Memoirs of the Duc De Saint-Simon: v. 3: 1715-23

This is the third volume in Lucy Norton's three-volume abridgement and translation of the the memoirs of the Duc de Saint-Simon, first published in the 1960s. The court of Louis XIV, the Sun King, at Versailles was unequalled for splendour in Europe's history, a hotbed of intrigues and jealousy, passion both political and personal, as well as artistic and literary excellence - this is its memorial. This, like the previous volumes, is peppered throughout with character sketches which bring the period to life. The third volume starts with the funeral of Louis XIV, the ensuing violent quarrels of the Duc d'Orleans, the Regent, and the Duc de Maine, senior of the late king's bastards, espionage and intrigues concerning the Stuart pretender to the English throne, the debauched life of the Regent and his "public Harem", the persecution of Voltaire, French reaction to the union of Scotland and England, the death of the Regent - and much more.