Madame Du Barry

About this book

Marie Jeanne Becu was but the illegitimate daughter of a humble cook yet by the time she was 23 she had become Madame du Barry and the official mistress of King Louis XV of France. This is the dream-like story of a woman who by virtue of her exceptional and seductive beauty her enchanting wit and her unfailing good nature came to govern the monarch.Yet her life at court had its setbacks for Madame du Barry incurred the jealousy of Madame du Pompadour and many other who constantly sought to usurp her. Then when Louis XV died her power dissipated and it was not long before she was obliged to retire to the beautiful mansion of Luciennes which the King had built for her. Even so there was worse to come for in 1789 the French Revolution cast its long shadow and her very life was in danger.In her own inimitable and masterly fashion Jean Plaidy relates the moving story of this remarkable beauty and wit who dazzles king and commoner alike.This novel was first published in 1959 under the pseudonym of Ellalice TateJacket portrait of Madame du Barry by Drouais 1770 Prado Madrid/ Bridgeman Art Library London