Product Description

Campaigns fought by Louis XIV, the Sun King, shaped the borders of European states, the destinies of royal dynasties, and even the patterns of absolutist government. This book presents the most authoritative yet accessible and succinct account of these all-important struggles available today, covering every aspect of the wars from decisions made by the king at his palace at Versailles to the life of the troops encamped in the field. Focusing on the French army, the greatest military force of the age, this tale of violence, victory, and victims balances siege and battle in a way that tells us much that is new about the Sun King and his adversaries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #360998 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

About the Author
Dr John A Lynn, Professor of History at the University of Illinois, has written or edited six books, including 'Giant of the Grand Siecle: The French Army, 1610-1715' (Cambridge University Press, 1997) and 'The Wars of Louis XIV, 1667-1714' (Longman, 1999). He is currently working on 'The Mind of War: A History of Combat and Culture' for Westview Press.

Customer Reviews

Good Quick Introduction
As with many titles in this series of 'Essential Histories', this is a good summary introduction to the subject. Professor John Lynn is one of the most emminent American specialists in the history of Louis XIV's reign. For the student who wants to dig deeper into the subject matter, the bibliography in this volume offers an excellent starting point. There are only two drawbacks to this volume. First, there are some inexcusable typographical and editing errors, including outright misnomers. Osprey should have another knowledgeable person review the book and correct these. Second, the lack of maps for each of the wars and campaigns would have added to the geographical perspective essential to understanding this period. I highly recommend keeping an atlas handy to follow the text.

inexcusable
This book forced me to question everything I thought I knew about history. I was not aware that the Spanish had Australian cousins, let alone that Louis XIV had fought them. Now I have to imagine kings of Spain with Aboriginal blood, and French armies crossing the Indian Ocean. But seriously, this cannot just be carelessness. Someone at Osprey is doing it deliberately.