{"product_id":"louis-xiv-the-power-and-the-glory-9781643130156","title":"Louis XIV: The Power and the Glory","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn intelligent  authoritative  and often surprising biography of the most famous of French monarchs  by an acclaimed biographer and historian.  This stylish and incisive narrative presents readers with a fresh perspective on one of the most fascinating kings in European history. Louis XIVs story has all the ingredients of a Dumas classic: legendary beginnings  beguiling women  court intrigue  a mysterious prisoner in an iron mask  lavish court entertainments  the scandal of a mistress who was immersed in the dark arts  and a central character who is handsome and romantic  but with a frighteningly dark side to his character.  Louis believed himself to be semi-divine. His self-identification as the Sun King  which was reflected in iconography by the sun god  Apollo  influenced every aspect of Louiss life: his political philosophy  his wars  and his relationships with courtiers and subjects.  As a military strategist  Louiss capacity was ambiguous  but he was an astute politician who led his country to the heights of sophistication and powerand then had the misfortune to live long enough to see it all crumble away. As the sun began to set upon this most glorious of reigns  it brought a gathering darkness filled with the anguish of dead heirs  threatened borders  and a populace that was dangerously dependent uponbut greatly distanced fromits king.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651582976053,"sku":"ByrdShop_1643130153","price":38.12,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781643130156.jpg?v=1781836024","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/louis-xiv-the-power-and-the-glory-9781643130156","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}