Memoirs of the Courts of Louis XV and XVI. — Volume 1

Through the eyes of a discreet lady’s maid, this collection of memoirs opens a window onto the tumultuous world of the French court in the middle of the eighteenth century. The narrator, du Hausset, served Madame de Pompadour and spent her days just beyond the velvet curtains of the king’s private chambers, catching whispers that would otherwise have vanished. Her observations capture the daily rhythms of Versailles—from lavish fêtes and political intrigue to the personal whims of Louis XV—offering a vivid, ground‑level portrait of power and perfume.

Unlike the polished histories written by later chroniclers, du Hausset’s notes are raw, occasionally tangled, and unapologetically honest. She records the influence of the court’s leading physician‑economist, Dr Quesnay, the fleeting fortunes of favorites, and the subtle rivalries among the king’s mistresses. Interwoven with brief accounts from an anonymous English girl and Princess Lamballe, the memoirs provide a mosaic of voices that brings the era’s glitter and its undercurrents to life, making listeners feel as if they are leaning in on a quiet hallway conversation.