This is a list of the many memoirs of the people directly involved in the Affair of the Diamond Necklace. There was a widespread penchant for writing memoirs at this time, so everyone involved wrote their version of events and had it published. Since the scandal made such a major impact, the memoirs sold well, though the writers didn’t necessarily see much profit due to copyright laws of the time. However, these would have proved juicy readings for the public, as well as for the historian. Although they’re wonderful fist-hand accounts, it’s difficult to decipher fact from fiction, especially in the case of the Affair od the Diamond Necklace. Some are available in various forms in various places. In her fabulous book The Queen’s Necklace, France Mossiker conveniently and brilliantly wove together these memoirs and other primary sources. If you want to read some of these various memoirs, your best bet is to find this book, which isn’t hard to do. If, however, you want to read the entire memoirs, these are the titles of them, and a few links to those that can be found via Google Books.
The Memoirs
Boehmer and Bassenge:
Memoires des joailliers Boehmer et Bassenge, du Août 12, 1785.
Cagliostro:
Mémoire pour le Comte de Cagliostro, accuse, contro M. le Proceureur-général, accusateur, en presence de M. Le Cardinal de Rohan, de la Comtesse de La Motte et autres, co-accusés.*
Jeanne de La Motte-Valois de Saint Rémy:
Mémoires justicatifs de la comtesse de La Motte-Valois. London 1789.
Memoirs of the Countess de Valois de La Motte. Dublin 1790.
Vie de Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois. London, 1791, Paris 1792.
Nicole d’Oliva:
Mémoire pour la demoiselle le Guay d’Oliva, fille mineure, émancipée d’âge, accusée, contre M. le Procurer-général.*
Jacques Claude Beugnot:
Mémoires, Paris 1823
Madame Campan [Queen’s confidante]:
Mémoires sur la vie privée de Marie Antoinette. Paris 1823
Nicolas de La Motte:
Mémoires inédits du comte de La Motte-Valois (ed. Louis Lacour). Paris, 1858).
Retaux de Villette:
Mémoires historiques des intrigues de la cour, Venice 1790.
*Not personal memoires
Links to memoirs on Google Books for your edification
Nicole d’Oliva [FRENCH]
Jacques Claude Beugnot [ENGLISH] volume 1 . volume 2
Madame Campan, confidante of Marie Antoinette
Abbe Georgel, servant of Cardinal Rohan
Marie Antoinette's Diamonds 