Nancy Mitford Histories, Set of 3
Mitford, Nancy. Three Illustrated Volumes of European History. Includes The Sun King, Louis XIV at Versailles (1966), Madame de Pompadour (1968), and Frederick the Great (1970). All are hardcovers with dust jackets in very good minus or better condition—corner of Frederick the Great is bumped.
Nancy Mitford was not one to abide by bores, and she held herself to an even higher standard. She went so far as to revolutionize the historical biography, eschewing dates and irrelevancies to write books that one can live in. They are profusely illustrated, with b & w images and also color plates. The books are not quite coffee table size, which makes them comfortable reading but with dazzling illustrations throughout.
“Louis XIV seems to have known that he would live to be old. His plans, both artistic and political, were for the long term; they ripened slowly and were confided to nobody.”
--Nancy Mitford