Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France [Hardcover]

Christine Pevitt Algrant (Author), Christine Pevitt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

The critically acclaimed author of Philippe, duc d'Orleans, Christine Pevitt Algrant presents a stunning new biography of the most famous of Louis XV's mistresses. From her beginnings amid anonymity in early-eighteenth-century Paris, to her reign as the undisputed mistress of Versailles, Madame de Pompadour traces the life of a truly remarkable, self-made woman whose astonishing rise confounded the most experienced and the savviest of her contemporaries. Algrant weaves her richly textured narrative with tremendous authority, setting the dramatic events that marked Madame de Pompadour's life against the defining moments of the times. Groomed from an early age to assume the role of a grande dame, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson underwent a number of transformations -- from a halfhearted marriage to a Parisian tax-collector to a passionate involvement with the newly established salon culture of Paris -- before attaining the affection of the king of France. Although used to the king's romantic escapades, the stunned courtiers reeled in disbelief upon Poisson's success, for never in the annals of the French monarchy had a semidivine king taken a mere bourgeoisie as his mistress. The newcomer, however, wasted no time, slowly establishing herself as Louis's sole confidante, and ultimately an indispensable, albeit officially unacknowledged, head of state. Algrant takes the reader into the farthest and most exclusive chambers at Versailles, offering glimpses that portray the resourcefulness and the determination with which the king's favorite deftly manipulated the divided court, ruling as absolutely as any monarch. Madame de Pompadour will become the definitive biography of the most fascinating and influential woman of the age. "Algrant's Madame de Pompadour makes you hear the rattle of the tumbrils, just thirty years down the road." -- Alistair Horne

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's impossible to read Algrant's relatively reserved study (compared with that of Evelyne Lever, [see review on p. 166]) without thinking, at least fleetingly, of Monica Lewinsky. Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson (1721-1764) too set her sights on winning the affections of a head of state, in her case, King Louis XV of France. She succeeded and became as famous as her paramour but far more reviled primarily because Pompadour actively sought to be the power behind the throne. Algrant (Philippe, duc d'Orl‚ans) does a terrific job portraying a woman driven by a potent combination of ambition, insecurity and a dogged determination to fulfill the destiny set forth for her at age nine, when a fortune teller predicted she would become the mistress of the king of France. According to Algrant, there's no doubt that Pompadour loved the king, but it's never quite clear how much of that love was pure and how much was motivated by her almost pathological need for power. And power she had: by the time she died, at age 42, Pompadour had overseen the hiring and firing of government officials and military officers. Armed with objectivity and a wealth of facts, Algrant either because she shows without telling or refuses to speculate lets readers draw their own conclusions about Pompadour's true character. The result is a comprehensive but detached portrait that provides plenty of food for thought. 8 pages of color illus. not seen by PW.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Here are two biographies of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, who became famous in 18th-century France as mistress of and confidante to Louis XV. When Poisson was young, a fortune-teller predicted that she would become the mistress of the king, and thereafter she was groomed by family and friends for the role. Eventually, she became a patron of the arts and was known to such luminaries as Voltaire and Montesquieu. In 1745, when she came to Louis XV's attention, she transformed herself into Madame de Pompadour. Poisson was given rooms at Versailles, and, though she was the king's lover for only five years, she remained his close adviser until her death. Algrant, author of Philippe, duc d'Orleans, a 1997 New York Times Notable Book, has written a well-researched volume on Madame de Pompadour. While previous biographies, such as Margaret Crosland's Madame de Pompadour: Sex, Culture, and Power, have focused on the cultural and sociological aspects of her era, Algrant brings her to life in an engaging study that will appeal to the general reader as well as the specialist. Leading French historian Lever (e.g., Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France) delivers a well-researched biographical account that gives a picture of Louis XV as well as of Madame de Pompadour in an easy-to-read manner. While Algrant's account tells more about Poisson's early life and rise as mistress, Lever's discusses more broadly the king's history of mistresses and life at court. Both books ably describe Madame de Pompadour's influence on France and the French people. Algrant's book, written in a slightly more accessible, storytelling manner, may bring the famous courtesan a bit more vividly to life than Lever's, but both biographies are recommended for most collections. [Algrant's book was previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/02.]-Mary Salony, West Virginia Northern Community Coll. Libs., Wheelin.
--Mary Salony, West Virginia Northern Community Coll. Libs., Wheeling
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 338 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press; 1st edition (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802117260
• ISBN-13: 978-0802117267
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCISIVE AND THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, September 18, 2002

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France (Hardcover)

Remembered today in narratives of the past, heralded in poetry and song, Madame de Pompadour, born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson in 1721, continues to be a fascinating and enigmatic figure.

The daughter of a mother noted for her beauty and high spirits, Jeanne inherited both of these qualities. In addition, a fortune teller predicted that the little girl would one day be the mistress of Louis XV. This foretelling Jeanne later told Voltaire "struck her with the force of a thunderbolt." And, it was a prophecy that the young woman seemed hellbent on fulfilling.

Christine Pevitt Algrant's comprehensive and cogent portrait of the woman who would, indeed, become the most potent force in the court of Louis XV is a welcome addition to the annals of history, as it includes a telling picture of a troubled France.

Courtiers were shocked when the humbly born Poisson became recognized as the king's maitresse declaree. After all, the king's prior inamoratas had all been members of the elite, born of royal lineage. However, it was one thing to become his lover, and quite something else to become his sole confidante and the power behind the throne. A title was purchased for her thus the transformation into Madame de Pompadour was complete. She was reviled by many, and obeyed by all.

With Versailles as her backdrop she became an important patron of the arts, nurturing such luminaries as Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, and Boucher. It was she who masterminded the building of the Petit Trianon Palace at Versailles.

Yet as a part of the world continued to be torn her quest for power was unsatisfied. France and England were at odds, and she cast a pall over the treaty allying France with her hated Austria. She succeeded in removing her enemies from positions of influence, and replacing them with trusted friends. Her creation of an opulent court incurred public wrath, and her political maneuverings created foes in court.

Nonetheless, the king's trust in his paramour never waned.

Incisive and thoroughly researched "Madame de Pompadour" bursts with color and intrigue. It is fact even more fascinating than fiction.

- Gail Cooke

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Very Politically Involved Mistress, March 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France (Hardcover)

I was hoping for insight on more of the private life of Pompadour; instead, I got a very in-depth account of her political involvement. These were so detailed that at times, I tired of the seemingly endless political escapades Pompadour was a involved in. Sometimes, the book felt more like a biography 18th century French politics rather than the life of Pompadour. Her life was abrupt and her time as the romantic love of Louis XV's even shorter. After it was obvious that Louis XV no longer looked to her as a romantic partner, Pompadour positioned herself as a confidant, a friend, an advisor, among many other roles. This made her a very well-known woman in French royal society; some dubbed her as the Prime Minister of France, others called her the true Queen. While this book was well researched and well written, I still feel that it's a pity that this book focused more on her foray into politics rather than the overall doings of her private life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent biography and slice of French life during reign of Louis XV, March 14, 2010

By 

E. Holland - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Madame De Pompadour: Mistress of France (Hardcover)

Madame de Pompadour is a well-written and thoroughly interesting and engaging history. I particularly like the way Pompadour is used as the spoke of a historical wheel connecting all the large figures of the time, Louis, Voltaire, Diderot, and many others. One can really understand from this book how the court worked and how that affected the lives of the French underclass and it is evident how many of the societal problems would eventually culminate in the French Revolution under the reign of Louis' grandson, Louis XVI. These historical figures and the ideas of the Enlightenment and the gossip that ran rampant in France make for fascinating history. I think the author could have described more the relationship of the queen and the king to further illuminate the history; for example, Louis was quite faithful to his wife early in their marriage and eventually after many children the queen was in poor physical health and also mentally exhausted from being pregnant all the time, losing so many children, and having so many daughters with only one son. This is not to excuse Louis XV's carnal lusts or especially his lack of attention to his royal duties but one wonders a little about what role the queen still had as compared to the mistresses and how she might have led her life, particularly since her children were so fond of her. Pompadour alone was an amazing person however and this book captures her extremely well. My only other criticism is that the print in the paperback edition is very small and difficult to read unless the lighting conditions are perfect.