the south of France to the inventor of the Pouf and premier hairdresser to Queen Marie-Antoinette. By unearthing a variety of sources from the 18th and 19th centuries, including memoirs (including Leonard's own), court documents, and archived periodicals the author, French History professor and expert Will Bashor, tells Autie's mostly unknown story. Bashor chronicles Leonard's story, the role he played in the life of his most famous client, and the chaotic and history-making world in which he rose to prominence. Besides his proximity to the queen, Leonard also had a most fascinating life filled with sex (he was the only man in a female dominated court), seduction, intrigue, espionage, theft, exile, treason, and possibly, execution. The French press reported that Leonard was convicted of treason and executed in Paris in 1793. However, it was also recorded that Leonard, after receiving a pension from the new King Louis XVIII, died in Paris in March 1820. Granted, Leonard was known as the magician of Marie-Antoinette's court, but how was it possible that he managed to die twice?"-- Provided by publisher Marie Antoinette has remained atop the popular cultural landscape for centuries for the daring in style and fashion that she brought to 18th century France. For the better part of the queen's reign, one man was entrusted with the sole responsibility of ensuring that her coiffure was at its most ostentatious best. Who was this minister of fashion who wielded such tremendous influence over the queen's affairs? Winner of the Adele Mellen Prize for Distinguished Scholarship, Marie Antoinette's Head: The Royal Hairdresser, The Queen, and the Revolution charts the rise of Leonard Autie from humble origins as a country barber in the south of France to the inventor of the Pouf and premier hairdresser to Queen Marie-Antoinette. By unearthing a variety of sources from the 18th and 19th centuries, including memoirs (including Léonard's own), court documents, and archived periodicals the author, French History professor and expert Will Bashor, tells Autie's mostly unknown story. Bashor chronicles Leonard's story, the role he played in the life of his most famous client, and the chaotic and history-making world in which he rose to prominence. Besides his proximity to the queen, Leonard also had a most fascinating life filled with sex (he was the only man in a female dominated court), seduction, intrigue, espionage, theft, exile, treason, and possibly, execution. Chronology Cast of Historical Characters A Note on Sources A Note on Titles of Nobility Prologue PART ONE The Mania CHAPTER 1 Léonard the Magician CHAPTER 2 The King's New Mistress CHAPTER 3 The Court of Versailles CHAPTER 4 Captivating a Queen and Her Subjects CHAPTER 5" Le Pouf Sentimental" PART TWO The Queen's Confidant CHAPTER 6 A Hairdresser's Gossip CHAPTER 7 The Queen's Temperament CHAPTER 8 The Monsieur's Theater PART THREE The Clouds of Revolution CHAPTER 9 The Fatal Banquet CHAPTER 10 The Flight of the Royal Family CHAPTER 11 The Other Léonard. CHAPTER 12 The Fatal MessageCHAPTER 13 Léonard in Exile PART FOUR The Struggles to Survive CHAPTER 14 Sorrowful Events CHAPTER 15 The Queen Is No More CHAPTER 16 Léonard Resumes the Comb CHAPTER 17 Sixteen Years Later CHAPTER 18 Léonard's Final Ruse Afterword Acknowledgments Selected Bibliography List of Illustrations & Credits Endnotes Index. "For the better part of the Queen Marie Antoinette's reign over France, one man was entrusted with the sole responsibility of ensuring that her coiffure was at its most ostentatious best. Marie Antoinette's Head tells the story of Leonard Autie, Marie Antoinette's hairdresser and confidante, the man responsible for the style that made her the envy of France and for the uproar that dragged her to the guillotine"-- Provided by publisher