The Kings' Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin

Author(s): Elizabeth Goldsmith

Biography & Memoir

This title presents the adventures of two, privileged sisters raised in the court of the French King Louis XIV, who fled their husbands and children to travel throughout Europe, gaining notoriety for their escapades as gamblers, cross-dressers, mistresses to various kings, and pioneering women writers. Born in Rome, sisters Hortense and Marie Mancini were brought to the Versailles court of King Louis XIV by their uncle, French Prime Minister Cardinal Mazarin. Marie and the young king soon fell in love, but theirs was not an advantageous match, and she became the first of Louis' mistresses (a role her sister would later occupy for Charles II of England). The girls were strategically married off by their uncle to secure his political power base. Such was the life of many a young woman of the age: they had no independent status under the law, and were entirely a part of their husband's property once married. Marie and Hortense, however, had another lifestyle in mind altogether. Abandoning their husbands, they took to the road together, using the brand new post coach service to ferry them across Europe. Hortense was a famous gambler, the women often dressed and passed as men, and their scandalous their behaviour became a sensation. Elizabeth Goldsmith has written a vibrant biography of two pioneering free spirits, feminists long before the term existed, who refused to be constrained by the morals, mores, and hypocrisies of their age.


Product Information

"Kirkus Reviews "The story of the 17th-century version of the Kardashian sisters, but with the added touch of brains, literacy and class.... [T]he story moves along at a swift pace.... [F]ascinating." Dr. Amanda Foreman, FRSA, author of "Georgiana "and "A World on Fire""A fascinating account of two genuine rebels--seventeenth century sisters who fought for the sisterhood, and throughout their extraordinary adventures always gave as good as they got. "The Kings' Mistresses" succeeds in being both entertaining and highly instructive." Susan Holloway Scott, author of "The Countess & the King""At last two of history's most fascinating sisters have the book they deserve. Rich with period detail and thoughtful research, this is biography at its very best: the intertwined story of two women who refused to be ruled by either husbands or kings, and dared instead to create their own destiny." Leslie Carroll, author of "Royal Affairs"

Elizabeth Goldsmith is the Director of Academic Affairs and International Programming at Boston University. Her research focuses on the early history of the novel, letter correspondences, women's writing, and travel writing in the early modern period. She teaches courses on French literature in the age of Versailles, Moliere and comedy, and introductory literature courses.

General Fields

  • : 9781586488895
  • : PublicAffairs
  • : PublicAffairs
  • : March 2012
  • : United States
  • : April 2012
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Elizabeth Goldsmith
  • : Hardback
  • : 1204
  • : English
  • : 944.033092
  • : 288
  • : 8pp b/w photo insert