Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV. and of the Regency — Complete

audiobook

Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV. and of the Regency — Complete

by duchesse d' Charlotte-Elisabeth Orléans

EN·~8 hours·51 chapters

Chapters

51 total
1

MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV. AND OF THE REGENCY - Being the Secret Memoirs of the Mother of the Regent, MADAME ELIZABETH-CHARLOTTE OF BAVARIA, DUCHESSE D’ORLEANS. - Complete

0:11
2

ILLUSTRATIONS

0:00
3

BOOK 1.

0:00
4

PREFACE.

5:10
5

SECRET COURT MEMOIRS. - MADAME ELIZABETH-CHARLOTTE OF BAVARIA, DUCHESSE D’ ORLEANS.

0:05
6

SECTION I.

34:50
7

SECTION II.—LOUIS XIV.

39:40
8

SECTION III.—MADEMOISELLE DE FONTANGE.

1:37
9

SECTION IV.-MADAME DE LA VALLIERE.

6:41
10

SECTION V.—MADAME DE MONTESPAN

5:53

Description

Step into the bustling salons of the early 18th‑century French court through the candid letters of Madame Elizabeth‑Charlotte, Duchess d’Orléans. Her missives to royalty and diplomats reveal the glittering intrigues, fashion, and personal rivalries that shaped the reign of Louis XIV and the subsequent Regency. The prose oscillates between witty banter and incisive observation, offering a vivid glimpse of a world where power and propriety constantly collide.

Beyond courtly spectacle, the Duchess’s correspondence doubles as a personal diary, chronicling her ambitions, family ties, and the delicate balance she maintained between loyalty and self‑interest. Readers encounter frank critiques of courtiers, tender reflections on friendships, and the occasional scandalous rumor, all rendered in a voice that feels surprisingly modern. This unvarnished collection not only enriches our understanding of an era but also invites listeners to hear the private thoughts of a woman navigating a notoriously duplicitous society.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~8 hours (482K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by David Widger

Release date

2004-08-25

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

duchesse d' Charlotte-Elisabeth Orléans

duchesse d' Charlotte-Elisabeth Orléans

1652–1722

A German princess who became Duchess of Orléans at the court of Louis XIV, she is remembered above all for her vivid letters. Sharp, observant, and often very funny, she left one of the liveliest firsthand records of life at Versailles.

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