The Enemies of Versailles by Sally Christie - Guest Post and Giveaway

Book Details:

The Enemies of Versailles 

Historical Fiction

Release date: March 21, 2017 

Atria Books/Simon & Schuster 416 pages

ISBN: 978-1501103025 

Website | Goodreads

Synopsis:

In the final installment of Sally Christie's "tantalizing" (New York Daily News) Mistresses of Versailles trilogy, Jeanne Becu, a woman of astounding beauty but humble birth, works her way from the grimy back streets of Paris to the palace of Versailles, where the aging King Louis XV has become a jaded and bitter old philanderer. Jeanne bursts into his life and, as the Comtesse du Barry, quickly becomes his official mistress. 

"That beastly bourgeois Pompadour was one thing; a common prostitute is quite another kettle of fish." After decades of suffering the King's endless stream of Royal Favorites, the princesses of the Court have reached a breaking point. Horrified that he would bring the lowborn Comtesse du Barry into the hallowed halls of Versailles, Louis XV's daughters, led by the indomitable Madame Adelaide, vow eternal enmity and enlist the young dauphiness Marie Antoinette in their fight against the new mistress. But as tensions rise and the French Revolution draws closer, a prostitute in the palace soon becomes the least of the nobility's concerns. 

Told in Christie's witty and engaging style, the final book in The Mistresses of Versailles trilogy will delight and entrance fans as it once again brings to life the sumptuous and cruel world of eighteenth century Versailles, and France as it approaches irrevocable change.

About the author:

Sally Christie is the author of The Sisters of Versailles and The Rivals of Versailles. She was born in England and grew up around the world, attending eight schools in three different languages. She spent most of her career working in international development and currently lives in Toronto. Learn more her Versailles trilogy on her website Become a fan to hear about her next novels! Visit her Facebook Page Check her Pinterest page

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Guest Post:

Animals at Versailles

Just like today, people in the 18th century kept a great deal of pets: cats, dogs, birds. Because of their importance for the hunt, dogs especially figured large in every aristocrat’s life. Louis XV was so fond of his hunting dogs he got individual portraits done of each of them!

Then just as now, people kept pets for love and companionship, but also for status. As the century wore on and trade expanded, travelers and explorers bought back exotic birds and animals like monkeys from Asia and Africa. The palace of Versailles was also home to a Menagerie, stocked with exotic animals given as gifts from foreign rulers to the king of France. It was built when the palace of Versailles was built in the 17th century, but Louis XV, despite being a great animal lover, was not as interested in it as his predecessor. During the Revolution most of the animals died and the cages were used to house political prisoners.

My books about the mistresses of Louis XV are full of animals and pets: the Comtesse du Barry adored birds; Madame de Pompadour had a pet monkey, and one of her friends was obsessed with rabbits. Another lady liked to carry around her miniature pug in a basket, and barking dogs are constantly causing friction in the close living quarters at Versailles. The King’s adored cat Snowball (the cat was real but the name is mine), that he used to bring to council meetings when he was younger, even makes an appearance.

This rather snooty 18th century lady was apparently so fond of her cat that she sat with it for her portrait, and the luxurious, padded kennel (or cat house?) shows that their masters spoilt them as much as we spoil our pets!

Giveaway:

You can enter the global giveaway here or on any other book blogs participating in this tour. Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook, they are listed in the entry form below.

ENTER HERE

Visit each blogger on the tour: tweeting about the giveaway everyday of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time! Just follow the directions on the entry-form. Global giveaway - open to US residents - 5 winners of a print copy

CLICK ON THE BANNER TO READ REVIEWS, EXCERPTS, GUEST-POSTS

 

Tour Schedule:

Monday, March 20

Spotlight + Guest-post + Giveaway at Bibliojunkies

Tuesday, March 21

Spotlight + Guest-post + Giveaway at A Holland Reads

Wednesday, March 22

Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at I am, Indeed

Spotlight + Giveaway at A Bookaholic Swede

Thursday, March 23

Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Monday, March 27

Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Tuesday, March 28

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Musings of a writer and unabashed francophile

Thursday, March 30

Spotlight + Giveaway at Libri Amori Miei

Thursday, March 30

Review + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

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Spotlight + Excerpt + Giveaway at Book Nerd