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Love and Louis XIV by Antonia Fraser
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Love and Louis XIV

The Women in the Life of the Sun King

The Women in the Life of the Sun King

The Women in the Life of the Sun King

The Women in the Life of the Sun King

By Antonia Fraser

By Antonia Fraser

By Antonia Fraser

By Antonia Fraser

By Antonia Fraser
Read by Rosalyn Landor

By Antonia Fraser
Read by Rosalyn Landor

By Antonia Fraser
Read by Justine Eyre

By Antonia Fraser
Read by Justine Eyre

Best Seller
Paperback $24.00

Nov 06, 2007 | ISBN 9781400033744

Ebook $11.99

Dec 10, 2008 | ISBN 9780307487759

Audiobook Download $22.50

Oct 24, 2006 | 800 Minutes

Audiobook Download $20.00

Oct 24, 2006 | 562 Minutes

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    Love and Louis XIV by Antonia Fraser
    Paperback $24.00
    Nov 06, 2007 | ISBN 9781400033744

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    • $24.00

      Nov 06, 2007 | ISBN 9781400033744

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Dec 10, 2008 | ISBN 9780307487759

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Oct 24, 2006 | ISBN 9781415932902

      800 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Oct 24, 2006 | ISBN 9780739339589

      562 Minutes

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    About Love and Louis XIV

    Louis XIV, the highly-feted “Sun King”, was renowned for his political and cultural influence and for raising France to a new level of prominence in seventeenth-century Europe. And yet, as Antonia Fraser keenly describes, he was equally legendary in the domestic sphere. Indeed, a panoply of women—his mother, Anne; mistresses such as Louise de la Vallière, Athénaïs de Montespan, and the puritanical Madame de Maintenon; and an array of courtesans—moved in and out of the court. The highly visible presence of these women raises many questions about their position in both Louis XIV’s life and in France at large. With careful research and vivid, engaging prose, Fraser makes the multifaceted life of one of the most famous European monarchs accessible and vibrantly current.

    About Love and Louis XIV

    Louis XIV, the highly-feted “Sun King”, was renowned for his political and cultural influence and for raising France to a new level of prominence in seventeenth-century Europe. And yet, as Antonia Fraser keenly describes, he was equally legendary in the domestic sphere. Indeed, a panoply of women—his mother, Anne; mistresses such as Louise de la Vallière, Athénaïs de Montespan, and the puritanical Madame de Maintenon; and an array of courtesans—moved in and out of the court. The highly visible presence of these women raises many questions about their position in both Louis XIV’s life and in France at large. With careful research and vivid, engaging prose, Fraser makes the multifaceted life of one of the most famous European monarchs accessible and vibrantly current.

    About Love and Louis XIV

    The superb historian and biographer Antonia Fraser, author of Marie Antoinette, casts new light on the splendor and the scandals of the reign of Louis XIV in this dramatic, illuminating look at the women in his life.

    The self-proclaimed Sun King, Louis XIV ruled over the most glorious and extravagant court in seventeenth-century Europe. Now, Antonia Fraser goes behind the well-known tales of Louis’s accomplishments and follies, exploring in riveting detail his intimate relationships with women.

    The king’s mother, Anne of Austria, had been in a childless marriage for twenty-two years before she gave birth to Louis XIV. A devout Catholic, she instilled in her son a strong sense of piety and fought successfully for his right to absolute power. In 1660, Louis married his first cousin, Marie-Thérèse, in a political arrangement. While unfailingly kind to the official Queen of Versailles, Louis sought others to satisfy his romantic and sexual desires. After a flirtation with his sister-in-law, his first important mistress was Louise de La Vallière, who bore him several children before being replaced by the tempestuous and brilliant Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan. Later, when Athénaïs’s reputation was tarnished, the King continued to support her publicly as Athénaïs left court for a life of repentance. Meanwhile her children’s governess, the intelligent and seemingly puritanical Françoise de Maintenon, had already won the King’s affections; in a relationship in complete contrast to his physical obsession with Athénaïs, Louis XIV lived happily with Madame de Maintenon for the rest of his life, very probably marrying her in secret. When his grandson’s child bride, the enchanting Adelaide of Savoy, came to Versaille she lightened the King’s last years – until tragedy struck.

    With consummate skill, Antonia Fraser weaves insights into the nature of women’s religious lives – as well as such practical matters as contraception – into her magnificent, sweeping portrait of the king, his court, and his ladies.

    About Love and Louis XIV

    The superb historian and biographer Antonia Fraser, author of Marie Antoinette, casts new light on the splendor and the scandals of the reign of Louis XIV in this dramatic, illuminating look at the women in his life.

    The self-proclaimed Sun King, Louis XIV ruled over the most glorious and extravagant court in seventeenth-century Europe. Now, Antonia Fraser goes behind the well-known tales of Louis’s accomplishments and follies, exploring in riveting detail his intimate relationships with women.

    The king’s mother, Anne of Austria, had been in a childless marriage for twenty-two years before she gave birth to Louis XIV. A devout Catholic, she instilled in her son a strong sense of piety and fought successfully for his right to absolute power. In 1660, Louis married his first cousin, Marie-Thérèse, in a political arrangement. While unfailingly kind to the official Queen of Versailles, Louis sought others to satisfy his romantic and sexual desires. After a flirtation with his sister-in-law, his first important mistress was Louise de La Vallière, who bore him several children before being replaced by the tempestuous and brilliant Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan. Later, when Athénaïs’s reputation was tarnished, the King continued to support her publicly as Athénaïs left court for a life of repentance. Meanwhile her children’s governess, the intelligent and seemingly puritanical Françoise de Maintenon, had already won the King’s affections; in a relationship in complete contrast to his physical obsession with Athénaïs, Louis XIV lived happily with Madame de Maintenon for the rest of his life, very probably marrying her in secret. When his grandson’s child bride, the enchanting Adelaide of Savoy, came to Versaille she lightened the King’s last years – until tragedy struck.

    With consummate skill, Antonia Fraser weaves insights into the nature of women’s religious lives – as well as such practical matters as contraception – into her magnificent, sweeping portrait of the king, his court, and his ladies.

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    Also by Antonia Fraser

    The King and the Catholics
    My History
    Jemima Shore at the Sunny Grave
    The Weaker Vessel
    Political Death
    See all books by Antonia Fraser

    Also by Antonia Fraser

    The King and the Catholics
    My History
    Jemima Shore at the Sunny Grave
    The Weaker Vessel
    Political Death
    See all books by Antonia Fraser

    Also by Antonia Fraser

    The King and the Catholics
    My History
    Jemima Shore at the Sunny Grave
    The Weaker Vessel
    Political Death
    See all books by Antonia Fraser

    Also by Antonia Fraser

    The King and the Catholics
    My History
    Jemima Shore at the Sunny Grave
    The Weaker Vessel
    Political Death
    See all books by Antonia Fraser

    About Antonia Fraser

    Antonia Fraser is the author of many internationally bestselling historical works, including Love and Louis XIV; Marie Antoinette, which was made into a film by Sofia Coppola; The Wives of Henry VIII; and Mary Queen of Scots. She is also… More about Antonia Fraser

    About Antonia Fraser

    Antonia Fraser is the author of many internationally bestselling historical works, including Love and Louis XIV; Marie Antoinette, which was made into a film by Sofia Coppola; The Wives of Henry VIII; and Mary Queen of Scots. She is also… More about Antonia Fraser

    About Antonia Fraser

    Antonia Fraser is the author of many internationally bestselling historical works, including Love and Louis XIV; Marie Antoinette, which was made into a film by Sofia Coppola; The Wives of Henry VIII; and Mary Queen of Scots. She is also… More about Antonia Fraser

    About Antonia Fraser

    Antonia Fraser is the author of many internationally bestselling historical works, including Love and Louis XIV; Marie Antoinette, which was made into a film by Sofia Coppola; The Wives of Henry VIII; and Mary Queen of Scots. She is also… More about Antonia Fraser

    Product Details

    Category: Biography & Memoir | European World History

    Paperback | $24.00
    Published by Anchor
    Nov 06, 2007 | 464 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9781400033744

    Category: Biography & Memoir | European World History

    Ebook | $11.99
    Published by Anchor
    Dec 10, 2008 | 432 Pages | ISBN 9780307487759

    Category: Biography & Memoir | European World History | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $22.50
    Published by Random House Audio
    Oct 24, 2006 | 800 Minutes | ISBN 9781415932902

    Category: Biography & Memoir | European World History | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $20.00
    Published by Random House Audio
    Oct 24, 2006 | 562 Minutes | ISBN 9780739339589

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    Praise

    “Excellent…a pleasure to read throughout.” —The Wall Street Journal“Highly readable….with vivid wit, Fraser demonstrates that within the edifice of the monarchy there were deep crannies of ordinary affection.” —The New Yorker“Entertaining and instructive….we must still be grateful to Antonia Fraser for devising so excellent a companion with which to lie back and think of France.” —The New York Times“Engaging…the sumptuously illustrated Love and Louis XIV focuses on the diverse array of women who ‘lit up the court of the Sun King.’” —The Washington Post

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