This book takes a bit to get through but it is so well researched. If you're looking to learn the history of this important building I highly recommend this book

A lovely history of one of the most important buildings in France. Deals with the political and social importance of the place, highly enjoyable.

This was a well-researched look into the history and influence of Versailles and why it is still relevant in today's world.

An excellent, tautly written summary of Versailles' importance to France, from its origins as a hunting lodge to a museum embodying some ephemeral socially agreed upon construct of the glory of the nation.

Many thanks go to Colin Jones, Basic Books, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.<br /><br />As a lover of history, especially French history, it's not uncommon to say one's read a book about Versailles. Not all cover from that great palace's inception to the 21st century. Jones does an excellent job of fleshing out the stages of its existence while adding photos to enrich the experience. Versailles has had a rough life. It's been used most intolerably. It's only recently in the scheme of things that the splendor has been updated and visitors can see what all the hype was about. Jones takes the reader on a journey through its grandeur to its vandalism and close to its extinction. The only reason I didn't rate this four stars was because it was so rote, so dry, so impersonal. True it was about a building, but I feel like it could have been spiced up a bit. Jones is a fine writer. Nothing wrong with his style. I just like a little more pizzazz.

Versailles is a historical account of the infamous palace in France from the early days of construction of the palace through modern day. I was hoping this would be more an account of the palace itself, to include the innovative approaches to the construction itself. These were essentially glossed over. What this book did cover was a good high level overview of the different monarchies that inhabited the palace and how that shaped its definition as a palace. There was a lot covered with little attention to detail, which just made this a good overall summary of Versailles, its inhabitants, and how it became the site thousands of tourists visit today. Unfortunately, this wasn't what I was expecting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

A vivid and comprehensive history of Versailles, its denizens, and its creators.

There isn't much that's new here if you know your French royal history, but Jones has done an admirable job of providing a thorough, superbly-researched, and all-encompassing volume on the subject.

Bonus points for stellar selection of photo plates accompanying the text.

Although I am an historian, I knew surprisingly little on the specifics of Versailles. Yes, I knew that it was turned to a hunting lodge to the palace that it is by Louis XIV and that it featured spectacularly in Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's downfall, but that was about it. This is a fantastic history of Versailles- Jones provides enough history and details to actually give you a solid foundation on the history of Versailles without continually overwhelming you with a mountain of minutia. A lot of architectural history tends to lean heavily into the history of the architect and/or the entire construction schedule. However, Jones balances the actual building with the people who lived in and around it.

I also very much appreciated that this continued on past the French Revolution. It is obvious (by the Instagram and blog posts that we see) that Versailles is still around to visit now, but when so many buildings didn't survive the Revolution, how this particular palace did was my biggest question. He also carried it into the modern period, and delves into the modern curators that brought Versailles into the twentieth century and beyond!

I have heard about Versailles, but I have never read a book about it. This book was very detailed and it was filled with interesting facts that I did not know about. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in castles, the French Revolution, and the French nobility.

This is an interesting look at the history and evolution of the palace of Versailles over the centuries, and it is measured and interesting and full of information. It is, as Jones notes, unique in English language studies of Versailles in that it considers the site's resonance after the French Revolution to the present day, particularly its tangled emotional importance between France and Germany in 1871 and 1918. I would like to have read more about its existence as a lieu de memoire, a 'memory palace' performing social and cultural historical work and linchpinning in the 20th and 21st century, as this is an interesting area jones opens up to consideration, but doesn't dwell on in enough depth - I'm fascinated.

I enjoyed this book a lot, as it gave me a greater appreciation for what it must have been like to really live in this famous building. It truly provides a sense of the palace, the challenges of living there, and how Louis XIV viewed it. It made me want to visit Versailles again.

TV viewers of the current series 'Versailles' (BBC) might do well to leave the dramatisation of the sexual liaisons behind and read this excellently researched book by Colin Jones about the history of the Palace itself.
In his introduction the author quote Charles Perrault who said, "the King had hardly said that there should be a palace than a wondrous palace emerged from the earth..." Within a few years from 1660 a small hunting lodge became (and still is) a magnificent large palace fit (said the King) for a King- in this instance a succession of Louis's.
I have visited Versailles myself and it is impressive as a building, but I learnt much more about the actual construction work and the area. The place name derives from the Old French 'versail' meaning a ploughed field and as Parisians began moving out of the crowded city of Paris with its noise and dirt so they sought the countryside as a place to build new homes. The area was pleasant - a guidebook from 1639 encouraged the first tourists to visit the village of Versailles. Now up to 7 million visitors a year pass through the ornate gates and wander and gaze at the magnificent palace. Builders and workers moved into the area, constructed their own homes (to a certain standard) and finally the King and the French Court moved to Versailles in 1682. Its style swept Europe and beyond - Washington in America took on some of its architecture.
But such grandeur cost money to Louis XIV and then his successors. By the 1780s France was bankrupt after many wars whilst Court expenditure (especially with Marie Antoinette) rose as she loved the splendour and beauty of the Palace. What happened after the French Revolution of 1789 provides an interesting history to Versailles present place in France. Rather than pull down the golden decorative excess it was decided that within the Second and Third Republics of France it should be used to garner international support. Hence its role as a site for famous Treaties such as that of Wilheim proclaimed as Kaiser (Emperor) of a unified Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in 1871 - an era of French/German antagonism and of course the Treaty in 1919 which ended WWI. The Nazis were not diminished in their love of the building and troops occupied Versailles from 1940-1944.
But then history and the use of the building as a museum came to the fore. In 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and this book and its wonderful illustrations and photographs might encourage readers to make a visit themselves!
However, do not dismiss its continued political importance. In 1917 newly elected President Emmanuel Macron used it as a stage for his first chance to flex his muscles on the international stage. The Sun King 'Roi Soleil' would have been proud.

While I love all things French, this is just too much of a good thing. Too much information and much too bland. Sigh, I really love the palace itself. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Fantastic review of French history! I found it a great read, and especially for non-fiction was not dry. Definitely recommend and will be promoting in store!

An interesting look at the palace. There is a focus on Louis and others role to what the palace has become - but that would be like any other place. If one is interested in either the king or place this book would be a nice addition.

I learned so much from this book. A fascinating history of Versailles. Can't wait to visit in person someday but, for now, Colin Jones' Versailles is the next best thing.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

wonderful chronological history focusing on the significance of Versailles in events over the last four hundred years; not intended as comprehensive record of architectural specifics but rather a charming story of a place and the role it has played and continues to play in our world and its history

VERSAILLES provides an absorbing front-row look at one of the most magnificent buildings in the world, based upon new research that traces its creation and evolution into a political locus of power — and to today, a coveted world tourist destination. Well-written addictive reading for the Francophile and the Francophile-in-training. Author Colin Jones teaches at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Chicago and has penned many French history books, including the definitive Paris: A Biography of a City. 5/5

Pub Date 13 Nov 2018   

Thanks to Perseus Books, Basic Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#Versailles #NetGalley

When I first saw this book it peaked my interest, but I was admittedly concerned that Mr. Jones had simply crafted an architectural history of the famous Versailles Palace. Thankfully, while the architecture is included, as is necessary in a history of a building, it was not all East Wings and flying buttresses. Mr. Collins has crafted a wonderful general history of Versailles, from Louis XIII's hunting lodge to modern day restoration efforts. He delves into the construction of the grand palace (as well as the constant effort at maintaining the elaborate rooms and grounds), the lifestyles of the Bourbons who lived there, and the confused place that Versailles held in France until the late 19th century.

The book excels at covering the history of Versailles up to 1789. From the Kings' elaborate schedules, ceremonies, and hunting habits, to the queens' various levels maltreatment, to the hordes of nobles thirsting for favor, to the legions of servants and tourists (the latter lining up to watch the king eat his breakfast) Mr. Collins has crafted a superb look at court life in the 17th and 18th centuries. I also appreciated that when French phrases were used, they were generally translated.

Unfortunately, the last chapters are a bit less well rounded. After the French Revolution history speeds up and even major moments, like the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, are glossed over. Interesting tidbits still show up, like Louis-Phillip's hastily assembled museum of battles, but they are mostly rushed through.

Overall, for anyone curious about the palace and it's inhabitants in the heyday of the Bourbon dynasty, this is a good general history. The last chapters don't take enough time but are still generally interesting.

A thorough and fascinating look at one of the most famous buildings in French history, if not world history. This book touches on the formation of Versailles and what it meant to Louis XIV and goes through to how the legacy of the sun king and his palace played out in the rest of French history. It's well-researched and has helpful illustrations. I would recommend it to both public and academic libraries, as it is both interesting to the public and holds scholarly value for students.