/lit/ - Literature

>>9739377
There was the Mitford book posted yesterday which is a good begin for English speaker/readers. Full-on /lit/ wd be St. Simon's Memoirs--

Monadology

>>9740770
The picture is of Louis XIV. It does look like Leibniz though so I understand your confusion.

>>9739377
>ywn take a royal shit behind the curtains of Versailles with Louis

Will Durant's 'Age of Louis XIV'. Part of his History of Civilization series. Bear in mind that history is "perceived memory", meaning that exaggerated claims are nonetheless part of a people's national perception of itself. It pays attention to public opinion as well as statistical facts.

For having written it almost 40 years ago, Durant and his wife/co-author tend to be highly direct and accurate with the material, without letting statistical facts get in the way of an exciting narrative.

Read the first chapter titled "The Sun Rises", and if you're not really feelling it it probably isn't for you. Can anybody second this? Or perhaps recommend me and OP a superior source?

>>9741300
Can't personally second this, but my friend who works at a used bookstore always raves about the Durants' histories.

>>9741007
Always enjoyed Voltaire's historic mode. Assume this is a closet rec for his Age of Louis xiv, which is a good one.

>>9741300

I've read Durant's entire Story of Civilization, it's a pretty good foundation.
Shame he died and never got to take it up to the end of the 19th century. Wanted to read about based Otto.