Mistress of the Sun

by Sandra Gulland

Book Overview

The author of the internationally acclaimed Josephine Bonaparte trilogy returns with another irresistible historical novel, this one based on the life of Louise de la Valli?re, who, against all odds, became one of the most mysterious consorts of France's Louis XIV, the charismatic Sun King. Set against the magnificent decadence of the seventeenth-century French court, Mistress of the Sun begins when an eccentric young Louise falls in love with a wild...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074329887X
• ISBN13: 9780743298872
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 382 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

an opulent treasure of a historical novel

Set in seventeenth century France, Mistress of the Sun is an opulent treasure of a historical novel. In it, author Sandra Gulland pulls off a difficult balancing act: The novel is both impeccably researched and gorgeously written. (As a long time reader of the genre, they usually strike me as being tipped one way or the other. Not so here.) Mistress of the Sun is the story of Louise de la Vallière, nicknamed Petite because of her diminutive size. However, what Petite lacks in physical stature, she makes up in spirit--Petite was noted in history for her skills as a courageous horsewoman. On top of that, she's also mistress to Louis XIV, which requires a different sort of courage. Think it's easy being mistress to the Sun King? Think again. Petite enters the court of Louis an innocent teenager, but succumbs to royal love-at-first-sight after the couple meets cute in a park. Initially they hide their affair through complicated disguises and discrete assignations. But Petite's love for Louis forces her to make (to my mind) unimaginable sacrifices that go way beyond her personal moral code--hiding pregnancies under tightly-bound corsets, giving away their children to be raised by others. Even her mother disowns her. Eventually Louis takes his romance with Petite public, which leads to a suspenseful "third act" that presents all sorts of questions about superstition, religion, and consequences. The court of the Sun King is a complicated place of ever-shifting alliances, where little is as it seems, especially to the pure-hearted Petite. Ultimately, Petite is forced to make a heartrending choice that will determine the remainder of her life. The denouement of this choice is presented in a tear-inducing coda that I adored (and won't give away here). Lest you think this is yet another voluptuously detailed romance, there's a lot of nuance and dry wit here too. Gulland is a master of observation, and at defusing the ridiculousness of royalty. I found myself laughing out loud at some of her passages: "The King scanned the room with his eyes, his expression masklike. With calm dignity, he received the passionate adulation. A woman at the back slumped to the floor and was efficiently whisked out of the room. (Petite gathered that swooning happened rather often.)" Though Mistress of the Sun is primarily the story of Louise's life as this king's mistress, it's also a recounting of how Louis shaped his mythos into becoming the larger-than-life Sun King we recognize from history; and how this affected his relations with those he loved and was loved by in return, such as Petite. We are fortunate to share in this adulation. Highly recommended!

Very Very Very Good!

I read this book in three days. One of the best books I've read in the last year. I am a historical fiction junkie...its almost the only thing I read now and if this is your genre too, buy this book NOW!

A surprisingly great find!

I picked up this book on a whim from the library having never heard of or read the author. But I loved this book! It made me want to read more from this author and learn more about Louis XIV. One of my favorite books of 2008!

Mistress of Splendour!

Louise's story comes alive in this masterful novel by Sandra Gulland. What is fascinating about Sandra Gulland is that she goes to great lengths to include historical accuracy. From wearing period correct clothing, to spending a few weeks in a completely silent convent! But what adds to all of this is the passion and detail she places into her characters. It is difficult not to experience everything Louise de La Valliere goes through as the mistress to Louis XIV. This is by far the finest historical novel I have come across!

A Mesmerizing Tale of a Royal Mistress

In her first novel in eight years (following the international success of her Josephine B. trilogy), Sandra Gulland has chosen an enigmatic figure--Louise de la Vallière, mistress to Louis XIV and mother of four children by him. Louise has been overshadowed in history by her more glamorous successors and the flamboyance that characterized the later years of Louis's reign, but in her captivating jewel of a novel Gulland offers an absorbing account of a woman who reluctantly became a royal mistress and paid the price. Gulland's Louise has a fey spirit with the ability to enchant horses. In a desperate act of magic to save a feral stallion's life she sets the course for her own destiny, one that will bring her equal measures of sorrow and joy. Uneasy with the cruel sycophantism of court, caught between her innate spiritual introspection and an impoverished lineage that compels her to noble servitude, Louise eventually catches the young king's eye. Louis is handsome and vital, poised to assume his later embodiment as the Sun King. In Louise, he discovers incorruptible innocence, and their romance flourishes under a secrecy that continues for years, even as he grows in stature and she wrestles with her conscience and the degradation of her illusions. Scandal ensues when Louise is brought into the open as Louis's lover; this fateful moment also sets the stage for her decline. Fascinating details of life at the French court sparkle throughout the narrative, evidence of Gulland's dedication to research. While Louise may not be as ambitious or clever as those who followed in her footsteps, she imbues an unforgettable authenticity that gives credence to the belief that she was Louis XIV's only true love. (This review was first published in the May 2008 issue of The Historical Novels Review)