Les Bourbons bibliophiles, Rois & Princes, Reines & Princesses

This volume invites listeners into a richly detailed portrait of the Bourbon dynasty’s lesser‑known passion: the love of the printed word. Drawing on the meticulous notes of a devoted librarian and the reverence of a fellow scholar, it weaves together anecdotes, inventories, and personal observations that show how princes and princesses cherished books as fiercely as they pursued power. The narrative balances scholarly rigor with a warm, almost lyrical tone, making the world of 14th‑ and 15th‑century courts feel both intimate and alive.

From the earliest ducal libraries of Moulins to the private collections of queens like Marie de Hainaut, the book traces the evolution of a royal bibliophilia that rivaled the grand libraries of the Valois kings. It highlights figures such as Louis II, “the Good,” whose patronage set a lasting precedent, and explores how these noble readers gathered manuscripts, illuminated codices, and embraced emerging print culture. Listeners will come away with a fresh appreciation for how the Bourbon family’s devotion to literature helped shape France’s intellectual heritage.