Status
Available
Collection
Publication
New York, Harper & Row [1966]
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML: The Sun King is a dazzling double portrait of Louis XIV and Versailles, the opulent court from which he ruled. With characteristic élan, Nancy Mitford reconstructs the daily life of king and courtiers during France's golden age, offering vivid sketches of the architects, artists, and gardeners responsible for the creation of the most magnificent palace Europe had yet seen. Mitford lays bare the complex and deadly intrigues in the stateroom and the no less high-stakes power struggles in the bedroom. At the center of it all is Louis XIV himself, the demanding, mercurial, but remarkably resilient sovereign who guided France through nearly three quarters of the Grand Siècle. Brimming with sumptuous detail and delicious bons mots, and written in a witty, conversational style, The Sun King restores a distant glittering century to vibrant life.… (more)
Awards
Notable Books List (1966)
Language
Original publication date
1966
Physical description
255 p.; 16 cm
User reviews
LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn
While Mitford's may not be the most scholarly work on Louis XIV, it certainly figures prominently among the most readable and enjoyable. Mitford writes well; she can pack a great deal of information in a well-crafted pithy phrase.
LibraryThing member bhowell
Nancy Mitford is never boring whether writing her lovely novels or history. This is a beautiful book about one of the most interesting French Kings, Louis XIV. Look for it at your local used book shop as I doubt it is still in print. While you are there take a look for her book on Madame de la
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Pompadour. Show Less
LibraryThing member souloftherose
Nancy Mitford's biography of Louis XIV is rather gossipy in tone; you can almost imagine that she's writing about people she's actually met, but very readable (probably because of the gossipyness). Unlike other biographies I've read there were no references although there was a list of sources used
Having said that, I think this makes a very good introduction to the court of Louis XIV. Throughout the book there are illustrations in both black and white and colour of the Royal family, courtiers and, of course, Versailles. There's also a fairly detailed family tree which is an absolute must when it comes to keeping track of who's who because of the similarities of name and title. It was a very engrossing read and it certainly helped this reader get her head round the different Louis' of the time.
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at the back of the book. This, taken together with the way Nancy Mitford writes, makes it very difficult for the reader to tell which bits (if any) are speculation on the author's part or disputed by other biographers.Having said that, I think this makes a very good introduction to the court of Louis XIV. Throughout the book there are illustrations in both black and white and colour of the Royal family, courtiers and, of course, Versailles. There's also a fairly detailed family tree which is an absolute must when it comes to keeping track of who's who because of the similarities of name and title. It was a very engrossing read and it certainly helped this reader get her head round the different Louis' of the time.
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LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn
While Mitford's may not be the most scholarly work on Louis XIV, it certainly figures prominently among the most readable and enjoyable. Mitford writes well; she can pack a great deal of information in a well-crafted pithy phrase.
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Mitford's biography the Louis XIV is vividly written and well researched. While not as exhaustive as more scholarly works, it is eminently readable and informative. Of course, Mitford who is as well known for her novels as her non-fiction is a great stylist. In this work she prove to be as always
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entertaining and interesting as ever. Show Less
LibraryThing member loafhunter13
This book is focused on the end of the great monarchy period, its culmination being the French Revolution. It is an overview style history of Louis XIV, mostly dealing with his life revolving around Versailles. The book is meant to breeze over vast amounts of material and give the reader a general
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idea of the events, people and ideas shaping Europe and the World. It is well written and researched, with multiple sources, both primary and secondary. Due to the time at which it was written however, it requires a rather vast background of knowledge on related materials, languages and history to understand all the things being said. Beginners history for experts. At times the text can get carried away by the whims and personal taste of the author, some heritage obsessed moments and the result of the thread of the main ideas are lost. Still amazing research and some nuggets to be mined. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecw0647
Read and enjoyed many, many years ago.
LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
Mitford's gossipy, sarcastic tone invigorates the already fascinating tale of King Louis XIV of France.
LibraryThing member john257hopper
This is a colourful, engaging and gossipy book about the life of Louis XIV, as its title suggests centred around his famous court at Versailles. As such, there is little analysis of his domestic or foreign policy, and those looking for a scholarly analysis must look elsewhere. The main events of
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the last 40-50 years of the reign are covered, though, albeit from the point of view of Louis and his relatives more specifically; that said, as the leading autocrat of his day ("L'Etat c'est moi" was not said without good reason), there is a very close identity between the man and his country. The author's style is occasionally a little cruel in terms of her physical descriptions of some of the individuals and her own aristocratic prejudices show through in places. Nevertheless, this is a very engaging read with a large number of (sometimes confusing) names. It reads like a novel, with bizarre events such as the Affair of the Poisons, affairs galore, and tragedy with the deaths of three generations of Louis's own heirs towards the end of his life. Finally, this original 1966 hardback edition (picked up in a charity shop ten years ago) is lavishly illustrated with colour and black and white pictures. There is a list of sources, but not footnotes/endnotes. Finally, a genealogical table would have been helpful. Show Less
LibraryThing member encycl
Nancy Mitford makes history seem like gossip about the neighbours over tea. The book is compelling from start to finish because she makes these personages come to life.
LibraryThing member MeisterPfriem
Nancy Mitford gives an inspired and vivid description of Luis XIV, the life at the court at Versailles among his relatives and courtiers during his long reign until his death in 1715. The book is richly illustrated and comes with an index, a genealogical table (very necessary) and bibliography of
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her sources. She writes with passion, a bit gossipy relating intrigues, little about politics but a joie to read as her own voice comes through; attention is needed though, keeping track of names can be difficult as first names are often similar and persons are referred to also by their title or titles.(III-18) Show Less
LibraryThing member japaul22
Reading this history of the Sun King, Louis XIV, was sort of like strolling through Versailles with a very knowledgeable friend who gives you some history, some gossip, and some personal bias. Mitford wrote this book in the 1960s and I sort of viewed this as an early form of narrative nonfiction.
I'm not sure who I'd recommend this for - probably only people who want an addition to other Louis XIV reading they've done or people who like a strong authorial voice with a 60s vibe.
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Overall, I liked it, but I think I would have been annoyed if this was the only biography of Louis XIV I had read since it isn't particularly thorough or focused. Part of me liked having Mitford's voice so present in the book and sometimes I found it annoying, especially when some of her racial and cultural biases came through. I'm not sure who I'd recommend this for - probably only people who want an addition to other Louis XIV reading they've done or people who like a strong authorial voice with a 60s vibe.
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Pages
255