Letters from Liselotte: Elizabeth-Charlotte, Princess Palatine and Duchess of Orleans [Paperback]

Maria Kroll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1999

Married in 1672, at 19, to Louis XIV's bisexual brother, the Duke of Orleans, Liselotte began her voluminous and fascinating correspondence from the Court of Versailles which she continued until her death 50 years later, making her the greatest chronicler of her day. Feared for her sharp tongue and her bluntness, Liselotte refused to be drawn into the viscious life at the Sun King's Court, of which she was outspokenly critical and her letters, collected here in this volume, describe the bawdy, spontaneous and idiosyncratic personages and life of Louis XIV's corrupt court.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Provides one of the very few intensely personal and day-by-day accounts of life at the French Court....attractive and spicy." ---John Wightman, The Observer

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Allison & Busby LTD (December 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749003731
• ISBN-13: 978-0749003739
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,287,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Try It, You'll Like It, January 28, 2002

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"mythbreaker" (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters from Liselotte: Elizabeth-Charlotte, Princess Palatine and Duchess of Orleans (Paperback)

Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate was born in 1652 at Heidelberg. She was the daughter of Karl Ludwig, the Prince Elector of the Palatinate. Known affectionately as Liselotte, she married Phillip, the Duke of Orleans and brother of Louis XIV of France, in 1671. Although a member of the French court and at one time the ranking woman of that court, Liselotte did not fit in well due to her independent spirit and outspoken personality. She was intelligent and a keen observer of personalities, events, politics and a host of other topics. She died in 1722 and her descendants include Marie Antoinette and Marie Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Fortunately for us, Liselotte was also a prolific letter writer. As a result, many of her observations and insights have been preserved. This captivating book is a collection of some of Liselotte's correspondence with relatives and friends in the German-speaking countries. It spans the period of her time at the French court from 1672 to 1722. She is quite candid about herself and about others. So much so, that she became convinced her correspondence was regularly intercepted and read by agents of the Sun King. Her letters cover the whole range of human activity. She was also interested in nature and science. Many of her observations about personalities and the peoples of Europe are as true today as they were 300 years ago. Many letters are descriptive of what life was like in the 17th century. Some letters are titillating. Some, such as those with comments about the latest hairstyles and the "musical" talents of her immediate family, are hysterically funny. All of her letters maintain the reader's interest.

Maria Kroll, the translator and editor of this volume, did a wonderful job. Her introduction provides an excellent overview of Liselotte's life and the period in which she lived. The only disappointment is that this wonderful volume left me wanting more and wishing that Ms. Kroll had left in the bawdier reports and ghost stories. Perhaps a second volume, Ms. Kroll? Please.

Although little known in the United States, I think a wide range of American readers would enjoy and appreciate this volume. I knew nothing of this great lady until I toured the Schloss Heidelberg, where there is a portait of a rather corpulent Liselotte in her later years. My thanks to the tour guide for recommending this volume to me. Anyone who has been charmed by that beautiful city and the magnificent ruins of the Schloss or who intends to visit Heidelberg will enjoy this book. Persons with an interest in the period and history buffs in general will enjoy this book. For people who prefer historical romance novels, this is the history book for you. Real romance and real history that rivals anything found in the bodice rippers. Finally, anyone who attends or attended the College of William and Mary (or anyone who knows such people) will enjoy this volume for some of the interesting gossip concerning the namesakes of that prestigious institution.