Play Audiobook Sample

Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV Audiobook

Name: Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV Audiobook
Brand: Blackstone Publishing
SKU: 6297
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.01 (924 reviews)
Author: Karleen Koen
ISBN: 9781483072500

By: Karleen Koen

Play Audiobook Sample

FlexPass™ Price: ~~$13.95~~

$9.95 for new members!

(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)

Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
No credits to manage, just big savings
Unlimited podcast listening

Add to Cart learn more

Regular Price: $27.95 Add to Cart

Read By: Grover Gardner Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: 16.00 hours at 1.0x Speed 10.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 8.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: June 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781483072500

(3.01) - 924 listener ratings

Wishlist (add) Wishlist (remove) Share

More by Author More by Narrator Similar Audiobooks

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

Longest Chapter Length:

43:09 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:23 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

22:15 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

Other Audiobooks Written by Karleen Koen: > View All...

Dark Angels: A Novel Audiobook, by Karleen Koen

Through a Glass Darkly Audiobook, by Karleen Koen

Listeners Also Enjoyed:

> View All...

Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History Audiobook, by

A World of Curiosities: A Novel Audiobook, by

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times Audiobook, by

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir Audiobook, by

Triple Cross: The Greatest Alex Cross Thriller Since Kiss the Girls Audiobook, by

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir Audiobook, by

If You Were Only White: The Life of Leroy “Satchel” Paige Audiobook, by

The Last White Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York Audiobook, by

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man Audiobook, by

The Giver of Stars: A Novel Audiobook, by

A Better Man: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Audiobook, by

Publisher Description

New York Timesbestselling author Karleen Koen offers another delightful historical novel that will transport you to another time and place.

Louis XIV is one of the best-known monarchs ever to grace the French throne. But what was he like as a young man—the man before Versailles?

After the death of his prime minister, Cardinal Mazarin, twenty-two-year-old Louis steps in to govern France. He's still a young man, but one who, as king, willfully takes everything he can get—including his brother's wife. As the love affair between Louis and Princess Henriette burns, it sets the kingdom on the road to unmistakable scandal and conflict with the Vatican. Every woman wants him. He must face what he is willing to sacrifice for love.

But there are other problems lurking outside the chateau of Fontainebleau: a boy in an iron mask has been seen in the woods, and the king's finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, has proven more powerful than Louis ever thought—a man who could make a great ally or become a dangerous foe.

Meticulously researched and brought vividly to life by the gorgeous prose of Karleen Koen, Before Versailles dares to explore the forces that shaped an iconic king and determined the fate of an empire.

Download and start listening now!

"I really enjoyed this story of 4 months in the reign of Louis XIV when he was 22 years old. It shines a light on life in the court and the game of influence peddling and corruption. Similar to the Wolf Hall plot but in France with sex."
— Linda (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

“In this magnificently written and researched novel, Karleen Koen brings to vibrant life the early years and loves of the future Sun King.”
— Jean M. Auel, New York Times bestselling author
“Before Versailles captivated me from start to finish! With exquisite finesse, Karleen Koen weaves history and myth into a sumptuous portrait of young Louis XIV, his intrigue-laden court, and the passionate, ambitious, often dangerous women who loved him.”
— C. W. Gortner, author of The Last Queen
“This is a powerful, rich telling of a few months in the life of King Louis XIV. How clever to pick these particular months when so much is changed…It’s enthralling, fascinating, and wonderful story telling…Bravo!”
— Romance Reviews
“Following solidly in the footsteps of Dumas…with her focus on the time just before Louis becomes the unrivaled Sun King, [Koen] finds the era ripe for intrigue and romance.”
— Publishers Weekly
“With a handsome ruler as charismatic as Britain’s Henry Tudor, this focused retelling of the emergence of the Sun King will attract fans of the English king as well as Francophiles.”
— Library Journal (starred review)
“Period detail and costumes abound throughout this lively royal romp.”
— Booklist

Awards

A Library Journal Best Book

Before Versailles Listener Reviews

Overall Performance:

(3.53)

5 Stars: 3

4 Stars: 5

3 Stars: 4

2 Stars: 3

1 Stars: 0

Narration:

(0.00)

5 Stars: 0

4 Stars: 0

3 Stars: 0

2 Stars: 0

1 Stars: 0

Story:

(0.00)

5 Stars: 0

4 Stars: 0

3 Stars: 0

2 Stars: 0

1 Stars: 0

Sort reviews by: Write a Review

Overall Performance:
" A little slow to get into but then it really picked up and I liked it! "
— Ashley, 2/19/2014
Overall Performance:
" I loved this book. As someone who adores Tudor historical fiction, this book ranked right up there with The Other Boleyn Girl. "
— Jami, 2/12/2014
Overall Performance:
" I loved this book! The ending left me a little bummed as you don't really know what happened or why but I guess that is because we don't know why in history either. But it was a real page turner if you like historical fiction. "
— Carrie, 1/21/2014
Overall Performance:
" Did not enjoy this one -- have loved all of Koen's other books. Read to pg. 100 -- felt like this one was very repetitive and just rambling along -- no interest in continuing. "
— Beth, 12/31/2013
Overall Performance:
" An interesting insight into 4 months at the beginning of Louis XIV's reign with all the palace intrigue. Makes me want to know a little more about what happened next so I will be looking for another book on the life of Louis. "
— Lisa, 12/21/2013
Overall Performance:
" I love historical fiction! I don't know much about French history but I really enjoyed this book. This was about Louis the XIV early life. It did just end so I am assuming that another book is coming about Louis XIV later life. "
— Courtnie, 11/28/2013
Overall Performance:
" Quietly enjoyable historical novel set in the early days of Louis XIV's court. The first 250 pages or so were spent setting up the chess pieces, then things take off and start to get more exciting. Rather disappointed in the ending--it stops short. "
— Siobhan, 11/27/2013
Overall Performance:
" I have always been a devotee of English historical fiction and non-fiction, but after reading this novel, I now feel compelled to read more about French history and Louis XIV's reign in particular. "
— C, 11/24/2013
Overall Performance:
" I just could not get into this novel, no matter how hard I tried. "
— Deanna, 11/21/2013
Overall Performance:
" Fabulous... Would love to see this author continue this story from where she leaves it. *sigh* "
— Michelle, 11/20/2013
Overall Performance:
" i forgot i read one of her books before and found it one of the most difficult, boring, and dry books to read. i appreciate her concern for historical detail, and trying to capture the essence of the period, but i really trudged through this one. now i am way behind on my reading goal :( "
— Milli, 11/12/2013
Overall Performance:
" The best kind of historical fiction- draws you in and keeps you reading right up until the last page. Fascinating look at the early days of Louis XIV's reign. Loved this and ready for the next installment. "
— Catherine, 6/30/2013
Overall Performance:
" Absolutely loved this book! I've been looking hard after reading 2 books around the French Revolution for more historical novels about France. I have just bought two more books by this author and look forward to reading them! "
— Ashley, 5/15/2013
Overall Performance:
" I enjoyed Koen's book but not to the degree of other books by her. I did find it informative historically and recommend it in that respect. "
— Jamea, 7/29/2012
Overall Performance:
" It was enjoyable to read, and I thought Louis was fascinating as a character. His transformation into a serious leader, and the changes that entailed in him was my favorite part. "
— Sarah, 5/28/2012

About Karleen Koen

Karleen Koen is the New York Times bestselling author of Through a Glass Darkly, of which two million copies have been sold in the US alone. It was on the New York Times bestseller list for five consecutive months. She is also the author of its sequel, Now Face to Face, and its prequel, Dark Angels, a BookSense pick. She lives in Houston, Texas.

About Grover Gardner

Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.