La Duchesse Du Maine

By Francis Birrell

"La Duchesse Du Maine" offers a fascinating biographical portrait of Louise B n dicte de Bourbon, a central and often controversial figure in the high society of late 17th and early 18th-century France. As the wife of the Duke of Maine, the legitimized son of Louis XIV, the Duchess carved out a unique space for herself through her intelligence, ambition, and legendary salon at the Ch teau de Sceaux. Francis Birrell provides a detailed examination of her life, from her upbringing as a "Princess of the Blood" to her complex role in the political maneuvers following the death of the Sun King.

The book chronicles her leadership of the "Grandes Nuits de Sceaux," a series of elaborate intellectual and theatrical festivals that drew the finest minds of the era. Beyond the glamour of her salon, Birrell explores her fierce dedication to her husband's rank and her involvement in the high-stakes Cellamare Conspiracy, which sought to challenge the authority of the Duke of Orl ans. Through this narrative, the work captures the spirit of a woman who was both a significant cultural patron and a formidable political actress. It serves as an insightful resource for readers interested in the nuances of the French Regency and the influential women who shaped the Bourbon dynasty.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025769503
• ISBN13: 9781025769509
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 102 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.3" x 6.1"