France’s greatest administrator, Cardinal Mazarin, has just died, and rival statesmen are moving in to fill the void. With the country’s recent civil wars (the Fronde) never far from his mind, 22-year-old King Louis must decide who pledges their true loyalty and who intrigues against him. The omniscient viewpoint ensures a comprehensive portrait of the place and time. Readers get to see the inner thoughts and motives of all the major players, from the worries and ambitions of the queen mother, Anne of Austria, to the lusty schemes of Catherine, Princess of Monaco, all without losing sight of the larger story.
As Louis solidifies his grip on the reins of power, he begins to understand that some choices simply aren’t open to him. Even a king can’t have everything he wants, especially if one of them is Henriette, his younger brother Philippe’s fun-loving and flirtatious wife. Fortunately, before the court erupts in scandal over their forbidden love affair, his eye turns to someone new.
Louise de la Baume le Blanc is a kind, gentle, and shy maid of honor, and in a court full of hidden agendas, Louis appreciates a woman who won’t play him false. Their connection is deep and passionate, and, as Koen alludes, on his side it will be temporary – but it feels no less poignant for that. Louise also has a curious streak. One day while out riding in the woods, she spies a boy wearing an iron mask, not realizing her quest to discover his secret has the potential to shake the kingdom.
With its richly decadent setting, Before Versailles is a dazzling feast for the visual imagination. The abundance of detail can be too much to take in all at once (you wouldn’t expect to see all of Fontainebleau in a single day, would you?) so prepare for a leisurely read. In addition, the novel is a skilled evocation of one man’s determination to take control of the land he was born to rule.
Before Versailles was published by Crown in late June at $26.00 / $31 in Canada (hardcover, 460pp).
I have to echo that this is a leisurely read (or should be) -- it's such a marvelous, detailed read. I loved all the characters, too, even the villains, because they were so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Even the people scheming against him were at least fun to watch. This was a slower read than her previous books for me, but I didn't mind. It felt right given the amount of detail there was to observe.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that from a few Koen fans so I was apprehensive, but as this was my first novel of hers, I was sucked in. I couldn't believe how short the span covered in the novel, given the size, but in the end, I liked that detail -- it allowed for the characters to feel more real (to me, at least).
ReplyDeleteThis was quite a book! I have never read Koen before, being scared off by some lukewarm reviews I'd seen. But "Before Versailles" was exciting, well-paced, and interesting. As someone who's only read a few Louis XVI-era books, I was unfamilar with the "Man in the Iron Mask" tales. I did know of Louise and Minette, though, and I was excited to see them written as dynamic and lively.
ReplyDeleteThis is my third Karleen Koen novel. I'm not finished yet, but I'm loving it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review (again), Sarah. I wish my immediate to read pile wasn't quite so big so I could tackle this one right away but, alas, it's going to have to wait a month or two. I'm certainly looking forward to it though!
ReplyDeleteThis was my first Koen read, but it definitely won't be my last!
ReplyDeleteThe Man in the Iron Mask subplot wasn't very familiar to me either. I didn't know for sure where that was going, but I had a guess. The story of his family and mistresses I knew, but it hasn't been overdone to such an extent that I didn't want to read about them again. French settings have been out of favor for a while, so it's nice to see them featured.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, this one had been on my TBR stack since the spring - I've been accumulating review books as well - so don't feel bad!
I find it hard to choose a favorite among her books. I read Through a Glass Darkly when it first came out, and I was too young to catch a lot of the nuances then (I was a junior in high school - yikes!). It would be worth a second read now.
ReplyDeleteI keep picking her up and starting her books, really enjoying them, and then never finishing them! I think I would love her, so I must get around to one of her books!
ReplyDeleteSarah (& all), I had some problems with "Through a Glass Darkly," back when I was a youthful critic reviewing it for the SF Chronicle; I found the plot a bit Harlequin Romance--novelish & the writing a bit breathless. But the attention to 18th Century detail was just incredible—seasonal customs and rituals, herbal recipes, folk customs & country manners, as well as gossipy political intrigue.
ReplyDeleteI do find it interesting that back then, writing about fictional protagonists (as opposed to "marquee names") was still considered viable. Sigh. Those were the days!
I remember that about the writing too, Lisa, and at the time thought it fit Barbara's youthful exuberance. The story swept me along, though, and all of the historical details were great. I'm with you on the trend towards marquee names, too. I enjoy them but wish we had more choices!
ReplyDelete@Lisa: Your comment is so interesting to me -- I feel such fatigue when I see Anne Boleyn featured in a novel these days -- the trend of 'marquee names' baffles me! I so prefer either unusual historical figures or new ones -- but not another Tudor historical. :/
ReplyDeleteI too loved this book and gobbled it up in about four sittings...then again, I was already used to the setting. It's a wonderful companion book to Sandra Gulland's brilliant Mistress of the Sun.
ReplyDeleteIf you' haven't seen the movie, Man With the Iron Mask with Gabriel Byrne, I recommend it. A great romp (and Gabrile Byrne *g*)...even the presence of Leo Dicaprio (as Louis) didn't bother me that much...
Thanks for the movie suggestion, Tess - especially since our netflix subscription hasn't been used for much of late. Leo as Louis just doesn't seem right, but the rest of it sounds great :)
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