The
True
Essence.

The Gift from God
Who Became
The Sun King.

By April Guy

Louis XIV. By John Baptist Wolf.
(New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1968.
Pp. xix + 619, notes and index).

In 1638, France faced an uncertain fear for its future as the twenty-two-year marriage of their king, Louis XIII, and queen, Anne of Austria, had yet to produce an heir. Fates of nations teetered on the abilities of their leaders. Would a new heir emerge from the royal family? Yes! The miraculous news of an impending royal birth replaced uncertainty with dreams of greatness and new hopes for the kingdom. This newborn son the people called a gift from God. Louis le Dieudonné was welcomed by a collective sigh of relief.

Yet, no one could predict the blossoming of the young dauphin prince or his grip on history as the preeminent absolute monarch, Louis XIV. His life of seventy-seven years connected with historic people, places, and events that now fill thousands of volumes of scholarly work and line the shelves of libraries worldwide. Encapsulating the purpose and being of Louis XIV in a single work takes the delicate finesse of an inspired storyteller, the refined hand of a delicate artist, and the persistent dedication of an astute scholar. In Louis XIV, readers discover the brilliance and ability of just such an author, who excels at these narrative and scholarly skills to exceed every expectation. John Baptist Wolf in his fascinating study of Louis XIV successfully embarks on a fascinating journey to peel away the myth and reveal the true essence of the boy who became the Sun King.

Wolf, an American scholar, was born long after to reign of Louis XIV. Yet, his thorough immersion into French history and his dogged research established him as an authority. Twice honored with a prestigious fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and selected as a president of the Society for the French Historical Studies, Wolf made an indelible mark as both an historian and teacher. Wolf's savvy as a teacher shines brightly in Louis XIV.

Unlike the narrow focus of John Lynn's book, The Wars of Louis XIV, or Gerard Mabille's novel, The Views of the Gardens at Marley, Wolf sets forth to provide a broad introduction to the many facets of Louis XIV and the forces that came together to shape his views and provide the impetus for his decisions as king and absolute ruler. Wolf quickly dispels any thought that his account will join the precession of earlier authors, who relied too heavily on "gossips, place-seekers, and others" in Louis XIV's court to produce scandal-heavy biographies devoid of the insight and substance that Wolf longed to provide.

The theme of unveiling "a king as he appeared to his ministers, his soldiers, and his diplomats" permeates throughout. We are shown the man, not the myth.

Wolf reveals how "the cult of the king and the mystique developed to justify the exercise of royal power can be understood only in light of the religious preconceptions of the king and the men around him." He refutes superficial judgments of Louis' character and motives. He delves deeply into the memoirs of the period. The narrative leads the reader through Louis' birth, the death of his father, the development of his reliance in Cardinal Mazarin's leadership, and his passionate desire to avoid the mistakes and weaknesses of the past in order to ensure France's supreme status.

Wolf goes directly to the source and draws heavily from letters and writings of Louis. He passionately documents these to support his finding of Louis as "both a politician and psychologist." A thorough researcher, Wolf quotes reports from council sessions and meetings with his military leaders to confirm Louis' interest in "the minute affairs of the state." This accounting of the hands-on, day-to-day leadership quashes oft-repeated tales that Louis was a puppet entirely occupied with sex and personal vanity.

Especially interesting to students of French history are Wolf's interpretations and commentaries on the findings of other historians to demonstrate the fallacies of persistent myths. He employs Rousset's findings that it was Louis' "pride rather than his courage" that caused his downfall and that Louis sought out advice only "so that they could be blamed in case of failure." Wolf completely disproves this scapegoat theory, and artfully illustrates Louis' belief in his ability as a dutiful but shrewd soldier, who realized he "needed the specialist who made war his business to give expert direction to the campaign." This extra effort takes the author beyond the role of a storyteller focused on the 'who' and 'what' and elevates him to the role of enthusiastic teacher, ever mindful of the 'how' and 'why' that students crave.

The book flows seamlessly from birth to death and allows readers to experience the very being of Louis XIV. Wolf ventures into episode after episode in the king's event-filled life without becoming bogged down or obsessed with any one personality characteristic or particular episode.

The list of "principal personages" provides an additional resource for students unsure of the key leaders, relatives, and individuals who played a role in the life of Louis XIV. Five illustrated maps present a handy reference. The thorough and diligently annotated list of notes provides precious insight into sources and scholarly material dedicated to individual aspects in the life of the king. The convincingly comprehensive index is arranged alphabetically and proves quite beneficial to students curious about a particular event.

Like many history books that cover broad topics, this text is not intended to provide new revelations to scholars. However, the possibilities for learning are bountiful for the growing number of students of European history who want an introduction to the period. It is also useful to casual readers with a thirst for knowledge about past cultures and historic figures. Wolf readily acknowledges that "there is not enough space in a single-volume history to correct" the "hosts of myths that have accumulated around Louis XIV." Despite his reservations, Wolf triumphs. Louis XIV stands as a preeminent biography, worthy of inclusion on the reading list for college undergraduates. Readers should walk away with a better understanding of the man, the mystique, and the formation of a king. Most importantly, Wolf inspires a compelling intellectual hunger to discover even more about the Sun King of France.