Mistresses and wives, mothers and daughters - Antonia Fraser brilliantly explores the relationships which existed between The Sun King and the women in his life. This includes not only Louis XIV's mistresses, principally Louise de La Vallière, Athénaïs de Montespan, and the puritanical Madame de Maintenon, but also the wider story of his relationships with women in general, including his mother Anne of Austria, his two sisters-in-law who were Duchesses d'Orléans in succession, Henriette-Anne and Liselotte, his wayward illegitimate daughters, and lastly Adelaide, the beloved child-wife of his grandson.
Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King
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Review
A sparkling history which captures the giddy quality of the times (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"Vividly capturing 17th-century Europe's most extravagant court.' (Mark Comber THE DAILY EXPRESS )
Antonia Fraser's colourful history emphasises the conflict between private pleasure and religious dut in the life of Europe's grandest Catholic ruler. (Simon Shaw THE MAIL ON SUNDAY )
'Fraser brilliantly dissects the intense rivalry of the ladies who indulged in 'commerce' with the king. (Ian Pindar THE OBSERVER )
this enjoyable account. Fraser brings to life the female stars circling the Sun King in an account that successfully combines erudition with gossipy stories of the kind the Versailles courtiers loved so much. (THE SUNDAY TIMES )
Louis springs to life as fresh and as fascinating as ever (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )
"Vividly capturing 17th-century Europe's most extravagant court.' (Mark Comber THE DAILY EXPRESS )
Antonia Fraser's colourful history emphasises the conflict between private pleasure and religious dut in the life of Europe's grandest Catholic ruler. (Simon Shaw THE MAIL ON SUNDAY )
'Fraser brilliantly dissects the intense rivalry of the ladies who indulged in 'commerce' with the king. (Ian Pindar THE OBSERVER )
this enjoyable account. Fraser brings to life the female stars circling the Sun King in an account that successfully combines erudition with gossipy stories of the kind the Versailles courtiers loved so much. (THE SUNDAY TIMES )
Louis springs to life as fresh and as fascinating as ever (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )
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The new bestseller from Antonia Fraser
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining but not shallow - a better understanding of Louis XIV and his relationships
30 Sep 2006
Format:Hardcover
Antonia Fraser is one of the best writers of (popular) history and this book just proves why.
So many books have been written about Louis XIV and it seems nearly impossible to shed a new light on this most famous of all French kings. So it was a very pleasant surprise that Antonia Fraser did this.
She follows the relationships of the Louis XIV with females from birth to death: from the long-for heir to the French throne, boy king at the age of 4 years and 8 months, through the period when the Sun King dominated Europe to the period when France and his king were nearly going down under and the reign ended on a sad notion. Each period had a distinct female symbolizing that very period: Anne of Austria, the King's mother and regent, Maria Theresia, his Queen, Madame de La Valliere and Madame de Montespan, his most famous mistresses and la Marquise de Maintenon, his morganatique wife. Of course, there are more like la Princesse Palatine, the Duchess of Burgundy or the first Duchess of Orleans. It seems that the Sun King did a full circle - Anne of Austria and Madame la Marquise had much in common and might be described as the same kind of personality. It is very much appreciated that Antonia Fraser restores Louis XIV's Queen Consort to her rightful place. The Queen is often neglected as the king did and she was properly the most remote person in terms of personal affection, but her role was vital for his gloire. The Infanta of Spain was the most valuable princess and none other would have done for the King and she was the mother of the rightful heirs to the throne.
Antonia Fraser commands the rare gift of writing in an entertaining manner without becoming shallow or superficial. All in all a book one can only recommend. I enjoyed it immensely.
So many books have been written about Louis XIV and it seems nearly impossible to shed a new light on this most famous of all French kings. So it was a very pleasant surprise that Antonia Fraser did this.
She follows the relationships of the Louis XIV with females from birth to death: from the long-for heir to the French throne, boy king at the age of 4 years and 8 months, through the period when the Sun King dominated Europe to the period when France and his king were nearly going down under and the reign ended on a sad notion. Each period had a distinct female symbolizing that very period: Anne of Austria, the King's mother and regent, Maria Theresia, his Queen, Madame de La Valliere and Madame de Montespan, his most famous mistresses and la Marquise de Maintenon, his morganatique wife. Of course, there are more like la Princesse Palatine, the Duchess of Burgundy or the first Duchess of Orleans. It seems that the Sun King did a full circle - Anne of Austria and Madame la Marquise had much in common and might be described as the same kind of personality. It is very much appreciated that Antonia Fraser restores Louis XIV's Queen Consort to her rightful place. The Queen is often neglected as the king did and she was properly the most remote person in terms of personal affection, but her role was vital for his gloire. The Infanta of Spain was the most valuable princess and none other would have done for the King and she was the mother of the rightful heirs to the throne.
Antonia Fraser commands the rare gift of writing in an entertaining manner without becoming shallow or superficial. All in all a book one can only recommend. I enjoyed it immensely.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Purplelotus
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be absolutely rivetting. Antonia Fraser explores in detail the character and influences on Louis XIV and the dicotomy he faced between his religion and his affairs. The pressures from the church, his mother and wife and his mistresses are all explored at great length. She also gives a rounded picture of the three principal mistresses characters and what drove them, in their turn, into their respective affairs with Louis XIV together with their own struggles, or lack thereof, with reconciling their affairs with their religion. It is a gripping read and not a dry historical biography. The last section of Louis XIV became a little complicated with all the granddaughters, grandsons, distant relatives and their respective spouses. The sumptuousness of life at court really comes across in this book but it is a sympathetic and balanced study.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I love Antonia Fraser's writing. This book was absorbing from start to finish, I'm rather sorry to have read it so fast! It gives the reader an idea of a woman's life - and the choices open to her - in the 17th century. Whilst the main theme was Louis XIV and the women in his life, Ms Fraser also gave us relevant snapshots of the lives of other monarchs in Europe - not least on the English throne. It was entertaining to read of the way the later generations of women pushed the boundaries of court etiquette, although only as far as Louis XIV was prepared to indulge! Overall, I would really recommend this book and I know I shall be able to read it more than once.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Liam
Format:Hardcover
This book, a study of King Louis XIV of France and the women in his life, including his mother, Anne of Austria, his wife Marie-Therese of Spain, his two sisters-in-law, Henriette-Anne of England and Liselotte of the Palatinate, his granddaughter-in-law Adelaide of Savoy, and of course his mistresses, Louise de La Valliere, Francoise-Athenais de Montpesan, Angelique de Fontagues and Francoise d'Aubigne, Madame de Maintenon. Then there's the mistress who never was, Marie Mancini.
As ever, Fraser tells a wonderful story - this is history at it's best. One of her best skills as an author, in my opinion, is the way she treats her characters as human beings; she is sympathetic to Louis being biased. She doesn't overlook his faults, but she isn't pessimistic about him. The characters come alive spectacularly, even though it's a non-fiction book - by the end, we feel as though we know Louis, Liselotte, Adelaide and the others. The Sun King has always been a compelling characters - I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to find out more not only about him, but about the women in his life!
As ever, Fraser tells a wonderful story - this is history at it's best. One of her best skills as an author, in my opinion, is the way she treats her characters as human beings; she is sympathetic to Louis being biased. She doesn't overlook his faults, but she isn't pessimistic about him. The characters come alive spectacularly, even though it's a non-fiction book - by the end, we feel as though we know Louis, Liselotte, Adelaide and the others. The Sun King has always been a compelling characters - I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to find out more not only about him, but about the women in his life!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By MarkE
Format:Hardcover
This is not a biography of Louis XIV; it is rather a study of his relationships with the women in his life and it includes biographies of those women. Fraser does not confine herself to his Queen (Marie-Therese of Austria) and the royal mistresses, but investigates Louis' relationship with his mother and, at the other end of his life, his platonic relationships with various favourites. The queen and mistresses do however play a large part in the book, as they played a large part in Louis' life.
It is refereshing to note the attempt to understand the importance of Louis' Catholicism and how this coloured his relationships, especially with la Maintenant but also with Louise de la Valliere and, indeed, with Marie-Therese.
It is refereshing to note the attempt to understand the importance of Louis' Catholicism and how this coloured his relationships, especially with la Maintenant but also with Louise de la Valliere and, indeed, with Marie-Therese.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
CD good condition
Contents a bit boring, so many women, so many children. Well researched and well written as usual by Antonia Fraser and interesting to hear the way the French court existed.
Published 7 days ago by Mrs. S. M. Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book for lovers of history.
Well researched, it brings to life the times and life of LouisXIV. Antonia Fraser describes life in the French Court with great sensitivity. Well worth reading.
Published 2 months ago by foxglove
4.0 out of 5 stars
An even handed work of depth
I thoroughly enjoyed this look at the life and loves of Louis XIV. It manages to engage the reader with the life of the Sun King, imparting a depth of knowledge without getting the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Charlie&Molly
1.0 out of 5 stars
Excruciating English!
Whatever the merits of this book academically and in terms of research, it is absolutely dreadful to read. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2011 by Giles Penfold
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and informative insight to a complicated man
This is the first Antonia Fraser book I have read and I am thoroughly impressed. She has a very readable style and manages to get a lot of information in without sounding dry as... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by Racheljrm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love and Louis X1V - the women in the life of the Sun King
As an avid fan of all Antonia Fraser's books, this one is up to her usual excellent standard. The characters are all so brilliantly portrayed and as usual, I found it hard to put... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by Mrs. M. Key
4.0 out of 5 stars
The court of the Sun King
Fraser's account of the Sun King's personal life is an immensely enjoyable read. Not only does the author breathe life into her cast of kings, queens, duchesses, mistresses,... Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2007 by J. Neal
4.0 out of 5 stars
more light on the sun king
I wrote this review for the Hardback edition, and think it fitting to include it here:
Another historical masterpiece from the author of `Mary Queen Of Scots', `Marie... Read more
Another historical masterpiece from the author of `Mary Queen Of Scots', `Marie... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2007 by Moon Cheese
5.0 out of 5 stars
The personal life of the King reflects the politcial life - a better...
Antonia Fraser is one of the best writers of (popular) history and this book just proves why.
So many books have been written about Louis XIV and it seems nearly... Read more
So many books have been written about Louis XIV and it seems nearly... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2007 by Amelrode
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Light On The Sun King
Another historical masterpiece from the author of `Mary Queen Of Scots', `Marie Antoinette The Journey' et al. Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2007 by Moon Cheese
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