Reviews
Audio extract
Author Q&A
The book centres around the Sun King and his relationship with numerous and fascinating women. Naturally dividing into five parts it will concentrate on the King's mother, Anne of Austria to whom he was devoted; his first important mistress, Louise de la Valliere who bore him several illegitimate children; Athenais Marquise de Montespan who acted as unofficial Queen of Versailles until her involvement in the affair of poisons and of course Marie Therese, his wife; and Madame de Maintenon, governess to the illegitimate royal children. The fifth part concentrates on his relations in old age with his daughters, granddaughters and the wife of his grandson. It will vividly bring to life the vast edifice of Louis XIV's court - the magnificence, artistic splendour, elaborate ritual and in some cases, absurdity and misery.
'Written with a rare combination of sympathy, erudition and high literary accomplishment, this book is a delight. It leaves no doubt as to why Antonia Fraser who, in another age, might well have been a star of Louis's court, is, instead, the reigning doyenne of British historians.'
John Adamson
THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
Read more reviews