Murder, infanticide, and satanism at the court of louis xiv kindle edition by somerset, anne. Sep 11, 2003 her book the affair of the poisons is a reexamination of the poisoning and occult scandal which rocked paris in the late seventeenth century. Theres enough in here to interest readers with a taste for fantastical historical fiction, alchemy, and political machinations, but flat characterization and a flatter. Fandom may earn an affiliate commission on sales made from links on this page. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction and other times, period dramas take a little artistic license. The affair of the poisons queer and loathing in america. Alien life, deep time, and our place in cosmic history 4k duration. The affair of the poisons an historian goes to the movies.
An affair of poisons by addie thorley, paperback barnes. Versailles of blood and stone tv episode 2017 imdb. In 1679, louis xiv, a man much given to mistresses. The scandalous witch hunt that poisoned 17thcentury france. An affair of poisons is based on laffaire des poisons, the major murder scandal in france during the reign of king louis xiv that resulted in 36 conspirators executed. Several folks, including those close to louis xiv were poisoned.
Worried by reports that shady practices had also penetrated versailles, louis. Murder, infanticide and satanism at the court of louis xiv, the investment required to live at court far outweighed the. Mar 03, 2017 versailles dirty secrets toute lhistoire the chateau of versailles is believed to have been a dirty palace. The affair never reached quite that high up the food chain at versailles.
Jul 06, 2007 completely by accident, i find myself completely fascinated by the life of the court of versailles in the time of louis xiv the sun king. Lynn wood mollenauers wellresearched and wickedly fascinating study of the affair of the poisons, from 1678 to 1682, reveals all of the known nefarious plots to poison and manipulate the king and other victims at versailles and around paris at this time. Murder, infanticide, and satanism at the court of louis xiv. She was appointed ladyinwaiting to the queen of france. The affair of poisons a guest post by michael long the. With george blagden, alexander vlahos, tygh runyan, stuart bowman. Apr 21, 2017 bbc twos versailles returned on 21 april for its second series, exploring the decadent and turbulent early reign of the sun king, louis xiv.
The affair of the poisons lasted from 1677 to 1682 when louis xiv was presiding over the french court. Now we are entering a darker period of versailles history known as the affair of the poisons, a murder scandal which began in. In versailles season 3, nothing can thwart king louis xivs ambitions. The characters are finely drawn and likeable, even as they make terrible choices and grapple with the aftermath. On this date in 1679, the french soothsayer marie bosse went to the stake as france dealt out death for the affair of the poisons. Hazel mills, guardian anne somersets scrupulous and grisly account of the affair of the poisons in 17th century france is an instructive tale of state paranoia. Philippe is back at versailles to shake things up once again. The scandalous witch hunt that poisoned 17thcentury. The long way home takes place in versailles in 1677, just as the affair of the poisons is. Affair of the poisons article about affair of the poisons. No, one of louis ministers and his wife were not poisoned. Lyndsay ely, author of gunslinger girl a stunning, immersive adventure, filled with magic, selfdiscovery and sumptuous period detail. The series shows the courtiers being intoxicated with the powders and potions.
Murder, infanticide and satanism at the court of louis xiv 2003. He has settled the affair of the poisons and won the war against holland. And how does it fit in with louis xiv and absolutism. Hear from the cast, crew and creators about the steps taken to create the epic period drama.
An affair of poisons takes hold of the reader immediately and refuses to let go. Affair of the poisons, one of the most sensational criminal cases of 17thcentury france. Aug 03, 2012 versailles and the affair of the poisons. Poison at versailles scandal louis xiv ask metafilter.
Oct 05, 2017 in most cases, writes anne somerset, author of the affair of the poisons. Take a look behind the scenes of versailless second season through this 9part series. The scandal made its way right up to the court of versailles, eventually even implicating some members of the french kings most intimate circle. The affair of the poisons threatens versailles from within.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. An authors note discusses the reallife affair of poisons and catherine monvoisin, called a duchess among witches and portrayed here as a sinister, heartless villain. Affair of the poisons, one of the most sensational criminal cases of. Apr 21, 2017 the opening episode of versailles season two featured fortune tellers and laser beams. May 21, 2018 the affair of poisons seems to be getting a lot more attention lately.
The affair of poisons a guest post by michael long. The long way home takes place in versailles in 1677, just as the affair of the poisons is beginning in earnest. Versailles tv series 20152018 frequently asked questions. Catherine monvoisin and the affair of the poisons headstuff. The court is plagued with mysterious deaths, the king fears for his life, and alice quickly discovers that court is not as virtuous as it appears. The affair of the poisons makes louis ultraparanoid now we are entering a darker period of versailles history known as the affair of the poisons, a murder scandal which began in. In 1679 an inquiry revealed that nobles, prosperous bourgeois, and the common people alike had been resorting secretly to female fortunetellersat that time numerous in parisfor drugs and poisons, for black masses, and for other criminal purposes.
The affair of the poisons is the leading thread throughout the second season of the frenchcanadian tv series versailles. The affair of the poisons, as it became known, was an extraordinary episode that took place in france during the reign of louis xiv. Bbc twos versailles returned on 21 april for its second series, exploring the decadent and turbulent early reign of the sun king, louis xiv. The intricate affair of the poisons began with alarming rumors flying about fortunetellers, alchemists, astrologers, abortionists, black magicians, and satanists plying their occult trades in the employ of aristocrats and courtiers. In most cases, writes anne somerset, author of the affair of the poisons. Well even be publishing a great snow white retelling set in this time period. Fabien marchal was tasked with taking down the poisoner. I just read a book about it city of lights, city of poison and i know it also shows up in the versailles tv show.
The affair of the poisons is a period right at the end of the 17th century when we have a great deal of fear and concern among both the monarchy and the nobility that people are using black magic, love potions and other sorts of occult magic in order to get ahead over one. The poison causes people to cough up blood and gain seizures. Anne somersets work often concerns historic royal scandals. The affair of the poisons was a time during the reign of king louis xiv when it was believed that many royals were being poisoned by loved ones, more than their nemeses.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the affair of the poisons. When poisoning and black magic became widespread, arrests followed. Princess palatine arrives as philippes second wife, testing his relationship with chevalier. The affair of the poisons makes louis ultraparanoid. Suspects included those among the highest ranks of society. An engaging account of the affair somerset describes well the atmosphere at versailles, where families and factions competed for advancement. The affair of the poisons laffaire des poisons was a major murder scandal in france during. The judicial process and its reliance on torture and leading questions fuelled the crisis implicating leading figures in the moral corruption that was versailles under the sun king. Her book the affair of the poisons is a reexamination of the poisoning and occult scandal which rocked paris in the late seventeenth century.
The affair of the poisons is a wonderfully detailed, wellwritten study through this strange time in french history, when courtiers at one of the most elegant courts in europe turned to poison, fortune tellers, and even black magic to gain influence, money, lovers, and to keep their social standing. Louis xiv is ascendant after winning the war with holland and solving the affair of the poisons but his angry citizens are fomenting rebellion. Louis celebrates his war victory by welcoming the defeated emperor leopold. Addie thorleys an affair of poisons is a rich immersion into a dangerous, alternative world of seventeenth century france, from the gilded halls of versailles to the sewers of paris. Louis xiv is ascendant after winning the war with holland and solving the affair of the poisons but his angry citizens.
Oct 28, 2016 the affair of poisons was a witch hunt amongst french society driven by the fundamental misconception that there was a poisoning epidemic amongst the nobility. Here, historian lynn wood mollenauer considers the ambitious aristocrats who battled for power within the court and sheds light on the affair of the poisons, a scandal that reached right into the inner circle of the king. Murder, infanticide, and satanism at the court of louis. I did some laundry, the dishes and some light cleaning, then settled down into the easy chair to watch this weeks riverdale, and then ran a few episodes of versailles on netflix. Madame agathe is burned at the stake for orchestrating the affair of the poisons on king louiss orders. Posts about the affair of the poisons written by authorjessicacale. In particular, id love to know more about the poison affair and the main characters in the plot. Now he aims to expand his empire and impose his power on all of europe.