Marquise de Pompadour. Three Lives of the Great Courtesan

The Marquise de Pompadour was the uncrowned queen of France and one of the key figures in the political life of Europe in the mid-18th century. For almost twenty years, she was the favorite of King Louis XV and entered... history not only as the most brilliant courtesan but also as an outstanding politician, a patron of science and the arts. At the same time, she was an outsider at court, as she did not belong to the highest society. Her health was so weak that she performed the duties of a mistress with great difficulty. However, the resourcefulness of the marquise, her extraordinary personality, and her deep knowledge of psychology allowed her to manipulate the debauched Louis, and along with him, the whole country. The book will be of interest to the broadest audience of readers.