The Parisian nobility in the reign of Louis XVI is usually dismissed as a privileged, frivolous and decadent elite - a cause of revolution in France rather than a catalyst for reform. This lively, readable book draws on contemporary sources to paint a more balanced portrait of pre-revolutionary Parisian high society.

Before the Deluge not only exposes the beaumonde's preoccupation with amusements, love affairs, mysteries and scandals, but also highlights its love/hate attitude towards the splendour and power of the Court of Versailles, and traces the aristocracy's active support for liberty and equality long before the words became part of a Jacobin slogan. The author also reveals the contrast between aristocratic excesses and the more sober life-styles of the French bourgeoisie and the lower classes.

Attention is also focused on the marital problems of Louis XVI and his queen, Marie-Antoinette, who found herself increasingly isolated and unpopular, and the subject of fantastic stories concerning her and her associates. Court and nobility failed to adapt quickly enough to the new forces unleashed by the Enlightenment. This book charts the resulting end of an aristocratic society in fascinating detail.