Before Versailles

Book cover of Before Versailles: Before the History You Know...a Novel of Louis XIV

Book description

"A grand yet intimate look at the Sun King, a tale rich with detail and action."―Library Journal (Starred Review, one of the best historical novels of the year)

Before Versailles transports you to a world of secret passions and plots, a world of duplicity and malice...a world that created one…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Before Versailles as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Peggy Joque Williams

Author

I loved this book because it focuses so closely on young King Louis XIV before he built Versailles (mid-17th century). I also loved that it takes place at the sumptuous palace of Fontainebleau. Louis is devoted to his wife, Queen Maria Theresa, but he can’t help himself when it comes to his mistresses. Even his brother Philippe’s young wife, Henriette, is a temptation.

While the story is told from multiple points of view, we are most often inside Louis’ head as he struggles to govern his kingdom, meet his sexual needs, and solve the mystery of who is leaving the…

From Peggy's list on court life in pre-revolutionary France.