French officials fight for possession of French Revolution-era letter

Government blocks sale of Charlotte Corday’s 1793 manifesto justifying murder of Jean-Paul Marat

French officials are fighting for possession of a 1793 manifesto by a woman justifying her decision to stab a revolutionary leader to death, with local authorities saying they will take the case to court.

Charlotte Corday was a 24-year-old member of a moderate faction during the French Revolution, who became alarmed at the way it was being taken over by violent extremists.