A review by kristykay22
Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France by Christine Pevitt

3.0

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.