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French Revolution #2
The Road to Compiegne
No longer the well-beloved, Louis XV is becoming ever more unpopular - the huge expense of his court and decades of costly warfare having taken their toll.
As the discontent grows, Louis seeks refuge in his extravagances and his mistress, the powerful Marquise de Pompadour.
Suspicions, plots and rivalry are rife as Louis's daughters and lovers jostle for his attention and their own standing at Court. Ignoring the unrest in Paris, Louis continues to indulge in frivolities.
But how long will Paris stay silent when the death of the Marquise de Pompadour leads to yet another mistress influencing the King?
As the discontent grows, Louis seeks refuge in his extravagances and his mistress, the powerful Marquise de Pompadour.
Suspicions, plots and rivalry are rife as Louis's daughters and lovers jostle for his attention and their own standing at Court. Ignoring the unrest in Paris, Louis continues to indulge in frivolities.
But how long will Paris stay silent when the death of the Marquise de Pompadour leads to yet another mistress influencing the King?
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1959
10 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Jean Plaidy
190 books1,592 followersEleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 8, 2014
You can never find fault with a good Jean Plaidy novel. My fascination with Marie Antoinette and her life prior to the infamous revolution only made this book sweeter, and I simply love the direction Plaidy decided to take this novel.
My favourite part was definitely those with Madam de Pompadour and I cried buckets when she passed away. Her relationship with Louis is just so insightful that it pulled on my heartstrings and made me a little more sympathetic towards Madame du Barry. Both woman made strong by difficult circumstances, The Road to Compiegne is not only a worthwhile but also fascinating, light read.
5 stars
PS: If you liked this book, check out The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, Marie Antoinette: The Journey, Becoming Marie Antoinette and Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette.
My favourite part was definitely those with Madam de Pompadour and I cried buckets when she passed away. Her relationship with Louis is just so insightful that it pulled on my heartstrings and made me a little more sympathetic towards Madame du Barry. Both woman made strong by difficult circumstances, The Road to Compiegne is not only a worthwhile but also fascinating, light read.
5 stars
PS: If you liked this book, check out The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, Marie Antoinette: The Journey, Becoming Marie Antoinette and Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette.
April 14, 2024
So. Many. Mistresses. I totally get that Louis XV was known for all his mistresses and that they had a huge effect on how his subjects saw him, whether he was liked, etc. But I did not need to meet every single one of them. This book definitely suffers from middle-of-trilogy syndrome. Everything that happened had to do with one mistress or another, or with how upset everyone was with one of the mistresses or with Louis for wasting tax payers' money on the procurement of more mistresses etc. This might have been exactly what really happened, but it did not make for a good book. Since Louis XVI was on the throne for such a relatively short time, I feel like this could have easily been a duology, with the few important bits from this book squeezed into the end of the first book (which could have been cut way down to make room) or into the first part of the next book and cut out much of the mistresses besides enough for us to know how big of an impact they had. We don't need to know all their names, where they were from, what happened to their babies, how often Louis visited them, who hated them among the courtiers, etc. It got really boring really fast. I'm still looking forward to book three though.
September 12, 2018
I enjoyed this. You can see the seeds of the revolution and why. Bit confusing with some of the names at court. Versaille and all who live there are in such a privileged world they cannot see the truth or the suffering of others. All the sycophants are there jostling for position and power and women are used to gain power and money whilst the men swindle and spend lavishly.
Women need to find other ways to gain notice. It's an interesting read.
Women need to find other ways to gain notice. It's an interesting read.
August 1, 2022
A little boring, despite all the mistresses? Perhaps it's the endless people dying of consumption.
January 10, 2023
JEAN PLAIDY NEVER MISSES
I read the French royal court trilogy in three days. The author takes you into the hearts and minds of these historical characters, yet with her extensive research you can believe every word. The era springs to life.
I read the French royal court trilogy in three days. The author takes you into the hearts and minds of these historical characters, yet with her extensive research you can believe every word. The era springs to life.
June 8, 2018
Enjoyed it as I do all of Jean Plaidy’s books, but preferred the first in this series—Louis The Well Beloved.
August 4, 2020
Bedtime reading when I'm too tired for non-fiction, or too tender for murder.
July 2, 2021
Beautiful and insightful.
March 28, 2012
This one is the second in the Revolution Series by Jean Plaidy- and I absolutely loved it! Moving on from the first book, (Louis the Well-Beloved- see my review here), which portrays Louis from birth to the beginning of his relationship with La Marquise de Pompadour- in this volume, Louis goes from well-beloved by his people, to completely loathed. Hunger is prevalent and the country is in turmoil, but Louis rather than owning up to his responsibilities, lives in complete denial while alienating himself all the more. He can no longer travel to Paris due to the extreme danger it poses him. The people are enraged and blame his excessiveness and abiding loyalty to La Pompadour for their misery. He is considered a weak ruler that takes counsel from his mistress to reign over the country.
La Pompadour certainly had her say in politics and did advise Louis on all matters of state, however, much of her say was based on how Louis felt- literally. When Louis was down and feeling horrible about himself, Madame la Pompadour would do anything in her power to make him feel as though it wasn’t his fault- this set her in an advantageous position: She became the person he most wanted to be with- his true friend and confidante...someone he would always want around him.
For La Pompadour, Louis meant everything. She needed to keep him happy and content in all ways...BUT- there was one area where she just could not keep up with him. Louis was an insatiable lover and La Pompadour, who was rather frail in health, could not deliver...so, she thought of a little solution. In order to keep Louis ‘content’ she provided him with young (but not particularly bright or ambitious) young girls to service him. Meanwhile, she strategically moved out of Court to her own place, in order to offer the people a diversion- Now no one could say that she was coercing the King in matters of politics or as a ‘mistress’. She would now be known as his ‘good friend’. This way she covered her reputation, kept the King by her side for all emotional comfort (which he constantly needed) and gave him his pleasurable diversions.
This plan would go on until the very end. When La Pompadour died, in came La Du Barry; A complete turn-around in terms of class and composure. Yet, Louis was bewitched by her to his very last days. The book also brings us Louis’ daughters and the longing, yet never fulfilled relationship they so needed with their dad. There was much competition, slyness and direct confrontations all for the love of their father. It was a constant trial to rid him of his mistresses (they never succeeded). Marie Antoinette also appears by the end of the novel.
Excellent book about a period I am most fascinated by- so I’m now really looking forward to reading Extravagant Queen.
I love this series!
La Pompadour certainly had her say in politics and did advise Louis on all matters of state, however, much of her say was based on how Louis felt- literally. When Louis was down and feeling horrible about himself, Madame la Pompadour would do anything in her power to make him feel as though it wasn’t his fault- this set her in an advantageous position: She became the person he most wanted to be with- his true friend and confidante...someone he would always want around him.
For La Pompadour, Louis meant everything. She needed to keep him happy and content in all ways...BUT- there was one area where she just could not keep up with him. Louis was an insatiable lover and La Pompadour, who was rather frail in health, could not deliver...so, she thought of a little solution. In order to keep Louis ‘content’ she provided him with young (but not particularly bright or ambitious) young girls to service him. Meanwhile, she strategically moved out of Court to her own place, in order to offer the people a diversion- Now no one could say that she was coercing the King in matters of politics or as a ‘mistress’. She would now be known as his ‘good friend’. This way she covered her reputation, kept the King by her side for all emotional comfort (which he constantly needed) and gave him his pleasurable diversions.
This plan would go on until the very end. When La Pompadour died, in came La Du Barry; A complete turn-around in terms of class and composure. Yet, Louis was bewitched by her to his very last days. The book also brings us Louis’ daughters and the longing, yet never fulfilled relationship they so needed with their dad. There was much competition, slyness and direct confrontations all for the love of their father. It was a constant trial to rid him of his mistresses (they never succeeded). Marie Antoinette also appears by the end of the novel.
Excellent book about a period I am most fascinated by- so I’m now really looking forward to reading Extravagant Queen.
I love this series!
May 26, 2015
I read this after enjoying the first book in the series, plus I'm interested in France's Bourbon kings, Madame de Pompadour, and I 'm a fan of the author.
I think that Jean Plaidy did a good job bringing eighteenth-century France to life. Her portrayal of Louis XV is excellent. I found myself liking Louis whilst having little respect for his carefree ways. He always puts his own pleasures before the need of his subjects.
It's interesting to observe how Louis's coldness towards the French people who once loved him, and the amount of money he taxes them to pay for fruitless wars, or to indulge his passion for architecture, all leads to his loss of popularity. More to the point, his carefree attitude points the way to the French Revolution a few decades after his death.
Louis was not like other rulers who did diabolical things to his people or to other nations. His main faults lied in what he did *not* do, i.e. spend less money on his himself and focus on saving his subjects from starving. In short, he wasn’t a despotic king but a disinterested one.
Most appealing to me in this novel is Louis’s unique relationship with Madame de Pompadour. I've previously read a biography about this successful, beautiful woman, discovering that I liked her very much. I'm impressed with the author's depiction of the gifted lady. I’m not suggesting that Madame de Pompadour was without her faults, as she did nothing to stem Louis’s overspending, but I don’t think she was vindictive towards the poor but was rather out of touch with the true state of things.
The people in return showed nothing but contempt for her, thus it strikes me that a lack of communication was a big problem. Madame de Pompadour also had her hands full maintaining her position in the king’s life. She had many enemies at Court, most of whom were jealous of the power she wielded, therefore much of her time was consumed with fighting battles with enemies she knew and enemies she didn’t, all of whom wanted her ousted.
Adelaide, one of Louis's daughters, is one of the most interesting characters. She's clever yet also slightly mad. I like Madame du Barry too, though Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour are the stand-out characters for me.
Overall this is a good read though I would've enjoyed it more had it been a little more spicy or confrontational at times. I also feel that the author should’ve cut back on certain info. It’s as though she wanted to relay every notable historical event, which wasn’t necessary for this story, as at times it detracts from the main narrative and the most important characters’ lives.
I think that Jean Plaidy did a good job bringing eighteenth-century France to life. Her portrayal of Louis XV is excellent. I found myself liking Louis whilst having little respect for his carefree ways. He always puts his own pleasures before the need of his subjects.
It's interesting to observe how Louis's coldness towards the French people who once loved him, and the amount of money he taxes them to pay for fruitless wars, or to indulge his passion for architecture, all leads to his loss of popularity. More to the point, his carefree attitude points the way to the French Revolution a few decades after his death.
Louis was not like other rulers who did diabolical things to his people or to other nations. His main faults lied in what he did *not* do, i.e. spend less money on his himself and focus on saving his subjects from starving. In short, he wasn’t a despotic king but a disinterested one.
Most appealing to me in this novel is Louis’s unique relationship with Madame de Pompadour. I've previously read a biography about this successful, beautiful woman, discovering that I liked her very much. I'm impressed with the author's depiction of the gifted lady. I’m not suggesting that Madame de Pompadour was without her faults, as she did nothing to stem Louis’s overspending, but I don’t think she was vindictive towards the poor but was rather out of touch with the true state of things.
The people in return showed nothing but contempt for her, thus it strikes me that a lack of communication was a big problem. Madame de Pompadour also had her hands full maintaining her position in the king’s life. She had many enemies at Court, most of whom were jealous of the power she wielded, therefore much of her time was consumed with fighting battles with enemies she knew and enemies she didn’t, all of whom wanted her ousted.
Adelaide, one of Louis's daughters, is one of the most interesting characters. She's clever yet also slightly mad. I like Madame du Barry too, though Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour are the stand-out characters for me.
Overall this is a good read though I would've enjoyed it more had it been a little more spicy or confrontational at times. I also feel that the author should’ve cut back on certain info. It’s as though she wanted to relay every notable historical event, which wasn’t necessary for this story, as at times it detracts from the main narrative and the most important characters’ lives.
July 25, 2016
I was rather disappointed by this book.
I felt that a huge amount of information was presented but barely enough focus was on Madame de Pompadour and Louis XV's relationships. It felt like mostly the focus on was Louis' numerous mistresses and dalliances and Pompadour's desperate grasp to maintain her power and hold over Louis while her health declines. While I am sure Pompadour was a lovely, intelligent and interesting person, it doesn't really show all that much in this book. I felt like random dots and side stories are placed here and very barely connected to form a solid book.
We are also introduced to numerous characters, with barely a few sentences here and there before they are whisked away again, never to be seen again or until much later. Or they are referenced but seem very much one dimensional. After Pomadour's death, it gets a tad boring until Madame de Berry comes into the picture, but even then the book kind of just drags a little bit until it finally limps to the end.
I felt that a huge amount of information was presented but barely enough focus was on Madame de Pompadour and Louis XV's relationships. It felt like mostly the focus on was Louis' numerous mistresses and dalliances and Pompadour's desperate grasp to maintain her power and hold over Louis while her health declines. While I am sure Pompadour was a lovely, intelligent and interesting person, it doesn't really show all that much in this book. I felt like random dots and side stories are placed here and very barely connected to form a solid book.
We are also introduced to numerous characters, with barely a few sentences here and there before they are whisked away again, never to be seen again or until much later. Or they are referenced but seem very much one dimensional. After Pomadour's death, it gets a tad boring until Madame de Berry comes into the picture, but even then the book kind of just drags a little bit until it finally limps to the end.
April 3, 2012
The descriptions of some characters and events were relevent to the history of Louis XV but interrupted the flow of the main storyline, which to me was the relationship between Pompadour and Louis, and at times was hard to follow. I enjoyed the depictions of the characters and the interplay between politics and personal relationships at court, as well as the obvious friendship that lasted between Pompadour and Louis. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I found myself skipping some irrelevent chunks.
February 8, 2013
Easy, quick read and couldn't put it down. It wasn't as exciting once Madame de Pompadour was out of the picture though. His children were talked about more in this book and I just lost track of all his mistresses!! Can't wait to read the last book about Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI
May 10, 2015
Tells the story of Louis xv 's second half of his reign.Again Louis did not rule but ruled through his ministers. Louis preferred a life of pleasure which ultimately laid the groundwork for the French Revolution. He famously said."April moi le deluge.
September 22, 2019
Waiting for a climax in part 3. Sorry . There is none. What a disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2020
Published 1950s. The latter part of Louis XV's reign.
January 6, 2018
Meh. Takes one of the most salacious periods in royal history and drains all the life from it. Louis XV may not have deserved better, but his mistresses and family sure did.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews