Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. Introduction: What Was It About France? 1
5. 1.The Beginning of a Tradition: Agnès Sorel 18
6. 2. A Tradition Takes Hold: Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly 37
7. 3. Diane de Poitiers: Epitome of the French Royal Mistress 67
8. 4. Gabrielle d’Estrées: Never the Twain Shall Meet 85
9. 5. The Mistresses of the Sun King: La Vallière, Montespan, Maintenon 110
10. 6. Tearing the Veil: Pompadour and Du Barry 134
11. Epilogue: Mistress-Queen and the End of a Tradition: Marie Antoinette 163
12. Notes 169
13. Bibliography 205
14. Index 227