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France 1661-1789: An Anatomy of the Ancient Regime
France 16611789 An Anatomy of the Ancient Regime Author:Tim J. A. Le Goff Looking at France under its last three absolute rulers, this text sets the political history of the period within a social framework, drawing on recent research into the institutions, social structure, and economy. An analysis of the changes made to the traditional monarchy under Louis XIV is the foundation of an analysis over the entire period ... more »of the machinery of government, dealing with the development and progressive rationalization of central and local administration, the growing importance of field agents of the central government, and the social characteristics of the servants of the Bourbon monarchy. Assessing the difficulties facing the monarchy in ruling the country and the factors interfering with and reinforcing state power, Le Goff's penetrating study offers an integrated political narrative for the period 1715-89 together with an interpretation of the Bourbon monarchy within its own time - not merely as a prelude to the regime that took its place in 1789.« less