Pierre de Bourdeille Seigneur de Brantome Books

Brantôme was not strictly a historian, but his memoirs offer a fascinating, if unreliable, glimpse into court life. He writes in a quaint, conversational style, pouring forth his thoughts and observations with great frankness and naiveté, unburdened by order or system. His work paints a vivid picture of the era's courtly existence, replete with its unashamed profligacy, where illustrious men and gallant ladies frequently engaged in immoral pursuits. Narrated with a striking unconsciousness of any impropriety, Brantôme provides a uniquely candid portrait of his time.