So it sounds silly but I'm currently working my way through Alexander Dumas 'Three Musketeers' for the millionth time and I find myself really enjoying the descriptions of court intrigues and political machinations. Are there any well-written accounts of what court life was like, and any notable plots (both failed and successful) of nobles vying for royal favour?
I realise there were big wars between countries going on at the time, but I'm more interested in the smaller nobles and individuals floating around the court at the time.
Thanks in advance!
Oh, please, please, allow me the pleasure of introducing you to THE BEST PRIMARY SOURCE IN THE WORLD.
Meet Elisabeth-Charlotte von der Pfalz, Liselotte to her friends, princess of the Rhine Palatinate by birth, and by marriage Duchesse d'Orleans at the court of the Sun King. Perhaps the greatest gift of the 17th century to modern readers is Liselotte's letter collection. She had something to say about everything and everyone, and most of it was...not very nice.
You can read one (translated) selection from her letters online for free here. There are some more here, along with those from two other noblewomen. Elborg Forster's A Woman's Life in the Court of the Sun King translates another segment of the collection, along with providing capsule biographies of some of her correspondents and subjects.
Liselotte is the worst, and also the best.