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Secondary sourceBook1912

Recollections of Léonard, Hairdresser to Queen Marie-Antoinette

Léonard Autié · 1912

A 1912 translated memoir by Léonard Autié, Marie Antoinette's hairdresser, describing her daily life and the court of Louis XVI.

Recollections by her personal hairdresser, offering an intimate view of her daily life at court.

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Recollections of Léonard, Hairdresser to Queen Marie-AntoinettePDF · 354 pages
Léonard Autié, Recollections of Léonard, Hairdresser to Queen Marie-Antoinette, translated 1912.

About this source

What it is

This book, published in 1912, presents the recollections of Léonard Autié, who served as hairdresser to Queen Marie-Antoinette. Translated from the French, it covers much of the reign of Louis XVI and includes illustrations of court figures and places such as Versailles and the Petit Trianon.

Why it matters

Though published long after Léonard's death and the queen's life, this memoir is based on his personal experience serving her daily. It offers intimate details of court life, fashion, and the people surrounding Marie Antoinette, making it a valuable secondary source for understanding her world from the perspective of someone close to her.

Look closer

  • How might a hairdresser's view of the queen differ from that of a politician or diplomat?
  • Why do you think this memoir was translated and republished more than a century after the events it describes?
  • What details might Léonard have included about appearance and daily life that official records would not?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Marie Antoinette on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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