The Queen's Necklace
Alexandre Dumas
Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan
The Queen's Necklace is historical fiction based on an actual scandal in the court of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI during 1784-85, "The Diamond Necklace Affair". The Diamond Necklace Affair contributed to the discrediting of the Marie Antoinette and the monarchy of Louis XVI prior to the French Revolution. The backdrop is the rebellious state of the French people due in part to adverse weather and crop failures affecting the food supply and price of bread during the 1780s, contrasted to the extravagance of the French monarchy. The Queen's Necklace is the 3rd novel in the Marie Antoinette series by Alexandre Dumas. (summary by Gail Timmerman-Vaughan) (12 hr 20 min)
Chapters
| PROLOGUE, Part I. THE PREDICTIONS | 13:05 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| PROLOGUE, Part II. M. DE LA PEROUSE | 47:19 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| I. TWO UNKNOWN LADIES | 12:09 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| II. AN INTERIOR | 8:04 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| III. JEANNE DE LA MOTTE VALOIS | 15:50 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| IV. BELUS | 8:16 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| V. THE ROAD TO VERSAILLES | 10:38 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| VI. LAURENT | 14:25 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| VII. THE QUEEN'S BED-CHAMBER | 17:22 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| VIII. THE QUEEN'S PETITE LEVEE | 12:01 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| IX. THE SWISS LAKE | 6:33 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| X. THE TEMPTER | 8:22 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XI. M. DE SUFFREN | 9:18 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XII. M. DE CHARNY | 7:39 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XIII. THE ONE HUNDRED LOUIS OF THE QUEEN | 4:03 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XIV. M. FINGRET | 6:52 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XV. THE CARDINAL DE ROHAN | 14:37 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XVI. MESMER AND ST. MARTIN | 5:58 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XVII. THE BUCKET | 9:37 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XVIII. MADEMOISELLE OLIVIA | 7:49 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XIX. MONSIEUR BEAUSIRE | 4:39 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XX. GOLD | 5:58 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXI. LA PETITE MAISON | 15:47 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXII. SOME WORDS ABOUT THE OPERA | 3:07 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXIII. THE BALL AT THE OPERA | 20:54 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXIV. THE EXAMINATION | 3:54 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXV. THE ACADEMY OF M. BEAUSIRE | 13:18 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXVI. THE AMBASSADOR | 6:22 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXVII. MESSRS. BOEHMER AND BOSSANGE | 5:19 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXVIII. THE AMBASSADOR'S HOTEL | 7:18 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXIX. THE BARGAIN | 6:53 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXX. THE JOURNALIST'S HOUSE | 10:31 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXI. HOW TWO FRIENDS BECAME ENEMIES | 8:34 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXII. THE HOUSE IN THE RUE ST. GILLES | 12:07 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXIII. THE HEAD OF THE TAVERNEY FAMILY | 5:45 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXIV. THE STANZAS OF M. DE PROVENCE | 6:51 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXV. THE PRINCESS DE LAMBALLE | 8:31 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXVI. THE QUEEN | 13:22 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXVII. AN ALIBI | 10:51 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXVIII. M. DE CROSNE | 7:03 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XXXIX. THE TEMPTRESS | 5:30 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XL. TWO AMBITIONS THAT WISH TO PASS FOR TWO LOVES | 3:35 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLI. FACES UNDER THEIR MASKS | 11:32 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLII. IN WHICH M. DUCORNEAU UNDERSTANDS NOTHING OF WHAT IS PASSING | 8:32 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLIII. ILLUSIONS AND REALITY | 3:46 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLIV. OLIVA BEGINS TO ASK WHAT THEY WANT OF HER | 4:23 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLV. THE DESERTED HOUSE | 2:39 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLVI. JEANNE THE PROTECTRESS | 5:44 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLVII. JEANNE PROTECTED | 7:11 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLVIII. THE QUEEN'S PORTFOLIO | 3:59 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XLIX. IN WHICH WE FIND DR. LOUIS | 5:11 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| L. AEGRI SOMNIA | 5:08 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LI. ANDREE | 6:16 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LII. DELIRIUM | 4:13 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LIII. CONVALESCENCE | 6:43 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LIV. TWO BLEEDING HEARTS | 8:16 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LV. THE MINISTER OF FINANCE | 5:08 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LVI. THE CARDINAL DE ROHAN | 8:30 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LVII. DEBTOR AND CREDITOR | 6:05 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LVIII. FAMILY ACCOUNTS | 5:23 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LIX. MARIE ANTOINETTE AS QUEEN AND MADAME DE LA MOTTE AS WOMAN | 5:33 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LX. THE RECEIPT OF MM. BOEHMER AND BOSSANGE, AND THE GRATITUDE OF THE QUEEN | 5:00 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXI. THE PRISONER | 7:14 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXII. THE LOOK OUT | 3:09 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXIII. THE TWO NEIGHBORS | 5:49 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXIV. THE RENDEZVOUS | 4:40 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXV. THE QUEEN'S HAND | 3:08 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXVI. WOMAN AND QUEEN | 8:10 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXVII. WOMAN AND DEMON | 6:57 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXVIII. THE NIGHT | 6:13 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXIX. THE CONGE | 6:13 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXX. THE JEALOUSY OF THE CARDINAL | 11:02 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXI. THE FLIGHT | 6:30 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXII. THE LETTER AND THE RECEIPT | 5:03 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXIII. ''Roi ne puis, prince ne daigne, Rohan je suis'' | 7:21 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXIV. LOVE AND DIPLOMACY | 5:41 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXV. CHARNY, CARDINAL AND QUEEN | 6:03 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXVI. EXPLANATIONS | 7:45 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXVII. THE ARREST | 7:25 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXVIII. THE PROCES-VERBAL | 5:11 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXIX. THE LAST ACCUSATION | 6:40 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXX. THE PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE | 5:56 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXI. ST DENIS | 2:18 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXII. A DEAD HEART | 5:25 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXIII. IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT | 4:00 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXIV. THE FATHER AND THE FIANCEE | 5:42 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXV. AFTER THE DRAGON, THE VIPER | 5:01 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXVI. HOW IT CAME TO PASS THAT M. BEAUSIRE WAS TRACKED BY THE AGENTS OF M. CR… | 4:02 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXVII. THE TURTLES ARE CAGED | 17:44 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXVIII. THE LAST HOPE LOST | 3:15 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| LXXXIX. THE BAPTISM OF THE LITTLE BEAUSIRE | 1:51 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XC. THE TRIAL | 6:49 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XCI. THE EXECUTION | 8:36 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
| XCII. THE MARRIAGE | 4:35 | Read by Gail Timmerman Vaughan |
Reviews
interesting but a somewhat weak ending
Fleur
well i suppose most of the blame for the ending comes from the actual outcome of the trial of the necklace thief, but i also didn’t much enjoy the sacrificial lamb style epilogue. it felt miserable to everyone for no particular reason - it might have been concluded earlier and the book ending might have flowed better. i found all the characters quite compelling, particularly our main villainess - she was so sympathetic at first! i really enjoyed watching her plot. dumas has a recurring habit of making the young men who are in love with [insert woman here] total brainless simps, and this strikes again in the form of not one but two (!) young men who actually come to blows at one point. i’m somewhat sick of this but i guess in 19th century romances you take what you’re given. all in all, this was quite an interesting book and towards the end i was absolutely gripped and intrigued, but somewhat let down by the fact dumas doesn’t even invent an ending for the necklace