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The Splendid Century: Life in the France of Louis XIV
Probes varied facets of life in France during the reign of Louis XIV, including the church, medicine, sea travel, female education, and the army.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
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488 people want to read
About the author
W.H. Lewis
49 books19 followersWarren Hamilton Lewis was an Irish historian and officer in the British Army. He was the older brother of C.S. Lewis, a member of the Inklings, and a scholar of 17th-century French history.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
Other authors publishing under this name are:
W.H. Lewis, Soliciter of the Suprime Court of the Colony of Victoria
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
Other authors publishing under this name are:
W.H. Lewis, Soliciter of the Suprime Court of the Colony of Victoria
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 21, 2010
Lewis's first sentence explains that "if long-winded titles were still the fashion, [this book:] might with more accuracy have been called 'Some aspects of French life in the days of Louis XIV'," and indeed, that would be a good description. Lewis doesn't cover every possible facet of life during those days, but selective though it is, it's very enjoyable, based on a vast familiarity with and a deep fondness for the writers of the period and full of wonderful details. On court etiquette, among other fascinating tidbits, there's this: "Who could guess that if you encounter the royal dinner on its way from the kitchen to the table, you must bow as to the King himself, sweep the ground with the plume of your hat, and say in a low, reverent, but distinct voice, La viande du Roi?"
Lewis does show his own opinions and prejudices, some of which a more modern audience may not agree with -- for instance, "[t:]o the modern reader, it cannot but be nauseating to learn that the prudent man about town, anxious to avoid the results of incautious sexual promiscuity, should invoke the protection of St. Job," which I just find interesting, not nauseating -- but he makes a definite effort to present a balanced picture. By the end of the book, I simply felt that I'd spent a few hours with a well-educated, well-spoken companion, and we'd had a lovely and interesting chat about a fascinating period.
Lewis does show his own opinions and prejudices, some of which a more modern audience may not agree with -- for instance, "[t:]o the modern reader, it cannot but be nauseating to learn that the prudent man about town, anxious to avoid the results of incautious sexual promiscuity, should invoke the protection of St. Job," which I just find interesting, not nauseating -- but he makes a definite effort to present a balanced picture. By the end of the book, I simply felt that I'd spent a few hours with a well-educated, well-spoken companion, and we'd had a lovely and interesting chat about a fascinating period.
March 4, 2024
ENGLISH: Interesting summary of the French golden century, which more or less coincided with the long reign of Louis XIV. Lewis speaks in great detail and knowledge about the king, the court, the poor people, the Church, the army, the rural nobility, the cities, the doctors, the way of life, the prisoners in the galleys, the travelers of the time, the education of women, and the world of letters.
Although there is a certain English chauvinism in his comments, Warnie Lewis shows that he has studied the subject quite well, has read almost everything that can be read from the time, has assimilated everything and is able to describe it in an entertaining and convincing way.
ESPAÑOL: Interesante resumen del siglo de oro francés, que coincidió más o menos con el largo reinado de Luis XIV. Lewis habla con gran detalle y conocimiento de causa sobre el rey, la corte, la gente pobre, la Iglesia, el ejército, la nobleza rural, las ciudades, los médicos, el modo de vida, los condenados a galeras, los viajeros de la época, la educación de la mujer, y el mundo de las letras.
Aunque se nota cierto chauvinismo inglés en sus comentarios, Warnie Lewis demuestra que se ha estudiado muy bien el tema, ha leído casi todo lo que se puede leer procedente de la época, lo ha asimilado y es capaz de describirlo de forma amena y convincente.
Although there is a certain English chauvinism in his comments, Warnie Lewis shows that he has studied the subject quite well, has read almost everything that can be read from the time, has assimilated everything and is able to describe it in an entertaining and convincing way.
ESPAÑOL: Interesante resumen del siglo de oro francés, que coincidió más o menos con el largo reinado de Luis XIV. Lewis habla con gran detalle y conocimiento de causa sobre el rey, la corte, la gente pobre, la Iglesia, el ejército, la nobleza rural, las ciudades, los médicos, el modo de vida, los condenados a galeras, los viajeros de la época, la educación de la mujer, y el mundo de las letras.
Aunque se nota cierto chauvinismo inglés en sus comentarios, Warnie Lewis demuestra que se ha estudiado muy bien el tema, ha leído casi todo lo que se puede leer procedente de la época, lo ha asimilado y es capaz de describirlo de forma amena y convincente.
August 21, 2023
One of the finest social histories I’ve ever read; in prose that proves W.H. Lewis was a better writer than his brother C.S.
Read it before you visit Versailles. It brings the whole age to life.
Read it before you visit Versailles. It brings the whole age to life.
October 13, 2010
As Lewis himself notes, the book is not a narrative history but a collection of essays of "aspects of French life in the days of Louis XIV." It is informative and funny. He is fair minded, showing us both the positive and negative sides of people and situations. Louis is famously thoughtful in some ways, as when he tells people who are abusing a valet for a mistake, "Let us remember...that he is much more upset about it than I am." But he can also be unkind from selfishness when unkindness is not his intention as when he will not allow grieving courtiers to show their grief because unhappiness upsets him.
He can be very funny as when he says of Racine "to Louis he must, I think, have borne a marked physical resemblance; for early in their acquaintance the King observed that Racine was one of the handsomest men at his Court." His skewers the medical profession in France at the time is also hilarious while also giving you a frighteningly vivid idea of what it was like to be ill then.
Highly recommended. Packs a lot of information into a short book.
He can be very funny as when he says of Racine "to Louis he must, I think, have borne a marked physical resemblance; for early in their acquaintance the King observed that Racine was one of the handsomest men at his Court." His skewers the medical profession in France at the time is also hilarious while also giving you a frighteningly vivid idea of what it was like to be ill then.
Highly recommended. Packs a lot of information into a short book.
January 13, 2009
I cannot understand why more people do not read this book. C.S. Lewis' brother was a top-notch historian and creative in the way he organized his story. The only problem I had when reading The Splendid Century was that there were so many phrases in French, but that's a fault in my education, not the book. This book made Louis XIV come alive to me with a power lacking in many other historical works.
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April 16, 2017Lewis, like Nancy Mitford, wrote about history because he loved history. So his work is like a travelogue into the past. He read deeply in the primary sources because he loved the history of France, and it shows. Engaging, clear, I don't think this work has been superseded, at least as an introduction to the period and to the main figures.
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December 29, 2021I'm calling this one "read" even though I didn't quite finish it. Warnie Lewis does seem to know his subject matter, but I just couldn't gin up enough interest to keep meeting him halfway. There's only so much a person can stand to know about 17th-century France, unless afflicted with an intense fascination for that little corner and moment of Creation.
April 9, 2014
"The Splendid Century" is a history covering various aspects of life in France during the reign of Louis XIV. The first chapter was mainly about the king's scandalous love life and grandiose beliefs about himself. The rest of the book talked about what life was like for everyone else.
The author researched records, correspondence, and journals to get the impressions of people living at that time. He discussed why Louis XIV set certain policies, how they worked out in reality, and you could see how this set things up for the people in later generations to decide they didn't need nobles and royalty at all.
The author talked about what life was like for nobles, especially those at court, and for commoners of all sorts. He covered the religious institutions and the religious conflicts, how the army had been organized and was re-organized, what life was like in the country and in the towns, how doctors were trained, how women were educated and how this changed, what life was like on galley ships and on passenger sailing ships, some of the court etiquette, and some well-known writers of the time.
No topic was covered in every detail, but he gave the reader a taste of what he thought was most interesting. I did not find every topic equally interesting, but I liked how he explained the impact of various actions and policies rather than simply giving facts. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in this period of French history if they don't mind the somewhat academic (e.g. "this is how the tax system worked") nature of parts of it.
The author researched records, correspondence, and journals to get the impressions of people living at that time. He discussed why Louis XIV set certain policies, how they worked out in reality, and you could see how this set things up for the people in later generations to decide they didn't need nobles and royalty at all.
The author talked about what life was like for nobles, especially those at court, and for commoners of all sorts. He covered the religious institutions and the religious conflicts, how the army had been organized and was re-organized, what life was like in the country and in the towns, how doctors were trained, how women were educated and how this changed, what life was like on galley ships and on passenger sailing ships, some of the court etiquette, and some well-known writers of the time.
No topic was covered in every detail, but he gave the reader a taste of what he thought was most interesting. I did not find every topic equally interesting, but I liked how he explained the impact of various actions and policies rather than simply giving facts. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in this period of French history if they don't mind the somewhat academic (e.g. "this is how the tax system worked") nature of parts of it.
January 4, 2015
I didn't actually finish, but got a good way in before I just couldn't take it anymore. I found Lewis' voice frustratingly pedantic and struggled to get through his sloppy history and unnecessarily inserted opinions. The book was, at turns, amusing and had a detail here or there I may not have known, but overall I fear I'm going to give this one a rest.
July 15, 2021
I did enjoy this book, with one small caveat: The chapters break the topic down into primarily societal divisions, starting with the king and royal court and ending with men of letters, which, while it's a valid organizational choice, had the unfortunate effect of compartmentalizing the divisions, when seeing how the different moving parts of the ancien regime play off of each other instead of dealing with each largely in isolation would've drawn me in a little bit closer.
That's a small quibble, because Lewis still presents plenty of fascinating details of the era; the Chevalier d'Arvieux marveling that the interior of a mid-17th century mosque had "not a scrap of excrement anywhere" (and what that implies about the state of the French churches) is one that will stick with me for awhile. At the same time, the roads the author chooses not to pursue throw out breadcrumbs for further reading. In an introduction to François Timoléon, abbé de Choisy, Lewis spends a paragraph detailing Choisy's penchant for elaborate crossdressing, and his insistence that his mistresses dress in male clothes while they were around him. This could be--and more than likely is--the topic of its own book, but having established all of the preceding, Lewis quickly moves on to his real topic: sea travel. Even with that type of occasional gear shift, The Splendid Century was definitely well worth my time.
That's a small quibble, because Lewis still presents plenty of fascinating details of the era; the Chevalier d'Arvieux marveling that the interior of a mid-17th century mosque had "not a scrap of excrement anywhere" (and what that implies about the state of the French churches) is one that will stick with me for awhile. At the same time, the roads the author chooses not to pursue throw out breadcrumbs for further reading. In an introduction to François Timoléon, abbé de Choisy, Lewis spends a paragraph detailing Choisy's penchant for elaborate crossdressing, and his insistence that his mistresses dress in male clothes while they were around him. This could be--and more than likely is--the topic of its own book, but having established all of the preceding, Lewis quickly moves on to his real topic: sea travel. Even with that type of occasional gear shift, The Splendid Century was definitely well worth my time.
September 17, 2019
It had moments, but for the most part I thought it tedious and droolingly dull.
This is my fault, of course.
Damn me for not having any French or Latin so I could understand those frequent phrases and words Lewis casually drops into the work throughout. Curse my impatience with the Edwardian prose that birthed a 126 word sentence on page 174. How dare I not have the education of a mid-20th century British intellectual so I would understand instantly the last name references to people that were casually dropped in the work? In one instance I was left to guess that “Newman” was John Henry Newman, the British theologian that died in 1890. Woe unto me for wanting fleshed out anecdotes whose humor dissipated for lack of my advanced reading.
Shame on me for expecting exposition and accessibility.
Lewis’s brother, C.S., was able to reach out to millions with his popular non-fiction. W.H.? Maybe thousands.
Good luck with it.
This is my fault, of course.
Damn me for not having any French or Latin so I could understand those frequent phrases and words Lewis casually drops into the work throughout. Curse my impatience with the Edwardian prose that birthed a 126 word sentence on page 174. How dare I not have the education of a mid-20th century British intellectual so I would understand instantly the last name references to people that were casually dropped in the work? In one instance I was left to guess that “Newman” was John Henry Newman, the British theologian that died in 1890. Woe unto me for wanting fleshed out anecdotes whose humor dissipated for lack of my advanced reading.
Shame on me for expecting exposition and accessibility.
Lewis’s brother, C.S., was able to reach out to millions with his popular non-fiction. W.H.? Maybe thousands.
Good luck with it.
August 31, 2018
It was an OK book. There were a lot of typos and the author let his vocabulary run away with him, using obscure words when more common ones would work just as well. He also used a lot of French phrases, which was understandable but he rarely provided translations. Otherwise it was well researched and went into remarkable detail about Louis XIV's daily routine and the routines of others of the period. I had no problems with his writing style and found it pretty easy to read. There was a lot of sociological history which simply is not where my interests lie.
April 24, 2018
I found the last chapter a bit of a slog but enjoyed the rest of the book immensely. The last chapter reviewed many writers of the period, I've heard of many of them but alas haven't read them... I think W.H. Lewis also wrote a sequel, I'll have to see if I can find it.
July 20, 2018
A comprehensive portrayal of French society in Louis XIV reign.
France is unique and this social and economic history is , well worth reading. The author arranges the content by topic, which I found helpful and entertaining.
France is unique and this social and economic history is , well worth reading. The author arranges the content by topic, which I found helpful and entertaining.
April 5, 2022
Great book
Really interesting. This book is well written and very informative. Well worth the read for any Louis XIV \ Sun King fan.
Really interesting. This book is well written and very informative. Well worth the read for any Louis XIV \ Sun King fan.
April 4, 2025
Well written and interesting.
August 19, 2025
A beautifully written and amusing book with enthralling details on the period. Some light skimming is advised to get through the denser parts.
September 6, 2016
Anyone who has read the Narnia Chronicles or watched the movies know about C.S. Lewis. What many people don't know is that Lewis had a brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis who was also a writer, and a good one at that.
Warren Lewis did not write fiction like his brother and he did not produce much, unfortunately for us, because what he did write is delightful reading, told with a good sense of humor and wit.
This Splendid Century is a charming account of life in France under the reign of King Louis XIV. Lewis starts with the King himself and all his idiosyncrasies. How he was raised- he became king at age four- and lived under the tyranny of Cardinal Mazarin until the despot finally died. We learn of his eating and sleeping habits, his many mistresses-each a colorful personality- how all the court was expected to imitate the culture he created inside his palace. Much of it is ridiculous and could hardly be believable except that absolute rulers can act like spoiled, idiot children because of no accountability. This section of the book reads much like a supplement or corroboration of Dumas' The Man in the Iron Mask (except there is no twin brother to the king).
From the King's personal habits, which were as particular as they were bizarre (he always slept with the sheets folded half down, winter or summer and you have to read for your self the table he kept and the eating habits he practiced and expected everyone in the palace to practice) to the people he was surrounded by in his court, in town and in the country, we are able to gather much of society's habits and caste system (one knocks on the doors of neighbors in town but in the palace one must grow the nail of one finger in order to "scratch"). If one wanted any financial support from the king, one stayed at court and let his land go to waste and ruin, otherwise it was assumed the king's patronage wasn't needed and Louis would withdraw needed funds to support the farmer and his family. I'm not sure how this system lasted but it offers a lot of insight as to why there was a bloody revolution soon after.
for the full review cut and paste the link to my blog post:
http://sharonhenning.blogspot.com/201...
Warren Lewis did not write fiction like his brother and he did not produce much, unfortunately for us, because what he did write is delightful reading, told with a good sense of humor and wit.
This Splendid Century is a charming account of life in France under the reign of King Louis XIV. Lewis starts with the King himself and all his idiosyncrasies. How he was raised- he became king at age four- and lived under the tyranny of Cardinal Mazarin until the despot finally died. We learn of his eating and sleeping habits, his many mistresses-each a colorful personality- how all the court was expected to imitate the culture he created inside his palace. Much of it is ridiculous and could hardly be believable except that absolute rulers can act like spoiled, idiot children because of no accountability. This section of the book reads much like a supplement or corroboration of Dumas' The Man in the Iron Mask (except there is no twin brother to the king).
From the King's personal habits, which were as particular as they were bizarre (he always slept with the sheets folded half down, winter or summer and you have to read for your self the table he kept and the eating habits he practiced and expected everyone in the palace to practice) to the people he was surrounded by in his court, in town and in the country, we are able to gather much of society's habits and caste system (one knocks on the doors of neighbors in town but in the palace one must grow the nail of one finger in order to "scratch"). If one wanted any financial support from the king, one stayed at court and let his land go to waste and ruin, otherwise it was assumed the king's patronage wasn't needed and Louis would withdraw needed funds to support the farmer and his family. I'm not sure how this system lasted but it offers a lot of insight as to why there was a bloody revolution soon after.
for the full review cut and paste the link to my blog post:
http://sharonhenning.blogspot.com/201...
May 30, 2015
I expected this book to be something of a bore, and, in fact, I had almost instant buyers regret after clicking "complete your order," and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get past even one chapter. After cracking it open though, I found it to be not only very well-written, but also entirely fascinating! Lewis' writing style is very anecdotal, and sprinkled throughout a well-penned history of the life and times of the Sun-King are many wonderful stories of very different people who inhabited France at this time. Some of the stories were very sad, some humorous, some shocking.
From a casual reader's point of view, Lewis' treatment of this subject is vibrant and full of fascinating asides. Very much worth a read, whether this subject is particularly interesting to you, or you just happened to order it on a whim (as I did).
From a casual reader's point of view, Lewis' treatment of this subject is vibrant and full of fascinating asides. Very much worth a read, whether this subject is particularly interesting to you, or you just happened to order it on a whim (as I did).
May 29, 2011
This is a wittily-written, somewhat unsystematic survey of areas of social and institutional organization and experience in the second half of the 17th century. It's all colorfully and carefully laid out for the lay reader, with due mention of complexities without actually going into them. The author actually manages to point out the main points of the horrifically tangled system of taxation: impenetrable in theory, iniquitous in practice. He achieves the even more impressive feat of relating an internal doctrinal dispute among Catholics in a way that's not completely mind-numbing. In short, informative and fun.
June 9, 2013
Interesting mainly because of the author's famous sibling, Clive Staples (the book is dedicated "to my brother"), this is also well written and historically informative.
Parenthetically, if everyone one knows is a brilliant writer and expert in literary history, philosophy, and classical languages, what does one do? Randomly become an expert in a specific European time period, apparently?
If you're into French history, you should read it!
Parenthetically, if everyone one knows is a brilliant writer and expert in literary history, philosophy, and classical languages, what does one do? Randomly become an expert in a specific European time period, apparently?
If you're into French history, you should read it!
August 29, 2008
This might be the first time I've read a book in which I'd visited both the subject's house and the author's. I'd rather live at the Kilns than Versailles. Warnie's opinions might make him a less than impartial researcher, but they certainly made the book more interesting than it might have been.
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August 7, 2009This is an incredible collection of essays. It almost defines the word "eclectic". I developed a love for French History from this book and the others Warren Lewis wrote on the subject. If you want a "good read", as the British say, read this.
November 30, 2013
Absolutely fantastic reading, full of "juicy" bits, and not too long, either. It's quite dated - and the social norms of the author in the 1950s are evident - which, imo, only makes it that much more entertaining.
January 16, 2017
This is a very readable introduction to the France of the late 1600s. Lewis is a good writer with an eye for interesting detail. I found myself laughing at the ridiculous rules of etiquette at Versailles, and becoming angry at the country's awful tax policies.
January 4, 2014
I love this portrait of Louis XIV's kingdom, although the chapter on Mme de Maintenon's school, St. Cyr, never fails to make me shake my head at what education for women used to be.
November 29, 2008
The first chapter on Louis XIV was very interesting and well-written, but after that I kind of lost interest in the book. Too broad.
June 11, 2011
Enjoyable despite the author's almost complete focus on the nobility and tendency to begin sentences with, "There's something almost Oriental about..."
February 27, 2012
Took a long time to read, but very interesting details of life during Louis XIV reign from many different views.
August 21, 2016
The text is a nice social history of the period. The chapters on the king, court, clergy, and classes in general are compelling. The chapters on the world of letters and medicine, not so much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews