Product Description

This work takes as its subject Louis XIV at Versailles - from the moment he decided to transform his father's hunting lodge into the greatest palace in Europe to his death there 54 years later. It covers the daily life of the king, the court and the government during the period of France's apogee in military power and artistic achievement. The book discusses the plans for and the building of the palace, and the creation of remarkable elaborate works of art with which it was filled. The book reconstructs the course of Louis's love affairs, culminating in his secret marriage to Madame de Maintenon, episodes such as the affair of the poisons, the creation of the School for Girls at Saint-Cyr, Lord Portland's embassy and the marriage of the Duchess of Bourgogne.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #308261 in Books
• Published on: 1994-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Brilliant society analyst Mitford on most brilliant society
Nobody understood the nuances of aristocratic society better than the Mitford sisters. No aristocratic society ever had more nuances than Louis XIV's. That background and Nancy Mitford's witty prose make her study of Louis and her court so readable that her exhaustive research and genuine scholarship may be overshadowed. To the unitiated, Louis is a gilt and ormalu figure rather than one of the most interesting personalities in European history. Anyone new to the Louis fascination will be infected, but Mitford's biography is also deep enough for readers who know much more. Most biographers of Louis understand how interesting, funny, and complex his personality and long life were. Mitford explains this phenonomen well, and illustrates his personality by examining Louis's family, court, and surroundings. Mitford lived near Versailles for many years and draws from hundreds of original French documents.

Still an effective book on Louis
Having enjoyed Antonia Fraser's recent book, Love and Louis XIV, I picked this up in a charity shop, and I'm very pleased I did so. Mitford's book is still respected and it is cited in Fraser's bibliography as a source.

The book occupies a centre ground between popular and adademic history; a bit heavy at times for the former (but you do get the detail you want), and a bit light for the latter (but easier to read than most specialist history texts). It also has the benefit of the author's knowledge of court life, including an amusing anecdote about her own presentation at Buckingham Palace.

If you are interested in this period of French history I warmly recomend this book.

Good book, good info, but needs more on political/wars side
A very good book on Louis XIV and the court life during the Age of the Sun King, but it would have been even better with more general, easy to understand events and political status during the period. Don't get me wrong though, it's a good book, and very useful!