Showing results by author "Arthur-Leon Imbert de Saint-Amand" in All Categories

Dive into the captivating world of Versailles, where the brilliance of the Sun King, Louis XIV, casts long shadows over the lives of his courtiers. In this engaging and insightful book, Baron Arthur-Leon Imbert de Saint-Amand paints a vivid portrait of the women who navigated this intricate court, from the overlooked queen, Maria Theresa, to the commanding mistress, Madame de Montespan, and the pious yet powerful Madame de Maintenon. With a blend of humor and scholarly depth, the narrative reveals the delicate dance of affection and disdain that defined their relationships with the monarch. (...

http://www.adfreebooks.com - 500+ audiobooks, all ad freeJean de La Bruyère famously characterized Versailles as "that region where joys were visible but false, and vexations hidden but real." In this witty and scholarly book, Baron Arthur-Léon Imbert de Saint-Amand explores the solar system of the Sun King with its planets, the women of the court, now orbiting in warm proximity to the monarch, now hurtling away under his glacial disfavor. Here are his neglected queen, Maria Theresa, his imperious mistress, Madame de Montespan, his illegitimate daughters, and his final consort, the pious and...