Drawing upon recent research and past studies, David J. Sturdy presents a concise, up-to-date analysis of the private and public careers of two of the most influential ministers in seventeenth-century France.
Richelieu and Mazarin: - adopts a broadly chronological approach, interspersed with passages at relevant points which compare and contrast the key achievements of the two Cardinals - examines such central themes as the internal government of France, the ministers' conduct of foreign policy, and the nature of elite and popular resistance to their policies - explores the political ideas and strategies of Richelieu and Mazarin, the relations between the ministers and the Crown, and the patronage they exercised
The book concludes with a comparative assessment of the significance of the two figures for the history of France.
This excellent and up-to-date text will tell you everything you need to know about two of France's greatest statesmen. Professor Sturdy writes with clarity and concision--his book is equally valuable to history students and to general readers who've read Dumas and become curious to learn more about the "Red Cardinal" and his talented successor.