Histoire de France 1724-1759 (Volume 18/19)

Spanning the years from the end of the Régence through the reign of Louis XV, this volume paints a vivid picture of a France moving from bright public spectacle to the shadowy corridors of Versailles. The author guides listeners through the secretive world of the royal cabinet, where the king’s private correspondence and family intrigues shaped policy as much as any formal council. By drawing on newly opened diplomatic archives, the narrative reveals how the monarch’s personal convictions steered the nation’s course.

The work leans heavily on contemporary witnesses such as the meticulous diary of the Marquis de Luynes and the candid memoirs of d’Argenson, offering day‑by‑day details that bring court life to life. Their observations are woven into a clear chronological framework, linking minor anecdotes to the major political and military events of the era. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of the hidden mechanisms that guided France’s fortunes in the first half of the eighteenth century.