The-Sun-KingThis month, we are joined by Tara Olmsted of booksexyreview.com to discuss Nancy Mitford’s biography of Louix XIV, The Sun King.

Louis XIV fell in love with Versailles and Louise de La Vallière at the same time. Versailles was the love of his life.

So begins Nancy Mitford’s 1966 biography of Louis XIV, her third of four biographies she completed during her lifetime. The Sun King is filled with her wry observations and rare wit. Mitford herself loved Versailles, dying there in her home in 1973.

NYRB Classics published their edition of The Sun King in May of 2012, and it is the book we’ll be talking about in Episode 6 of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast.

In Episode 7 we will be discussing Vivant Denon’s No Tomorrow.

Show Notes (57:06)

  • Intro
  • Brief look at Nancy Mitford and the Mitford siblings
  • General thoughts
  • Mitford’s fiction

Some Links

Episode Credits

  • Co-Host Trevor Berrett
  • Co-Host Brian Berrett
  • Guest Tara Olmsted of booksexyreview.com
  • Introduction Music — “Where We Fall We’ll Lie” by Jeff Zentner, from his album The Dying Days of Summer (used with permission)
  • Outro Music — “If This Is to Be Goodbye” by Jeff Zentner, from his album The Dying Days of Summer (used with permission)
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