Comme il a été long, le chemin de Versailles ! Dotée du titre de marquise du Plessis-Bellière, Angélique est la coqueluche de la Cour. Ne dit-on pas que son charme a ravi jusqu’au cœur de Louis XIV ? De quoi jeter son ancienne amie, Mme de Montespan, dans la plus noire des jalousies. Chasses, duels, fastes, poisons : à la Cour du Roi-Soleil, une favorite est si vite évincée… Pour se défendre face à ses adversaires, Angélique ne manque pas d’armes. Mais contre un passé qui la hante, que peut-elle vraiment?
At the end of book one, Angélique used a little blackmail to improve her lot in life and get herself a husband who can get her in the front door at Versailles. But.... there's a wee bit of a problem since husband #2 (who shall rename nameless so as not to spoil) wants nothing to do with his wife and he goes to great efforts to keep her shut up in Paris. Don't you worry, our intrepid heroine won't let a little thing like a mean-ass husband keep her away from Court and Louis XIV. No indeedy. And once she gets there, her beauteous charm and intelligence catches the King's eye, but there's this little problem of his other mistresses, one in particular who isn't about to give up without a fight - and a very nasty fight that turns out to be. Plus there's that hated husband still to be dealt with…
I did like this, but the storyline went in directions I was not excepting, particularly that of husband #2. I suspect some of the more PC minded readers will send the book flying so don't say I didn't warn you. There's quite a big surprise at the ending, a surprise that turns Angélique's life upside down and on to new adventures, so I'd advise you have book three, Angélique in Barbary on hand and ready to start.
Crap cover, great reread and my first since 1980. This is escapist reading that really rewards the reader with its dedicated research into the social history of the period. Track down this fabulous series now and marvel.
A few years ago well in France I just had to visit Versailles, and the main reason was, having read this novel. I found this delicious book on my granny's bookshelf many years ago, boy when I read the cover, I was thinking what she is doing with this sultry book. So I snuck it back to my room to consume with such eagerness. It did not disappoint, then I found out this was the second in a series. Nothing would stop me now I had to get the rest of them. I enjoyed each and ever one. (well ok the first 6 or was it 7). These books are well worth the read if you can find them. I still have a few floating around so that I can at any time relive my youth and dream about the Sun King and Angelique at the amazing Château de Versailles
„To je dvor. Ludilo. Izobilje. Ali kad čovek priđe malo bliže, kakvo ga čudo čeka! Jer tamo će videti jednog kralja koji u potaji povlači konce za koje su vezane njegove lutke. A ako priđete još malo bliže, videćete da i samim lutkama padaju maske. One su žive, i proždiru ih oganj strasti, nesalomive ambicije, čudnovate sklonosti....“ Događaji u trećem dijelu sage o markizi Anđeliki većim svojim dijelom pred čitaoce će staviti događaje i običaje na dvoru Luja XIV, poznatijeg kao Kralj Sunce. Anđelika živi u braku iz interesa sa svojim rođakom Filipom od Plesi-Belijera. Dok ga sav dvor slavi kao poštovanja dostojnog lovnika i poručnika Njegovog veličanstva, Anđelika je skrhana bolom jer, ne samo da joj Filip uskraćuje nešto što bi moglo i zaličiti na nježnost, već će svoje prisustvo na dvoru morati osigurati prebrodivši razne prepreke od kojih je zatočeništvo u manastiru možda čak i najmanja. „Nema ničeg otrcanijeg od greha. Vrlina je to što je retko. U naše vreme toliko retko da ljudi koje krasi vrlina postaju već neponovljivi.“ Kada se njegova supruga nađe na dvoru, Filip će kao dostojan podanik morati zaboraviti svoje pravo koje na nju polaže kao suprug. Ta tajanstvena dama, nekima poznata i kao trgovkinja čokoladom ili kao markiza od Anđela, zapela je za oko samom Luju XIV. Kao nijedna do tada! „Malena moja, na dvoru vam samo tri stvari valja činiti: govoriti dobro o svima, tražiti sve što se može dobiti i sesti kad god možete!“ Jedno je jasno – Anđelika se treba čuvati! Dok joj to svi zdušno ponavljaju, Filip je štiti na svoj način, uskraćujući joj svoje dodire, ali i bilo čije poglede. Anđelika će zahvaljujući svojoj domišljatosti uspjeti uvećati prihode kraljevstva, postavši ambasadorica Kandije, dok će pod zavodljivim pogledom njenih očiju pasti i ambasador persijskog šaha, čuvenog po svojim istočnjačkim metodama vladanja. „U Versaju se naveliko žmurilo pred prizorima razvrata, ali prema bračnoj ljubavi bi se na tom mestu odnosili kao prema poslednjoj malograđanštini koja izaziva opšte zgražavanje.“ Dok kraljica likuje zbog pada u nemilost doskorašnje kraljeve miljenice Luize od La Valijera, kralj će svoju goruću požudu pokušati ugasiti sa Atenaidom od Montespana. Njena ljepota je poznata svima, ali njenu zlobu niko ne može ni naslutiti. U gomili tajnih saveza, sastanaka u mračnim odajama Versaja i Sen Žermena, otrova i pogubljenja, Anđelika i dalje svaku svoju, ma i najmanju pobjedu, plaća time što je sve bliže zagrljaju od strasti pomahnitalog Luja XIV. Mogu li joj potisnute nade iz prošlosti osigurati budućnost prema kojoj će, kao i uvijek, krenuti ne znajući kakva je? Treći dio spomenute sage nagradio je moje strpljenje jer je druga polovina knjige svojim avanturističkim zbivanjima umanjila moj skepticizam prema priči u cijelini. Bezbroj opisa dvorske etikecije i kontrasta između staleža je začin koji treći dio čini više historijskim nego ljubavnim romanom. Bez obzira na to, nisam spreman zaboraviti odbojnost koju je u meni izazvao lik Luja XIV. Ostaje mi nada da će se, ma koliko to nelogično bilo, u nadolazećim romanima vratiti jedan izrazito zanimljiv lik od koga se autorica tako neslavno oprostila.
La Femme, sous tous ses feux : l'amoureuse, l'amante, la mère, dans la douleur, dans l'intelligence, dans la droiture. Voici encore un épisode d'Angélique qui, loin de la série TV de jadis, met en lumière ce qui fait de la femme ce qu'on lui connaît aujourd'hui, idem pour l'homme. C'est un rappel à l'histoire qui diffère des explications d'une société actuelle où l'on attribut tout à un présent sans mémoire. L'intrigue est bien sûr excellement bâtie : loin du calcul enserré et parfois trop mêlé à l'épouvante, voici l'exemple par d'autres d'une écriture fluide, empathique et généreuse aux sorts des personnages et aux mots qui refleurissent notre vocabulaire ô combien diminué. Quel plaisir ! Que vous aimez ou pas l'Histoire, prenez la série toute entière et soyez ébloui(e)s !
Another novel from the era at the dawn of the industrial revolution. Pretty much concurrent with Forever Amber, and the Baroque Cycle. If you enjoyed those two works you'll probably enjoy the worldbuilding in this one. Like both of those two works, it's power politics at the heights of power at the time ( Versailles ) from the vantage point of a woman who worked her way up to fame and fortune from dirt. A well done, exciting book that at times I found it difficult to put down. It probably makes more sense to read as part of the series but...I only had book 3.
No puedo creer como terminó el libro, Dios mio, voy a llorar. Además, para llamarse "Angelica y el Rey" hay MUY pocas escenas de ellos dos juntos 😭😭 pensé que era un libro de romance, pero es más ambientado en el desarrollo de Angelica.
Me gustó mucho la evolución de Angelica, su acritud, sus ideas y su forma de hablar. Al igual que Lauzun, son mis personajes favoritos jajsja los amo.
Amo la forma en que está escrita, en que describe las emociones y las acciones. Todo. Pero en ciertas partes se me hacía taaan lento, y me cansaba tanto leerlo, debía poner música clásica para ambientar y tener más ganas de leer.
Me hubiera gustado que el Rey y Angelica se juntaran más, al menos más amor, más interacción 😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Je suis enchantée par ce livre, je vous conseille également ceux ci:
Ouvrage: La Peste Auteur: Albert Camus version Française 2020 C'est un travail essentiel à faire connaître à notre entourage, je suis très agréablement satisfaite de cette version: *
I grew up with the 1960's Angelique movies and love them. The third movie, Angelique and the King is based on this book. As it turns out, the first half of this book was cut entirely out of the film... I wish it was cut from the book as well. (Because of the plot, not the writing.) The second half is good again, I just couldn't wait to get past the first one.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Read this series! If you love historical fiction, read this book. I stumbled upon the Angelique books quote by accident. They are now out of print and only available through used book's sellers via such vendors as Amazon. What a boon for me this 'find' was! The first book in the series Angelique Marquise of the Angels was enthralling and wonderful! 5 plus stars. I adored it, read it in 3 days and could not stop thinking about it for weeks. Book two was terrific too but book 3 Angelique and the King I absolutely could not put down. I haven't slept for 48 hours! What a wonderful book! 5 plus stars. The authors reel you in immediately and don't let go for a moment. What a wonderful character Angelique is! Read these books!!! If you love quality love stories, and just plain good storytelling, read this book! It's NOT a romance novel. But rather the story of a complex, tender, beautiful, spitfire of a woman and her adventures....that often include love stories as the theme. Don't be dissuaded by the strange covers. How these, pardon the slang but I don't know how else to describe them, cheesy covers got on these well written and excellent books I'll never know. Most of the reviews say the exact same thing. I'm sooooo excited to read book 4...I overnighted it from Amazon and it will be here tomorrow. I couldn't wait!!!!
Angelique and the King - Ex Sergeanne Golon - 2nd in series Angelique marries her cousin Phillippe, Marquis du Plessis-Belliere, Master of the Royal Hunt, Marshal of France, a proud and magnificent courtier, but a brutal husband and a callous lover; and Louis XIV, the Sun King himself, at this time still virile and ambitious, on the threshold of his greatest victories, both in love and war.
The most spirited and beautiful woman of her age, and the mistress of great wealth, Angelique has set her heart on a place at Court, hers by birth and marriage, but denied to her by the disgrace of her first husband and the jealousy of her second. Amidst the spectacular fetes and banquets staged at the Palace of Versailles, in sumptuous throne rooms and discreet apartments which are the setting for countless assignations, Angelique has to summon all her resources to win her rights and serve her sovereign.
I received a bit of sex education from this book but I was only 17 when I read it. On the more literary side, it was responsible for my visiting Versailles when I went to Paris a few years later.
I read (and had) the whole series, in Portuguese. They were 14 volumes, and it was a thrilling historical fiction. On the Internet, I found a list of 13 books, but I'm quite positive that the ones I read in Portuguese were 14 volumes. Wish I still had it. I would like to read all over again!
1957 - Angélique, The Marquise of the Angels (Angélique, Marquise des Anges) 1958 - Angélique, the road to Versailles (Angélique, le Chemin de Versailles) 1959 - Angélique and the King (Angélique et le Roy) 1960 - Angélique and the Sultan also known as Angélique in Barbary (Indomptable Angélique) 1961 - Angélique in Revolt (Angélique se révolte) 1961 - Angélique in Love (Angélique et son Amour) 1964 - The Countess Angélique (Angélique et le Nouveau Monde) 1966 - The Temptation of Angélique (La Tentation d'Angélique) 1972 - Angélique and the Demon (Angélique et la Démone) 1976 - Angélique and the Ghosts (Angélique et le Complot des Ombres) 1980 - Angélique à Québec (not translated yet) 1984 - Angélique, la Route de l'Espoir (not translated yet) 1985 - La Victoire d'Angélique (not translated yet)
Tetno díl pro mne byl zklamáním, očekávala jsem pohled na francouzskou historii od Angeliky a ne od historika - kronikáře. Vzhledem k tomu, že jsem četla knihu o životě Ludvíka XIV., musím říci, že je to zcela přesné. V Ludvíkově životě se také vyskytla postava Angeliika, která byla jeho milenkou, ale s touto fiktivní postavou nemám zcela nic společného. Navíc byla uvedena jako hloupá a nevyýznamná( vycházím z knihy o životě Ludvíka XIV. ). Většina knihy převyprávění historie s občasným doplněním krátké ukázky z Angeličina života. Je to nevýrazné a nezajímavé. Přeci jenom to má býti román a ne krokinka francouzského dvora. Nicméně na konci se dostane nepatrného zadostiučinění, když se Angeličin život změní - Joffrey je zajat a uvězněn. Kniha končí nejasnýně, kde je jen anstíněno, že se stalo něco strašného.
It's many years since I read this book as a teenager - going to Hove Library every week with my best friend of the time. Obviously I don't remember it very clearly, I just know I loved it then. I seem to remember Angélique surviving a poisoning attempt (her mysterious husband had taught her to sip a tiny amount of poison every day and thus build up an immunity.) I also think she may have been raped - or at least assaulted - by someone in a corridoor at the court. And surviving that as well. Court intrigue, plotting and plenty of bodice-ripping fun about sums it up in my memory. As a teenager, I lapped it up. Would I still enjoy it? I'm not sure, perhaps I will read it again sometime.
As I said, it's many years ago - I may be talking arrant nonsense, feel free to correct me!
I have read & retread these books over & over. Angelique is a love story, an adventure & a great historical novel set in France in the time of Louis the Sun King & then moves to 'The New World ' in later books. The writing is brilliant & the story of Angelique & Comte Joffrey de Peyrac keeps the pages turning until you run out of books to read. Anne Golon has written two or three books that haven't been translated into English & I believe has another book to go to end the story. I'm keeping everything crossed that one day someone will take these books reissue them & translate the others so we can all annoy the rest of Angelique's story's would give the books 10 stars if I could.
Questo che si svolge a Versailles alla corte di Re Sole è sempre stato il mio preferito tra tutti i libri della serie. Buona parte di quello che so su quel periodo lo devo a questa lettura, e se devo giudicare da qualche occasionale confronto con le informazioni contenute in testi molto più seri non si tratta nemmeno di un sapere del tutto disprezzabile. Con l'impareggiabile marchesa degli Angeli, comunque, il divertimento è assicurato, basta non formalizzarsi troppo per l'infinita serie dei suoi talenti, naturali e acquisiti...
If it has one star I liked it a lot If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot If it has four stars I insist you read it If it has five stars it was life changing