This work is a selection of papers presented at the Folger Institute by an international collegium of scholars on the ascendancy of French culture during the reign of Louis XIV.
A very scholarly, but enlightening book on King Louis XIV...The Sun King. This is a collection of essays compiled from several lectures/studies conducted several years ago in Washington D.C. by various writers, historians, etc..
I'm a history buff, so a book like this is a real find for me. Recommended, but be warned that it is somewhat dry.