Desiree by Annemarie Selinko
Once, many years ago, it was nothing but white empty pages and lay on my birthday table. I was fourteen years old and wanted to know what I was to write in it. Papa answered: ‘The story of Citizeness Bernadine Eugenie Désirée Clary.’
Papa, I have written it down, all of it, and there’s nothing more to be added now. The story of the citizeness has come to an end, and that of the Queen is beginning now. I shall never understand how it all came about. But I promise you, Papa, to do all I can not to bring discredit on your name, and never to forget that you were a highly respected silk merchant all your life.
Annemarie Selinko, Desiree