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Mistress of the Sun
Published by HarperCollins Canada Ltd. on February 23, 2008, and by Touchstone (a division of Simon & Schuster) in the U.S. on June 3.
A novel of Louise de la Vallière, mistress of the Sun King. As a girl, she won the trust of the wildest of horses; as a woman, she would win the love of the most charismatic of kings.
Editors' Choice — Historical Novels Review
"A captivating jewel of a novel"
 
"Teeming with the rich period details that make historical fiction so rewarding, Gulland’s dynamic and nuanced portrait of Louis’ notorious reign thrums with page-turning expediency and deliciously seductive machinations."
—Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association
"Suspenseful, evocative, atmospheric, and deliciously satisfying reading, with an immensely appealing heroine."
—Margaret George, author of Helen of Troy
"I fell in love with Petite from the
moment she tamed her wild, white horse, and I galloped along with her
through her undying devotion to one of France's most colorful kings."
—Anne Easter Smith, author of Daughter of York and A Rose for the Crown
"Here's a warning: Mistress of the Sun is dangerously seductive. It's one of those books that will grab you and hold you captive till the last page is turned -- and even then, chances are you'll find yourself, eyes burning, online at midnight, ordering Sandra Gulland's other books. Yes, it's that good."
—Geeta Nadkarni, for the Calgary Herald
"No one gets more deeply into the heart and mind of a historical character than Sandra Gulland. In Mistress of the Sun, the joys and sorrows of Louise de La Vallière are so real and immediate that I now feel as if Louis XIV’s first mistress was a dear friend."
—Susanne Dunlap, author of Emily's Voice and Lizst's Kiss
"Beautifully told and elegantly written, Ms. Gulland's novel, Mistress of the Sun, sweeps the reader up and transports them into the opulent world of the 17th Century French Court... In this tale, Louise de la Valliére leaps boldly from these elegantly written pages. She is unforgettable, as is this brilliant novel!"
—Diane Haeger, author of The Perfect Royal Mistress
 Excerpt
Discussion
Guide
Order:
Canada, U.S.A.
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Sites in the Book:
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Also See:
Introducing: the gown
"A video of the beginning of my talk and reading from Mistress of the Sun ... in my 17th-century gown."
Five minutes with Sandra Gulland
"Anne Beattie once said that writing a short story is like having an affair, but that writing a novel is like "wading out to sea to drown." Novelists invariably agree—and historical novelists most of all."
A podcast interview with Cathi Bond
"If you think you recognize the voice of the interviewer, it’s Cathi Bond, of “Definitely Not the Opera fame."
Six Fashion Tips from the Court of the Sun King
"Fashion tips from the 17th century included wearing lead-based makeup and impractical clothing, and, well, not bathing."
"Lust and disorder in the Sun King’s court" — the Globe & Mail review
"It's especially satisfying to witness the King let down his "mask" with the guileless Louise, as Gulland captures well that quality of unconditional openness between lovers."
"Eye for Detail Brightens Mistress of the Sun" — Review in the Calgary Herald, Montreal Gazette and other newspapers
"Here's a warning: Mistress of the Sun is dangerously seductive. It's one of those books that will grab you and hold you captive till the last page is turned."
Author Q&A on January Magazine
"The questions are unusual, very much about the craft of writing. I enjoyed answering them."
Listen to The Mistress of the Sun Prosecast
"How the author consulted with book clubs in writing Mistress of the Sun"
"Heroine of a Golden Age"
“This interview accurately captures the challenges of writing Mistress of the Sun.”
Facebook group on Mistress of the Sun
Portraits of Louise de la Vallière on Flickr
Court of the Sun King photos on Flickr
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