David Sturdy – författare

This book provides a concise study of the defining aspects of the reign of Louis XIV. The nature of French monarchy, methods of government, Louis's relationship to his subjects and to the churches, the organisation of cultural life, and France's relations with the rest of Europe are all considered. Dr. Sturdy relates Louis and his regime to the longer-term movements of French history and to some of the wider historical forces at work in seventeenth-century Europe. He raises past and present historiographical controversies surrounding Louis XIV and indicates some of the major problems in interpretation which still confront historians.

Drawing upon recent research and past studies, David J. Sturdy presents a concise, up-to-date analysis of the private and public careers of two of the most influential ministers in seventeenth-century France.Richelieu and Mazarin:- Adopts a broadly chronological approach, interspersed with passages at relevant points which compare and contrast the key achievements of the two Cardinals- Examines such central themes as the internal government of France, the ministers' conduct of foreign policy, and the nature of elite and popular resistance to their policies- Explores the political ideas and strategies of Richelieu and Mazarin, the relations between the ministers and the Crown, and the patronage they exercisedThe book concludes with a comparative assessment of the significance of the two figures for the history of France.