When Louis XIV died in 1715, having ruled France for over seventy years, his five-year-old great-grandson became the king. To the alarm of most Frenchmen, however, real power passed to the new regent, Louis XIV's nephew Philippe, duc d'Orleans. A proven soldier and a gifted artist and musician, Philippe was better known as a philanderer and rake. So depraved was Philippe, it was rumored, he had slept with his own daughter. Philippe worked diligently, despite conspiracies against him by other nobles, to restore France's fortunes after the defeat of the War of the Spanish Succession and established himself, in talks with Great Britain and as a proponent of colonial expansion in America, as a skillful and important leader. Christine Pevitt's exciting biography provides an intimate portrait of this compelling figure and reaffirms his historical significance.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
When he became Regent to France's 5-year-old King Louis XV in 1715, the Duc d'Orleans was considered dangerously irreligious, shockingly promiscuous, and too irreverent to make a good statesman despite his evident intelligence. Yet as Christine Pevitt demonstrates in a gracefully written text, Philippe tried to modernize and reform the government, keeping France at peace and prosperous until his death in 1723. Aided by caches of deliciously gossipy contemporary letters, Pevitt recreates the luxurious, licentious society of 18th-century France and rehabilitates the reputation of its most notorious ruler.
From Library Journal
Pevitt, who studied classics at Cambridge and later worked in publishing on both sides of the Atlantic, examines the life and times of Philippe d'Orleans. Philippe, a nephew of Louis XIV, became regent when Louis died in 1715, when the new king was only five years old. Pevitt presents a skillfully balanced portrait of Philippe's political skills vs. his personal excesses. During his eight years as regent, France had peace and prosperity, yet the author deftly probes the personal animus that many nonetheless had toward him. A prime example of this was the widely circulated rumor that Philippe had poisoned three people to advance his prospects of becoming king. Pevitt's volume bears comparison to Joseph Barry's Passion & Politics: A Biography of Versailles (1972). Her detailed scholarship makes this work suitable for academic libraries.?Norman Malwitz, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Regent - Brilliant but Debauched Workhorse,
By A Customer
This review is from: Philippe, Duc D'Orleans: Regent of France (Hardcover)
Knowing nothing about this historical personage or his period, I was pleasantly surprised with the intriguing, contradictory character of Philippe, the nephew of Louis XIV, and Regent for King Louis XV. The author relied heavily on primary sources to describe the Regent and his times, particularly on the letters of his mother (the second duchesse d'Orleans, Elizabeth Charlotte) and Saint Simon's writings. Since both famous writers were close to the Regent, there are lively sketches of Philippe. It is a balanced biography; the Regent's controversial personal life is addressed, too. The author establishes the background carefully, describing Louis XIV's overly long reign at its end; the old, rigid court at Versailles, the King's control of the nobility, the "liberal" movement towards Paris, the problems encountered by Louis XIV's grandson as the first Bourbon king of Spain, military and economic problems. Then, the Regency: politics and coup, social issues, and fiscal reforms. The author also presents cultural affairs (the arts) with great sensitivity. There is an excellent genealogy table and "cast of characters" preceding the text; also, a few pages of illustrations. This is an engrossing biography with useful"extras."
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read...!,
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This review is from: Philippe, Duc D'Orleans: Regent of France (Hardcover)
I bought this book by accident. I had intended to get a book on Philippe Egalite, the great grandson of Philippe II duc d'orleans. I was immediately captivated by this book and read it within a few days though.
I learned quite a bit about Louis the XIV's and Louis the XV's time of which I'd been unaware. My only criticism is that my French is rusty and many times the author had quotes in French with no translations. This was a bit annoying. I found an online translator, [...], which was very helpful though. I can't really dock a book because of my own ignorance!! This book is a five star book!!!
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