Histoire amoureuse des Gaules; suivie des Romans historico-satiriques du XVIIe siècle, Tome III

This volume gathers a series of seventeenth‑century pamphlets and satirical romances that turned the private affairs of the French court into public spectacle. The editor’s careful annotations separate scandalous rumor from documented history, letting listeners trace the tangled web of intrigue without losing sight of the era’s political backdrop. With footnotes gathered at the end of each chapter, the work feels like a guided tour through the gossip‑laden corridors of early modern Europe, inviting curiosity about how reputation and power intersected.

The opening story, “Le Passetemps Royal ou les Amours de Mlle de Fontanges,” introduces a dazzlingly witty portrait of a courtly lady who rises to become the king’s favourite. It sketches her clever maneuvering, her network of correspondences, and the delicate balance she maintains between affection and ambition. Listeners will be drawn into the early stages of her ascent, feeling the tension between love, honor, and the ever‑present danger of courtly rivalry.