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"Throughout the centuries, royal mistresses have been worshiped, feared, envied, and reviled. They set the fashions, encouraged the arts, and, in some cases, ruled nations. Eleanor Herman's Sex with Kings takes us into the throne rooms and bedrooms of Europe's most powerful monarchs. Alive with flamboyant characters, outrageous humor, and stirring poignancy, this tale of passion and politics chronicles five hundred years of scintillating women and the kings who loved them." "Curiously, the main functions of a royal mistress was not to provide the king with sex but with companionship. Forced to marry repulsive foreign princesses, kings sought solace with women of their own choice. And what women they were! From Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of Louis XV, who kept her position for nineteen years despite her frigidity, to modern-day Camilla Parker Bowles, who usurped none other than the glamorous Diana, Princess of Wales." "The successful royal mistress made herself irreplaceable. She was ready to converse gaily with him when she was tired, make love until all hours when she was ill, and cater to his every whim. Wearing a mask of beaming delight over any and all discomforts, she was never to be exhausted, complaining, or grief-stricken." "True, financial rewards for services rendered were of royal proportions - some royal mistresses earned up to $200 million in titles, pensions, jewels, and palaces. Some kings allowed their mistresses to exercise unlimited political power. But for all its grandeur, a royal court was a scorpion's nest of insatiable greed, unquenchable lust, and vicious ambition. Hundreds of beautiful women vied to unseat the royal mistress. Many would suffer the slings and arrows of negative public opinion, some met with tragic ends or were pensioned off to make room for younger women. But the royal mistress often had the last laugh, as she lived well and richly off the fruits of her "sins."" "From the dawn of time, power has been a mighty aphrodisiac. With diaries, personal letters, and diplomatic dispatches, Eleanor Herman's research reveals the dynamics of sex and power, rivalry and revenge, at the most brilliant courts of Europe. Sex with Kings is a chapter of women's history that has remained unwritten - until now."--BOOK JACKET.
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Previews available in: English
Subjects
Scandals, Sociology, Sex scandals, Women's Studies, Reyes y soberanos, Biografía, Europe, Kings and rulers, Historia, Court and courtiers, Royal Favorites, Amantes (Mujeres), Corte y cortesanos, Paramours, Amantes, History, Mistresses, Social life and customs, Vida social y costumbres, Nonfiction, Favoritos reales, Biography, New York Times reviewed, Europe, kings and rulers, Europe, social life and customs, Favorites, royal, Courts and courtiers, Manners and customs, Sexualverhalten, Mätresse, König, Geschichte 1500-2000Showing 9 featured editions. View all 9 editions?
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1
Sex with kings: 500 years of adultery, power, rivalry, and revenge
2011, Barnes and Noble
in English
1435132122 9781435132122
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2
En la cama con el rey: 500 años de adulterio, poder, rivalidad y venanza
2007, Editorial Diana
in Spanish
- 1a ed.
968134202X 9789681342029
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zzzz
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3
Sex with kings: five hundred years of adultery, power, rivalry, and revenge
2005, Perennial
in English
0060585447 9780060585440
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4
Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge (P.S.)
April 5, 2005, Harper Perennial
in English
0060585447 9780060585440
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5
Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge (P.S.)
April 5, 2005, Harper Perennial
Paperback
in English
0060585447 9780060585440
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6 |
zzzz
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7 |
zzzz
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8
Sex with kings: 500 years of adultery, power, rivalry, and revenge
2004, Morrow
in English
- 1st ed.
0060585439 9780060585433
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9
Sex with kings: 500 years of adultery, power, rivalry, and revenge
2004, Morrow
Book
in English
0965918556 9780965918558
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Book Details
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-274) and index.
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Work Description
Throughout the centuries, royal mistresses have been worshiped, feared, envied, and reviled. They set the fashions, encouraged the arts, and, in some cases, ruled nations. Eleanor Herman's Sex with Kings takes us into the throne rooms and bedrooms of Europe's most powerful monarchs. Alive with flamboyant characters, outrageous humor, and stirring poignancy, this glittering tale of passion and politics chronicles five hundred years of scintillating women and the kings who loved them. Curiously, the main function of a royal mistress was not to provide the king with sex but with companionship. Forced to marry repulsive foreign princesses, kings sought solace with women of their own choice. And what women they were! From Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of Louis XV, who kept her position for nineteen years despite her frigidity, to modern-day Camilla Parker-Bowles, who usurped none other than the glamorous Diana, Princess of Wales. The successful royal mistress made herself irreplaceable. She was ready to converse gaily with him when she was tired, make love until all hours when she was ill, and cater to his every whim. Wearing a mask of beaming delight over any and all discomforts, she was never to be exhausted, complaining, or grief-stricken. True, financial rewards for services rendered were of royal proportions -- some royal mistresses earned up to $200 million in titles, pensions, jewels, and palaces. Some kings allowed their mistresses to exercise unlimited political power. But for all its grandeur, a royal court was a scorpion's nest of insatiable greed, unquenchable lust, and vicious ambition. Hundreds of beautiful women vied to unseat the royal mistress. Many would suffer the slings and arrows of negative public opinion, some met with tragic ends and were pensioned off to make room for younger women. But the royal mistress often had the last laugh, as she lived well and richly off the fruits of her "sins." From the dawn of time, power has been a mighty aphrodisiac. With diaries, personal letters, and diplomatic dispatches, Eleanor Herman's trailblazing research reveals the dynamics of sex and power, rivalry and revenge, at the most brilliant courts of Europe. Wickedly witty and endlessly entertaining, Sex with Kings is a chapter of women's history that has remained unwritten -- until now.
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