Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
52nd out of 199 books
—
547 voters
The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV
"The Affair of the Poisons," as it became known, was an extraordinary episode that took place in France during the reign of Louis XIV. When poisoning and black magic became widespread, arrests followed. Suspects included those among the highest ranks of society. Many were tortured and numerous executions resulted.
The 1676 torture and execution of the Marquise de Brinvilli...more
The 1676 torture and execution of the Marquise de Brinvilli...more
Hardback, 400 pages
Published
October 12th 2004
by St. Martin's Press
(first published September 11th 2003)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
724)
This is the French version of the Salem Witch Trials, except it took place about a decade earlier and lasted longer -- the French are always so avant-garde.
In a nutshell: there's mass hysteria over poisonings, which results in setting up a judicial commission. (It's really investigative and judicial.) This casts a wide investigative net that ensnares not only the usual suspects, but also some important figures at Court. Incredible claims are made. People are tortured, have hands chopped off, ar...more
In a nutshell: there's mass hysteria over poisonings, which results in setting up a judicial commission. (It's really investigative and judicial.) This casts a wide investigative net that ensnares not only the usual suspects, but also some important figures at Court. Incredible claims are made. People are tortured, have hands chopped off, ar...more
This is a fascinating book, when I ordered I thought it was HF. It's a non-fiction book about a period of time I knew nothing about. The first crime in the book is about the Marquise Brinvilliers who was convicted of poisoning her father, her brothers and attempting to poison others in 17th c. France. Mme. Brinviller was a well connected Frechwoman and her crime and trial mesmerized France at the time.
I was looking at Wikipedia about the first crime in the book and found that Dumas wrote a shor...more
I was looking at Wikipedia about the first crime in the book and found that Dumas wrote a shor...more
In the late 1600s, Louis XIV of France authorized a secret counsel to investigate and prosecute instances of poisoning and black magic. Several prominent members of court -- who likely did no more than had their fortunes told on a whim -- were imprisoned, tortured, exiled and in some cases executed. Interesting, yes, but not 339 pages worth of interesting. The best parts are the beginning chapters about life at Versailles and descriptions of Louis XIV and various of his mistresses and how those...more
This book is an interesting and detailed study of an incident that occurred during the reign of Louis XIV of France. It does include descriptions of some of the torture used during the 'questioning' sessions, but thankfully these were brief. I don't like reading about torture.
Included was a very helpful 'list of characters', a glossary, and a foreward with information about language usage and coinage. The conclusion at the end was interesting, but I thought it left out one vital piece of informa...more
Included was a very helpful 'list of characters', a glossary, and a foreward with information about language usage and coinage. The conclusion at the end was interesting, but I thought it left out one vital piece of informa...more
"The Affair of the Poisons," as it became known, was an extraordinary episode that took place in France during the reign of Louis XIV. When poisoning and black magic became widespread, arrests followed. Suspects included those among the highest ranks of society. Many were tortured and numerous executions resulted.
The 1676 torture and execution of the Marquise de Brinvilliers marked the start of the scandal which rocked the foundations of French society and sent shock waves through all of Europe....more
The 1676 torture and execution of the Marquise de Brinvilliers marked the start of the scandal which rocked the foundations of French society and sent shock waves through all of Europe....more
Feb 26, 2012
Emmanuel Gustin
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history_france
The sensational subtitle of this book does it an injustice, because its author made a serious effort to sweep away the layers of rumours and scandal, and reduce the "affair of the poisons" to its true proportions. More than an account of crime, this is the story of an aberration in policing. Probably Louis XIV and the man he appointed to fight what looked like a wave of poisoning and blasphemy, La Reynie, were moved by a genuine desire to eradicate a serious threat to French society. But they we...more
Takes a wider look at the celebrated Affair of the Poisons, which caused great scandal, and may have brought down Madame de Montespan, one of Louis XIV's mistresses. For a fictional look at the same story, try Judith Merkle Riley's book, The Oracle Glass.
For the full review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Af...
For the full review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Af...
After reading Judith Merkle Riley's excellent fantasy-tinged historical novel The Oracle Glass, I searched in vain for a straight history so I could learn more about this very strange and sensational time within a strange and sensational bit of French history. Anne Somerset's book clearly lays out the tangle of witches, fortune-tellers, poisoners, courtiers, and royal mistresses, all struggling for position at the court of the Sun King. Highly recommended.
The subtitle of this book is catchy: "Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV". The book itself is nowhere near that salacious or titillating, but it's a good book. Very illuminating about aspects of the French nobility in the 17th century, as well as showing a relationship between that aristocracy and "the common people" that is usually not mentioned in books about the period.
Apr 19, 2012
Rebeca D'aubray
marked it as to-read
Can't wait to read this book! Ive stumbled across it and the story of 'The Affair of The Poisons' when i was looking up my family history and trying to work out between myth and fact about my name! After months of researching i have linked myself back to Marquise de Brinvilliers, which is at the heart of the scandal. Cant wait to read of the events that took place! :)
Bought this book in the bookshop at the palace of versailles and read it when I was in France. This was a topic I never heard about before and I am glad I read this book. If you like social history about people and how they lived then this book is for you.
A great non-fiction book that reads a bit like a suspense thriller. A great portrait of how corrupt the decadent court at Versailles, this book deftly brings to life some historical figures of whom I knew nothing about before reading.
Scary time, you would not want to be anything other than an aristocrat during the time the book protrays. Really interesting read.
Interesting, but a little bogged down with unnecessary details, which made it hard to read at times. Still fascinating, though.
Um, ok... How come I've never heard about these times in the court?? Lovely title, btw, makes me want to buy it right away!
Aug 04, 2011
Brittany
added it
Very good book, but I think some of the unnecessary information could have been removed.
a little drier then the subtitle would suggest but interesting
This book isn't bad but she wavers between wanting to write a popular account and wanting to properly account of for all the research she's obviously done. The resultant jerky pace of the narrative makes it less than agreable to read. I'm also a bit spoiled in that, having a relatively good grasp of the era, much of her description of the Court and the king's mistresses doesn't interest me overmuch, but I still feel like this could have stood some more editing.
This is an interesting overview of a poison scandal that wracked Paris during the later part of Louis XIV's reign. I don't think that the book is as interesting as the title would indicate. I would also suggest that before reading this, read Athenais. It recounts the life of Louis XIV's mistress of longest standing and overlaps with this book. Having that background made this book much more interesting.
This book is good. It has a good story line for the perfect movie.
Its intriguing, informative and alarming.
I never realized how bored these rich nobles were to go as far as to get involved in muder, infanticide and satanism.
I guess money corrupts anyone who sells their soul and these are the outcomes.
I hope someone in Hollywood decides to make a movie of this becuase its history at its best.
Its intriguing, informative and alarming.
I never realized how bored these rich nobles were to go as far as to get involved in muder, infanticide and satanism.
I guess money corrupts anyone who sells their soul and these are the outcomes.
I hope someone in Hollywood decides to make a movie of this becuase its history at its best.
While this was an intriguing title I find I am just too soft for this book. I got through the first chapter but, honestly, it's just so full of gory, gruesome descriptions of torture and death it made me too squirmy and uncomfortable. So I'm taking this one back to the library, just too much for me. Think I'll re-read "A Dark Adapted Eye" instead.
I wanted to become involved in this book, but it was so long winded that it was impossible.
Too much description - if that can be a bad thing, too much filler, in between the necessary information needed to carry the story.
I found my eyes glazing over...
Too much description - if that can be a bad thing, too much filler, in between the necessary information needed to carry the story.
I found my eyes glazing over...
A good read concerning the the possibility of an attempt on the life of Louis XIV. The french names get a bit jumbled at times, but I really enjoyed this book.
Great research material for anyone who likes writing about the Sun King's Court and/or the Musketeers.
Also, that obsession w/Louis XIV? Still got it.
Also, that obsession w/Louis XIV? Still got it.
One of the most readable accounts of the strange and obscure events that occurred during the reign of Louis XIV.
Quite fascinating so far - and really beautifully written. An unusual insight intot he court of the Sun King
Easy to digest, interesting and informative - just what you want in a research book!
Jul 26, 2008
B Ales
added it
Those people were really screwed up back then!
Jun 12, 2010
Jaime
added it
Intrigue and scandal at the Court of the Sun King. Great read.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Nov 13, 2011 08:01pm