Loss of Innocence: A Novel of the French Revolution

by Anne Newton Walther

Book Overview

In spite of her noble heritage, French countess Eugenie Devereux avidly embraces the stirrings of social change and revolution in France. Life at her tranquil chateau will never be the same.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967670349
• ISBN13: 9780967670348
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Tapestries Publishing
• Length: 383 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Loss of Innocence

Loss of Innocence is a wonderfully written creation that weaves history and fiction together seamlessly to tell the story of the French Revolution. The main character, Comtesse de Beaumont, Eugenie Devereux is a fictional character living in the Bordeaux valley. Eugenie is an extremely strong woman who agrees with the ideals behind the revolution. Be that as it may, she also believes that the transition need not be violent. The story of this unique woman actually starts with the death of Marie Antoinette. Later the reader finds out that Eugenie had played a large part in trying to save the Queen's life after the execution of the king, Louis XVI. The story relates to the reader how this came to pass. The character of Eugenie Devereux was so well created that for the first few chapters, I actually wondered if this fictional character was based upon a real woman. In part, this is due to the attention to details, the addition of interesting bits of historical information into the work, and purposeful attempts to dismiss commonly held beliefs about this period of time. I applaud the author- very well done.

This Loss of Innocence...is your gain

In this historical fiction, Anne Newton Walther's Loss of Innocence represents a new adaptation of her well-received book, A Time of Treason. However, instead of being set in Revolutionary America, we're transported to Revolutionary France and the chatelaine Eugènie Devereaux's extensive land holdings in Bordeaux, the wine country of France, specifically the Château de Beamount. Besides Devereaux and her lover Captain Bridger Goodrich, several major characters are carried forward from the first book to this one and expanded on, including a feisty horse, The Roan. Devereaux walks the fine line of supporting France and the citizens she loves and her desire to help Marie Antoinette avoid becoming a victim of the revolutionary tide. Even if you know nothing of the French Revolution, you know what happens to Antoinette in the end. This book brings to light lesser-known tidbits of history in an imaginative blend of fact and vivid fictional characters. In addition Walther adds French phrases throughout the book to remind us constantly that we are in France and this adds a piquant quality to her writing. Azilum is a non-fictional place that a group of Americans, hand-in-hand with some French nobility, created to rescue Antoinette from being imprisoned in France and bring her to the town expressly built for her and her family on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. Plans were already started to build Azilum, and several attempts were made to get Antoinette to escape to America, but she refused to leave either her husband or children each time she was rescued. This book gives us some fascinating things to think about: * The tension between Devereaux's love of France, its people and saving Marie Antoinette. * Numerous highlights of the political reality of good intentions that result in disaster. * What love means between two people: a married sea-faring captain and Devereaux. This book is a fantastic addition to the existing French Revolutionary literature. Armchair Interviews says: Imagery, adventure, death, excitement and passion all wrapped up in one book.

Enthusiastically recommended for historical fiction aficionados.

Lecturer, consultant, and passionate student of history Anne Newton Walther presents Loss of Innocence: A Novel of the French Revolution, the de facto sequel to her debut novel "A Time of Treason". The heroine of "A Time of Treason", Eugenie Devereaux, returns in Loss of Innocence, which offers a vigorously involved view of the French Revolution colored by an unusually sympathetic portrayal of Marie Antoinette. Based upon an obscure historical event - the ambitious yet ultimately thwarted plan to rescue Marie Antoinette from her prison in France and deliver her across the Atlantic to the relative safe haven of a Pennsylvania town called "Azilum" - Loss of Innocence a moving, immersively detailed saga from cover to cover. Enthusiastically recommended for historical fiction aficionados.

Reviewed by Amy Lignor

In spite of her noble heritage, French countess Eugènie Devereux embraces the social changes and revolution in France. She maintains a network of agents to keep her informed of the happenings in Paris and Versailles. When she receives a cryptic invitation from Marie Antoinette, Eugènie suspects that the royal family is in danger. Anarchy is the order of the day as Eugènie risks her life to take on a secret mission for the royal family. Joining to help her is Bridger Goodrich - an American shipper who won her heart during the American Revolution. Yes, there have been many books and movies regarding the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette - I grant you that. However, I have never before seen a wonderful plotline such as this one. Imbedded and interwoven in the historical facts, is a romance that is tender and loving; a dangerous suspenseful plan that makes the reader turn the page to see how the story will end; and a courageous heroine that captures the heart as she puts her reputation on the line to aide in a conspiracy theory of monumental proportions. The author's first book was about the American Revolution where she first introduced these characters. I am definitely going to go pick that one up because this one was truly enjoyable. Not to mention, I want to learn more about this wonderful, Bridger, character. The writing is quick and sharp, the suspense builds with each page, and the historical elements are true and vividly colorful. After all, this was a time of absurdly wealthy people who spent money like it was going out of style. Unfortunately for them, it was. Marie Antoinette remains a character that people have very definitive views about. They either love her, and think of her as a young girl put into a horrible position or they despise her, believing her to be a selfish, arrogant woman who single-handedly destroyed France. As we Americans know, nothing topples - country, dynasty...buildings - single-handedly; when something fails miserably it is because there are "too many cooks in the kitchen" who were ultimately responsible for burning the stew. There is a line in this book regarding the fact that intent and outcome are two very different things in the political world. Certainly a truer statement has never been spoken. I love Eugènie Devereux. She is engaging and insightful. Although she has her own opinions of the struggle that the French people are going through - there is a loyalty about her that I truly admire. She has the adventurous spirit and eternal flame inside her soul that mimics that of her beloved wild horses. Her network of informants is also a treat for the brain. Jeremy, the boy she took from the Island of Bermuda and secured his freedom in the first book, is a wonderful character who loves his mistress, but also has strong opinions that he will voice without worry of being hung in the town square. The romance, as well, was written to perfection. Eugènie and the American shipper, Mr. Go

A gripping tale of history & passion

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (7/07) Well-known psychologist, author and speaker Anne Newton Walther's passion for history led to the writing of her first book "A Time of Treason." A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Anne grew up in Virginia and now lives in San Francisco with her husband. She has been on national talk shows, local television and radio and is head of a psychological counseling firm. Ms. Walther has taken her very colorful character the French Countess Eugenie Devereux (that she introduced in "A Time of Treason") on another adventure through history. This time, however, the beautiful Madam Devereux is back in France and is in the midst of the French Revolution. Her loyalty to the royal family is torn because of her love of her country and its people. Eugenie and her Chateau are caught in the middle and it becomes a popular place for nobles, military men and commoners. Then one day, the Queen herself pays a visit to the Chateau. Eugenie Devereux has built alliances and has many friends throughout the world. One such friend, an American, proposes to exile the royal family to America. This little-known fact is in very few history books and is not easy to Google. The plans that are discussed would bring the royal family to America and set them up in their own little kingdom. There they would live their lives in peace and tranquility while still maintaining their status as the Royal French Family. The plan is made and ready to proceed when tragedy strikes in the form of a visitor. What happens then is history, but the way Ms. Walther presents it is most intriguing. "Loss of Innocence" is a compelling book that details the struggles of the revolution and the emotions of the people that went through it. If you are a history buff and like your history a little more personalized, then this is a must read. I must say "had it not been for my knowledge of the French language, I may have not understood certain remarks made." If that is the case with you, then I suggest that you have a pocket French translation book handy. It will make some of the passages much more interesting. I enjoyed the sparse peppering of French in the dialog but it may be a slight irritant to others. I gave it an A+ and considered it an excellent read. The binding is quality, the art work of high caliber and the content superior.