Louis XIV

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"Louis XIV changed the course of French history. His kingship was a sustained tour de force and his reign among the most important in the history of Europe. Though less powerful in practice than in absolutist theory and propaganda, the reign of Louis XIV still represents the apogee of French royal power in the ancient regime." "The age of Louis XIV was a period of French dominance, advances in government, great influence abroad and rich cultural achievement. Majestic in conception, bold in ambition and splendid in image and ceremony, the monarchy of Louis XIV set standards and posed questions which have challenged us ever since." "Louis XIV has consistenly provoked both adulation and hostility to the present day. Geoffrey Treasure expertly manages a balance between these poles by setting Louis in the style and thinking of the period. He evaluates the propaganda and manages to unravel and detach the real Louis from the images and representations."--Jacket