Louis XIV

Although Louis XIV was a vitally important figure in European history he has found no satisfactory biographer until now. The memorists particularly Saint-Simon have fixed the traditional image of Louis so firmly it is difficult to see him in any other light. John B. Wolf challenging the myths and biases has based this important study on Louis own documents his diaries decrees and hundreds of the kings letters from the archives at Vincennes (hereto-fore almost unexploited). He presents the king as he appeared to his ministers his diplomats and his soldiers rather than to the gossips of his court.