BeforeVersaillesANovelofLouisXIV

LouisXIVisoneofthebest-knownmonarchsevertogracetheFrenchthrone.Butwhatwashelikeasayoungman—themanbeforeVersailles?Afterthedeathofhisprimeminister，CardinalMazarin，twenty-two-year-oldLouisstepsintogoverningFrance.He’sstillayoungman，butonewho，asking，willfullytakeseverythinghecanget—includinghisbrother’swife.AstheloveaffairbetweenLouisandPrincessHenrietteburns，itsetsthekingdomontheroadtowardunmistakablescandalandconflictwiththeVatican.Everywomanwantshim.Hemustfacewhatheiswillingtosacrificeforlove.ButthereareotherproblemslurkingoutsidethechateauofFontainebleau：aboyinanironmaskhasbeenseeninthewoods，andtheking’sfinanceminister，NicolasFouquet，hasproventobemorepowerfulthanLouiseverthought—amanwhocouldmakeagreatallyorbecomeadangerousfoe...MeticulouslyresearchedandvividlybroughttolifebythegorgeousproseofKarleenKoen，BeforeVersaillesdarestoexploretheforcesthatshapedaniconickinganddeterminedthefateofanempire.