Madame de Pompadour - A Life (Paperback, First)

A sumptuous new biography of one of the most famous dangerous liaisons When Jeanne Antoinette Poisson was a child, a fortune-teller predicted that she would one day be the mistress of a king. Born into the financial bourgeoisie that was a world apart from the royal court, the beautiful Jeanne Antoinette nonetheless fulfilled this prophecy by becoming Madame de Pompadour, the most famous and influential mistress of Louis XV. In this sumptuous biography, Evelyne Lever traces the enduring friendship between the monarch and his favorite, and the far-reaching implications-both personal and political-of their relationship. Pompadour was devoted to Louis XV, and her contribution to the culture of the age was significant: she was an outstanding singer and actress, entertaining the King and the court in impressive stage productions, and was a longtime patron of the visual arts. She commissioned paintings by Boucher, Nattier, Van Loo, La Tour, and Pigalle, and she formed friendships with many of the philosophers and writers of the period, including Fontenelle, Crebillon, and Voltaire. In effect, she was France's minister of culture at a time when no such position existed. But she was loathed for her role in France's disastrous military losses, and was the victim of persistent court gossip and intrigues. This vibrant biography sheds new light on the talented and resilient woman who influenced, for better and worse, the fate of a nation.

General

Imprint:	St Martin's Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	September 2000
First published:	September 2003
Authors:	Evelyne Lever
Translators:	Catherine Temerson
Dimensions:	216 x 140 x 23mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	320
Edition:	First
ISBN-13:	978-0-312-31050-9
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Historical, political & military Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Royalty Books > Biography > Historical, political & military Books > Biography > Royalty
LSN:	0-312-31050-1
Barcode:	9780312310509

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!