Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King | 
 enlarge | Author: Antonia Fraser
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 63830
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 1400033748
Dewey Decimal Number: 920
EAN: 9781400033744
ASIN: 1400033748
Publication Date: November 6, 2007
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Product Description
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 wife 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Entralling portrait of the rising and setting of the Sun King August 31, 2008
Antonia Fraser crafts a masterful biography spanning the life of Louis XIV -- using the relationships with the various women in his life (mother, wife, mistresses, daughter in-law, granddaughter in-law) as the pattern that she weaves her tapestry around.
Detailed but not overwhelming, she paints an enthralling picture of the Sun King and those in the court who orbited him. A great profile regardless of whether you know little about thi time period or you're seeking to enhance the depth of knowledge that you have.
 Maybe I have lost my ardor for this genre May 26, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I used to be fascinatged by these portraits of historical figures, but this one left me bored and skeptical. I have read a few of Ms Fraser's other books and enjoyed them. Particularly her Marie Antoinette. But this one I found dull by the second chapter and now after chapter 7 have set it aside to move on to something else. I will go back and finish, and if my review changes, I will be back to amend this review, but I just felt there is so much interesting history to touch with Louis XIV and this book ignores a lot of it. In addition, her recreations of events as if she is there left me skeptical of their veracity. Obviously this is well researched, but does she really know that court "rushed" to someones side". I guess I shoudl have deduced form the title that this woudl really focus on Louis love life. I just was hoping for something else. There is enough television and movies telling us about the love lives of famous individuals of the present and past. I was more interested in his intellectual persuits, and his accomplishments in architecture and development of France that earned him the nickname of the Sun King.
 VIVE LE ROI January 20, 2008
Excellent thorough book. Easy read full of great
info on the kings personal life
GREAT BOOK December 25, 2007
this is a great book. the photos inside are great and its quality is amazing
If you love history, you'll love this November 30, 2007
Reviewed By Michele E. Davis
You know how Louis XIV's life ended, but in order to understand it, you have to go back to the beginning.
Antonia Fraser, a rolific historical writer, paints a gorgeous portrait of Louis XIV, the Dauphin. He was the first male child borne to Anne of Austria, and his love of women continued throughout his life. Timelines, bloodlines and everything you ever wanted to know about Louis XIV is written in an engaging, witty style, drawing from numerous texts that are highly footnoted. This is a comprehensive study of 17th Century France and the torn dichotomy of Louis's soul: he feared God, wanted to provide for the French people, yet had an astounding sexual appetite.
He gave up his first true love, Marie Mancini, to marry his cousin Maria Teresa, the Spanish princess. He flirted mercilessly at Court with his sister-in-law, Henriette-Anne, who was England's Charles II's sister. But Charles and Henriette had a plan for Louis to become involved with a different woman. Falling for it, Louis found himself with Louise de La Vallière, who still preserved her maiden head. Ever restless with his respective bed partners, Louis proceeded to have sexual relations with the Marquise de Montespan but eventually gave her up to be involved with his own granddaughter-in-law, Adélaïde.
While women of the day were not allowed to rule as they could in England or Spain, "Under a king, a country is really ruled by women," states Adélaïde prior to her death from measles. Reign these women did, while whispering sweet nothings of a political bent in the bedchambers of the promiscuous Louis XIV.
An excellent book about Louis XIV, a must-read for anyone fascinated with history, as well as French politics.
Armchair Interviews says: Well-written and fascinating with a touch of wit and well-referenced quotes.
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