The story follows Françoise d'Aubigné, born in a French prison under challenging circumstances, as she rises to prominence at the lavish court of Versailles. Utilizing her beauty, intelligence, and keen judgment, she navigates the complexities of power and influence in one of Europe's most ambitious courts, showcasing her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to a position of significant impact.
Francoise d'Aubigne, born in a bleak provincial prison, her father a condemned murderer and traitor to the state, rose from the depths of poverty to life at the vortex of power at Versailles. Married at fifteen to a tragically disfigured and scandalously popular poet, in his salon Francoise encountered all the brilliant characters of the seventeenth century's glitterati. After her husband's death, she led the life of a merry widow in the colourful Marais quarter of Paris, before becoming governess to the King's growing brood of royal batards. This is the extraordinary story of one woman's daring journey from beggar-girl, West Indian colonist and salonniere to royal mistress and thence, in secret, to the compromised position of Louis' uncrowned Queen. Through the rags-to-riches tale of the maquise de Maintenon, Veronica Buckley reveals every layer of the vibrant and shocking world that was France in the age of Louis XIV.
This book narrates Francoise d'Aubigne's journey from governess to royal mistress and eventually to the unofficial Queen of Louis XIV. It unfolds a rags-to-riches tale of the marquise de Maintenon, exposing the vibrant and shocking world of France during Louis XIV's reign.
Queen Christina of Sweden emerges as a vibrant and controversial figure of the seventeenth century, driven by ambition and a thirst for adventure. After stepping away from her crown, she traverses Europe, indulging in extravagance and seeking a grander throne while creating chaos in her wake. Veronica Buckley's narrative masterfully captures this extraordinary woman's life, illuminating her role as an icon during a transformative era marked by significant shifts in religion, science, and societal norms.