The behind-the-scenes story of the world’s most famous palace, painting a picture of the way its residents truly lived and examining t... read full description
reviews
Mar 19, 2009
Laura
rated it: 
Having read over the years numerous books about the last two hundred years of the French Bourbon Kings, here is a book about the place so much of it took place: the sprawling palace complex of Versailles. At the time Louis XIV began to enlarge the hunting retreat of his father, he was not quite on the top of the heap of European power and prestige. His new palace was meant to send an unmistakable message to everyone that la France was the center of politics, fashion, religion, and architectur
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Aug 25, 2010
Manuel
rated it: 
I have read many books about the last three French kings before the revolution, but this is the first book that actually gave a behind the scenes look into the everyday life of Versailles.
Starting with Louis XIV's distrust of Paris and his need to feel in control; he not only built a home for himself but transferred the entire government to his palace, never mind the cost to France.
Eventually Versailles became a world unto itself, ignoring Paris and the rest of France. If More...
Starting with Louis XIV's distrust of Paris and his need to feel in control; he not only built a home for himself but transferred the entire government to his palace, never mind the cost to France.
Eventually Versailles became a world unto itself, ignoring Paris and the rest of France. If More...
Apr 29, 2009
Chris
rated it: 
Spawforth's Versailles is more a biography of court life than a biography of the palace itself. The chapters do more to illustrate what life was like at Versailles than to show a biography of the palace itself. Therefore, the sub-title A Biography of a Palace is misleading.
Spawforth, however, does illustrate in somewhat entertaining detail what court life at the palace was like. He includes detail about etiquette, for instance, when men could put their hats back on, as well as d More...
Spawforth, however, does illustrate in somewhat entertaining detail what court life at the palace was like. He includes detail about etiquette, for instance, when men could put their hats back on, as well as d More...
Jan 19, 2011
Janis
rated it:
Very interesting history of this place. Here is a but from the book which I have to pass along that I found in the chapter called Comforts-or lack of them:
“The great advantage of the new device (the toilet) was the absence of smell. A luxurious installation of marble, porcelain, and mahogany, the king’s was kept so clean that Louis XVI once sat down without noticing an enormous angora cat curled up contentedly in the perfumed bowl. When events galvanized the cat into attacking the s More...
“The great advantage of the new device (the toilet) was the absence of smell. A luxurious installation of marble, porcelain, and mahogany, the king’s was kept so clean that Louis XVI once sat down without noticing an enormous angora cat curled up contentedly in the perfumed bowl. When events galvanized the cat into attacking the s More...
Apr 09, 2009
Jen
rated it: 
This was less a biography of a palace than a loosely strung series of vignettes that served only to remind me that I knew all this stuff about the kings...and I still don't know anything about this palace.
It doesn't even have that many pictures. You'd think that a biography of a palace would have...I don't know...floor plans...it had one...of one area.
The only map of the area was the end papers.
Seriously, people. I don't ask a whole lot, but a map would have
It doesn't even have that many pictures. You'd think that a biography of a palace would have...I don't know...floor plans...it had one...of one area.
The only map of the area was the end papers.
Seriously, people. I don't ask a whole lot, but a map would have
Aug 09, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
This was another book that I was pleasantly surprised by. It's full of all sorts of trivia, all built around the history of the palace of Versailles, including the town and the people within. This one is a must read for anyone interest in Ancient Regime France.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Vers...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_Vers...
Jul 22, 2010
William
rated it:
The facts themselves are always interesting, but the thematic chapters that the author has created do not seem to give the book any cohesion when he quickly jumps around in time. Maybe a more traditional chronological overview of Versailles would have been better. At minimum, more diagrams and illustrations of the palace in the context of the narrative would have helped immensely.
Oct 02, 2010
Phoebe
rated it:
An extremely readable history of the palace and the politics and social network within it. Totally fascinating, very well organized, and clearly written. Spawforth helpfully includes interesting facts about Versailles in modern day and the restorations being done to it. Could have included more photographs though.
Jan 12, 2012
E
rated it:
One of those books that you can just pick up, flip to a random page, and start reading. I love that in a book. Will also inspire you to find all sorts of other books about French court life to elaborate more on the snippets you find here. Awesome.
May 27, 2010
Becky
rated it:
Great if you are visiting the palace. Could have done with less detail about the various members of the court's endless scheming, but it did go a way toward illustrating how miserable it must have been to be living there.
Jul 24, 2009
Katie
rated it:
After actually visiting Versailles I came home dying to learn more. This book gave me everything I needed: history, interesting trivia, and the story behind (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Mar 23, 2009
Rosie
rated it:
If you like French history this is the book for you. Fascinating info on the building, the daily life(feeding 6,000!), the history and the people involved from its inception.
Sep 21, 2009
Connie
rated it:
Material is more like a reference book overall. Includes insights into the unbelievable sheer numbers of the place, plus how humans worked and lived there.
Jul 02, 2009
Kristen
rated it:
Loved little bits of information, like how Marie-Antoinette got hit by a careless servant emptying a chamber pot! The information about the actual building (construction, renovations etc...) was a bit dry. I suppose I was mostly in it for the 18th century Star Magazine info
Aug 14, 2011
Interesting read. Makes me want to return to Versailles and appreciate its history first-hand.
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