Book Tour // The Rivals of Versailles by Sally Christie - Dreams, Etc.

: Unlike the aristocratic mistresses before her, the "bourgeois" Jeanne-Antoinette is initially despised by the court. To secure her status, Louis XV officially titles her the Marquise de Pompadour .

The book (The Rivals of Versailles) by Sally Christie is the second installment in the Mistresses of Versailles trilogy. It centers on the rise of the iconic Madame de Pompadour and her struggle to maintain her position as King Louis XV’s official mistress against a backdrop of courtly intrigue and political upheaval. Core Narrative & Plot

: The story begins in 1730 when young Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, a girl from the middle class, is told by a fortune teller that she will one day become the lover of a king and the most powerful woman in France.

: Over two decades, their relationship evolves from a passionate romance into a deep, political partnership. When health issues prevent her from fulfilling the King's physical needs, she remarkably maintains her power by becoming his closest confidante and even procuring younger women for him to ensure no other official rival can take her place. Key Characters & Perspectives

: By 1745, after the death of the King's previous favorite, Marie-Anne de Mailly-Nesle, Jeanne uses her connections, beauty, and intelligence to finally catch the King's eye.