Joan Haslip; Novelist, Biographer

Joan Haslip, a writer best known for her biographies of Marie Antoinette and Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, has died at her home in Italy. She was 82.

Christine Sutherland, a friend and also a biographer, said Monday that Miss Haslip died June 19 in Florence after suffering a heart attack. Miss Haslip was born in London, but grew up in Florence and lived there much of her life.

Her first novel, “Out of Focus,” was published in 1931. A second book followed in 1932, “Grandfather Steps.”

She later turned to biographies, where she was more successful. Her book “Imperial Adventurer” about Maximilian, published in 1971, was a Book of the Month Club choice in the United States. Her biography of Marie Antoinette, published in 1987, was translated into 10 languages.

Her last book was “Madame du Barry,” published in 1991. She was working on a biography of Napoleon’s three sisters at the time of her death, the British publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson said.

A funeral was held in Florence last week, Miss Sutherland said.

Miss Haslip is survived by a nephew, Philipe Gomez, of Verona, Italy.