Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France (THE GREAT CLASSICS LIBRARY)

Jeanne Louise Henriette Genet Campan, born Henriette Genet in 1752, died in 1822 à Mantes, was known in later life for her efforts in education but is best known to history for her memoirs of serving Marie-Antoinette. She founded two schools for young women and was supported by Napoleon, an association which lead to her disgrace in later years.

Having begun as a reader for Louis XV's daughters, she became Marie-Antoinette's chambermaid (a more exalted position in this case than the term suggests) and remained with the royal family until their flight to Varennes in 1791. Her intimate view of Marie-Antoinette is now a major source on that queen's life.