Memoirs of Madame de Montespan — Volume 5

Madame de Montespan was called by some the true Queen of France during her romantic relationship with Louis XIV due to the pervasiveness of her influence at court during that time. Beauty, charm, acerbic wit and through worldliness-- Athenais de Montespan seems more like a character in fiction than a real-life personage in history. Contemporary records show that she was suspected of resorting to witchcraft to acquire the affections of the monarch Louis XIV. Her memoirs are interesting as they give glimpses not only of life at the French court but more importantly, of what the Marquise thought of herself in relation to those around her.