The Age of Magnificence

by Sanche de Gramont

Wit, humor, vitriol and pageantry-the necessary hallmarks for a peer at the French court--also deliver a great read. Saint-Simon regales us with an irreverent, insider's view of his more than 30 years at court, from the later days of Louis XIV to the ascension of Louis XV. All the plays for power, sex, position and money by friends, enemies, nobles and others are here, with Saint-Simon's fascinating, and brutally honest, assessment of any situation.

Paperback

Published January 1, 1964

About the author

Born Saint-Charles Armand Gabriel de Gramont*, he used the name Sanche de Gramont as his byline (and also on his books) during the early part of his career. He worked as a journalist for many years, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 for local reporting written under pressure of a deadline. In February 1977 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen, and had his name legally changed to Ted Morgan. He wrote about that experience in On Becoming American. He was a National Book Award finalist in 1982 for Maugham: A Biography.

*His father was a military pilot who died in an accident in 1943, at which point he inherited the title "Comte de Gramont". He was properly styled "Saint-Charles Armand Gabriel, Comte de Gramont" until he renounced his title upon becoming a U.S. citizen in 1977.