Cardinal Richelieu and the making of France

In an extraordinary drama sweeping across seventeenth-century France, this probing biography of Cardinal Richelieu explores how a man of steely intelligence and ruthless ambition not only fulfilled his dreams of social prestige, personal wealth, and political power but at the same time realized his vision of a France unified as much by its culture as by its king.

出版社周刊评论

For a man who might justifiably lay claim to being the father of the French nation, Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), the first minister of King Louis XIII's council, was quite remarkably unpopular. His overtaxed countrymen, ever rebellious during his lifetime, lit bonfires to celebrate his death, and "it may well be true," according to his new biographer, "that it is impossible to name any historical personage in French public life who has provoked more hatred." From Richelieu's life as described by Levi (a scholar of French studies and editor of the two-volume Guide to French Literature), one might conclude that the centralization of the nation state was a morally bankrupt goal driven by the most inhumane of ideals; but Levi is circumspect in his judgments, preferring simply to observe and understand. This is a sophisticated narrative, perfectly accessible yet pervaded by gravitas and alert to the complexities of the Catholic revival movement which followed the internecine Wars of Religion. Levi's recurrent idea is that Richelieu aspired to the creation of national unity as much through cultural symbolism (creating, for instance, the French Academy and initiating a great art collection) as through strictly political means. He presents a complex man of manipulative intelligence and inexhaustible nervous energy, capable of good humor and charm as well as violent mood swings. However, he is strikingly indulgent in dealing with Richelieu's revenge on rebellious rural workers in Normandy. Levi's account provides plentiful grounds to suspect why Richelieu destroyed huge volumes of private documents, as well as a little Norman village. This sharp portrait will interest students of French, European and political history. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Kirkus评论

A comprehensive, dense account of the life and achievements of Richelieu (15851642), whose political savvy in the volatile world of the French royal court had wide implications for the development of France as a modern nation. Levi ( Guide to French Literature , not reviewed) has a remarkable grasp of the byzantine social structure of 17th-century France, where political careers were largely made or broken through an intricate network of personal contacts and royal patronage, and he shows how much of Richelieus early rise to prominence as courtier and titular Bishop of Luçon was owed to Marie de Medici (the wife of Henri IV) and Anne of Austria (the wife of Louis XIII). Following his elevation to the College of Cardinals in 1624, Richelieus status as an insider was assured. Prominence did not put him above criticism, howeverfar from it: his taste for splendor and ostentation led to a widespread reputation for greed. In spite of this, however, the author sees Richelieu as an ascetic and somewhat eccentric figure who ultimately found his niche as Minister to the weak-willed Louis XIII. Determined to build a great and unified France, Richelieu pursued his vision through court intrigue and the strife and death of the Thirty Years War. Levi maintains a crisp, restrained tone throughout, even while describing startling incidents of extreme violence or raw sexual politics (such as the forced coupling of adolescent Royals to benefit political alliances). He relies largely on primary sources and offers plenty of detail about arcane pre-Revolutionary ritual, deportment, rumor, and intrigueso much, in fact, that uninitiated readers may wish for more in the way of explanation. Still, Levi pulls off a neat trick in animating this long-gone era in a fully realized work that will reward the intrepid.

《书目》(Booklist)书评

If one's view of Cardinal Richelieu is based on a reading of Alexander Dumas' The Three Musketeers, one inevitably thinks of a ruthless, cynical practitioner of power politics. Levi, a specialist in French culture, does not contradict that image. However, in this absorbing and often surprising biography, Levi gives Richelieu well-deserved credit for molding France into a modern nation-state. Under Richelieu, France became more than a mere geographic expression. He launched efforts to enforce linguistic unity and effectively fought the centrifugal tendencies of the great feudal lords. He created the French Academy, and a national theater, and initiated state domination of the educational system. Of course, in foreign affairs, his statecraft made France the greatest power in continental Europe. This is an interesting portrait of an admirable, but not very lovable, historical giant. --Jay Freeman

Choice 评论

Since good biographies explore the relationship between an individual and his/her time, there is every reason to be sanguine about a life of Richelieu written by Anthony Levi, a noted literary historian and author of the two-volume Guide to French Literature (vol.2, CH, Apr;94). However, although promising a deeper understanding of Richelieu through a more sensitive approach to the cultural atmosphere, both secular and religious, of early-17th-century France, it is only in the former area that the biographer really succeeds. For Levi, Richelieu operated in a new intellectual milieu as represented by Du Vair and Descartes, characterized by a confidence in human potential, a heroic ideal, and the quest for grandeur and glory. This thesis, soundly researched and presented, makes a valuable contribution to placing in context Richelieu's public and private actions in working toward France's cultural and national identity. Unclear, however, is the biographer's contribution to a deeper understanding of Richelieu's religiosity, and unproven is his contention that other biographies are insensitive to the spiritual and theological realities of France's "Catholic Revival." The assumed familiarity with names and events limits the book's readership to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. R. T. Ingoglia; Felician College

《图书馆杂志》(Library Journal )书评

Chief Minister to King Louis XIII, Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) instituted the reforms and innovations that created a "great and unified France." In this well-researched and effectively argued biography, Levi (editor, Guide to French Literature) narrates how Richelieu brought about financial, military, administrative, and cultural centralization. More importantly, he explains the intellectual context in which Richelieu's vision was developed, arguing that previous biographers failed to place Richelieu within his appropriate context: the Catholic revival and the wave of early 17th-century cultural optimism reflected in French literature. According to Levi, Richelieu "openly embraced" the heroic ideals of the age and understood culture's role in the creation of national identity. Because Richelieu recognized that religious discord was a social and political issue, "France's interests took priority over religious allegiances." Levi addresses Richelieu's changing images through the centuries and attempts to gauge the truth about allegations concerning his private life. Though difficult for nonacademic readers, this work is highly recommended for French studies specialists and academic collections.DMarie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

List of Illustrations	p. viii
Foreword	p. ix
Maps	p. xii
Genealogies	p. xv
Chronology	p. xvii
Author's Note	p. xxi
1 Churchman and Statesman: Aims and Ambitions	p. 1
2 Family Background and Family Bishop	p. 11
3 The Rise and Fall of the young Bishop: 1608-18	p. 29
4 Rehabilitation and Red Hat	p. 51
5 First Minister: Strategies 1624-9	p. 75
6 La Rochelle, Mantua and the Crisis of Confidence	p. 103
7 The Defence of Victory	p. 131
8 Religious and Cultural Background	p. 151
9 The Thirty Years War	p. 173
10 Domestic Affairs, Public and Private	p. 201
11 The Final Danger	p. 227
12 Postlude	p. 251
Notes	p. 261
Index	p. 313

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