Louis the WellBeloved (Audible Audio Edition) Jean Plaidy Jilly Bond Isis Publishing Ltd Books
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France eagerly awaits the day the young king, Louis XV, comes of age and breaks free from the rule of his ministers. The country hopes Louis will bring back glory and prosperity to France. However, he is too preoccupied with the thrills of hunting and gambling to notice the power struggle going on in his own court.
Soon the king is introduced to the pleasures of mistresses, and a succession of lovers follows. From the gentle persuasions of Madame de Mailley to her overtly ambitious sister, Madame Vintimille, France stands by and watches a king ruled by his women....
Louis the WellBeloved (Audible Audio Edition) Jean Plaidy Jilly Bond Isis Publishing Ltd Books
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Louis the WellBeloved (Audible Audio Edition) Jean Plaidy Jilly Bond Isis Publishing Ltd Books Reviews
The godmother of all historical fiction takes us back to the 18th century and into the life of "pleasure loving" Louis XV.
The French Revolution series by Jean Plaidy begins with Louis the Well Beloved. It opens with the death of Louis XIV, leaving a 5 year old Louis XV as king of France. The novel focuses on the women in his life - and there were many! Talk about a man whore...I think he would give Wilt Chamberlain a run for his money!
Louis XV even had a mansion called, Parc aux Cerfs, where he kept his very young mistresses, but he only liked to keep 3 at a time (because he said it was a nice number). What a super guy! He actually made me feel a little icky inside at times.
The Road to Compiegne picks up when Louis XV is 40 years old. After being insulted and ignored when riding through Paris, Louis declares that he will visit Paris for state functions only. He builds a road that skirts the city of Paris. He calls it the Road to Compiegne...the Parisians called it "Route de la Revolte".
It amazed me how Louis XV avoided politics or the running of his kingdom in any shape or form. Completely disinterested. Kinda like a George Bush of the 18th century. On his deathbed he takes stock of the life he has lead and becomes saddened when realizes what his mismanagement or non-management of France has done to the country and its citizens. He is sorry to leave his grandson with a country teeming with poverty and civil unrest, but it is too late (as is usually the case with hind sight).
Marie Antionette and Louis XVI are the main characters in Flaunting, Extravagant Queen. Louis XV has just died and his grandson is left to try and put the pieces of his kingdom back together. Unfortunately, he is not very successful, even though he really does care about France. He often loved the people so much that it was to his detriment. I was sympathetic with Marie, but felt Louis XVI was too much of a wussy....at times you just wanted him to grow a backbone!
All in all this was a pretty good series. One of the things I love about reading is feeling the connection with the characters, but I didn't feel that here. I formed opinions of them, but don't feel like I got to know them. I didn't even cry at the end (which is unusual for me). Worth the read, but not one to really sink your teeth into.
Overall 3/5
This deliciously French historical on Louis XV, the Well- beloved (le bien aimé) just led me to further embrace my passion for reading Plaidy. Simply put History at its best. Yes, I did say history, because no matter that Plaidy's novels classify as HF, you just need to read one to immediately understand that this is an accurate version of the past retold in its best form.
The story begins with the Sun King, Louis XIV (Louis XV's great grandfather) on his death bed, his life imminently ending. From the moment the Sun King holds his little great grandson and tells him that he will be his successor, I fell in love with the little guy who would become the Well beloved of all of France.
If it weren't for his great grandfather and uncles, Little Louis was left practically an orphan after the sudden deaths of both his parents and older brother. The only one left to mother him was his governess, whom he became completely and totally attached to (in my opinion, this in itself probably set the stage for loving in a grand way, all the subsequent ladies in his life).
It was incredibly interesting to read about Louis' coming of age as a Little King admired by all. From the beginning we sense his kind nature and desire for closeness and intimacy (with the privileged few, mind you). Even more important, Louis stands out as one whose great aversion to any type of conflict or breach of etiquette was mega- or borderline insane.
Louis The Well Beloved takes us through Louis 'life, his reign and his loves...and of these, there were quite a few. Louis, in his all consuming passion for the ladies, was, believe it or not, incredibly faithful (especially for those times...and in France!). Without going into too much detail, I will mention the obvious Mistress, Madame de Pompadour; notorious for winning the King's heart (she wasn't the first nor the last though...). I love the way Plaidy portrays her in this novel. It's a refreshing look at someone whom I thought to have been quite the opposite (well at least in this first book of this series).
Plaidy also brings in Louis' children (mostly daughters) and shows us the King as an overly protective, doting
- father. we get a good taste of what the princesses were like as well. Louis was also a most loving husband. Yes, another surprise, this Queen was blessed with Kingly love. Too much love, in fact- Louis was insatiable. Sadly we see how their love slowly digressed- but the respect remained and neither was really to blame. Louis really tried.
As far as the country went, France loved her King. Louis could do no wrong. It was all the fault of either his ministers, tutors, queen or mistresses. Louis was their hero, but how long could they sing that tune? The seeds of the Revolution were slowly taking root. For how long could Louis remain The Well Beloved?
I f you love French history, and all the eccentricities of etiquette taken too far, along with a good dose of rapturous forbidden love- this Plaidy is for you. I absolutely must read 'Road to Compiegne' next- which is the sequel to this one.
Excellent !
It is about 30 years since I last read a Jean Plaidy book and this refreshed my memory of how superb her books are. I am currently reading the second in the Series - The Road to Compiegne and plan to order the remaining books in the series.
Good book!
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