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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
A well-written biography on one of history's most famous mistresses. I got interested in Madame de Pompadour after reading Voltaire's dedication to her in Zadig, and Algrant's book paints a well-rounded picture of Louis XV's companion and adviser for twenty years. The last fourth of the book gets a little bogged down in constant battles, broken treaties, promotions, demotions, and the poisonous atmosphere of the French court, but that really is more history's fault than Algrant's. The story of this ambitious and powerful woman and her insular, moody and distracted king leaves no question that the French Revolution is right around the corner.
A lovely biography of a fascinating woman. Like another reviewer, I was also intrigued by Madame de Pompadour after seeing her in an episode of Dr Who. She was a strong-willed woman who managed to hang on to her title and power even after her (physical) affair with the king ended! (I don't think the Dr Who episode got much right about her, except her strength of character, her nickname as child and her departure from Versailles)
One fact I found very interesting was that only members of the royal family were allowed to die at Versailles. Louis refused to let Madame de Pompadour be moved though (despite her wishes!), so she died there and was removed (in some secret) after her death.
King Louis is also a fascinating character (especially his desire for his various mistresses and kept women and his refusal to take communion, even though he desperately wanted to); I'd love to know more about him...perhaps I'll look up biographies of him next...
One fact I found very interesting was that only members of the royal family were allowed to die at Versailles. Louis refused to let Madame de Pompadour be moved though (despite her wishes!), so she died there and was removed (in some secret) after her death.
King Louis is also a fascinating character (especially his desire for his various mistresses and kept women and his refusal to take communion, even though he desperately wanted to); I'd love to know more about him...perhaps I'll look up biographies of him next...
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I was intrigued by the strong-willed, highly intelligent Madame de Pompadour in the Doctor Who ep "Girl in the Fireplace." After reading this biography, I can see that the episode got two details right: she was nicknamed Reinette as a child, and upon her death (at age 42!) her lover King Louis XV watched the carriage bearing away her body in the rain from a balcony. Unfortunately, her character was a bit less impressive in reality than in fiction, at least according to Algrant. She was beautiful, poised, and magnificently self-possessed, with a gift for social manipulation. But her letters make it clear that she demanded adoration from all. As Algrant says, "...she measured everyone in relation to their devotion to her, their loyalty, their sense of obligation. Men and women had to profess their love for her, and only her, and then she would be generous and indulgent...She believed she acted for the good of the state. But in reality, she was unable to rise above games of intrigue and struggles for power." She promoted those who flattered her and destroyed those who did not--all regardless of merit. This tendency, which echoed that of France's other powerbrokers, was to the extreme detriment to France itself. The king was uninvolved in matters of state, the councils and parlements all busy fighting amongst themselves. The Seven Years War was incredibly mismanaged: generals were continually coming and going, according to the whims of Versailles with no accounting for actual martial ability or experience; meanwhile, the army had run out of money while the king persisted in sumptuous building projects. In the end, the war ended to the shame of France and Pompadour died of TB, her reputation slandered throughout Paris.
It took me a good long while to read this, but that was because it was one I kept reading and then coming back. It was a little hard going, but I think that's possibly due to my reading historic works so very little. Very interesting to get a bit of background in the run up to Marie Antoinette's time, but it has given me a new appreciation for Madame de Pompadour herself. Despite her being alive in the 18th century I still cried when she died.
A fascinating look at a lady with the utmost grace. Highly recommended.
The book started off good, but it quickly waned. I think my biggest issue was that it didn't focus that much on Madame de Pompadour. It spent a lot of time focusing on what the men were doing rather than what she was doing. Perhaps there's not a lot recorded about what she was doing. Perhaps the author just didn't go for that. Either way, it was a let-down. I'll have to keep my eye out for another book about her!