Versailles: A Private Invitation Hardcover – October 11, 2011

I LOVE the format of this book. Page after page of photographs, most full-page, alternating between close-ups and regular view. Text is nicely limited in quantity but outstanding in quality. This is not a "History of Versailles" book. Sure, you get a smattering of history here and there, but most of the text is either photo captions giving details about the photo subject, or short paragraphs of what-happened-in-this-room, including excerpts from diaries and correspondence.For example, I got a kick out of a page in the chapter on The King's Apartments, an excerpt from Saint-Simon's "Memoires" (1715). He remembers the day the Sun King died, attended by his last great Royal Mistress: "On Wednesday August 28 [1715], he [Louis XIV] proferred an amiable remark to Madame de Maintenon which she cannot be said to have relished and to which she replied not a word. He had only told her that he took comfort from the hope that, at her age, they would meet again soon enough."Most rooms are sparsely furnished. Indeed, given the revolution, it's amazing the building is standing at all. But there are some beautiful pieces. For example, five pages, including close-up photographs, are given to the King's Desk created for Louis XV, a stunning tour de force of the cabinet maker's art. It includes a secret compartment where "the king could store his personal papers with complete peace of mind." To be royal in 1700's France meant to be never alone. According to the Chateau Versailles official website, on any day, there would have been 3,000 to 10,000 people crowded into the several buildings making up the palace complex.An exquisite coffee table book. It runs 319 pages and includes a biblography and index.Happy Reader

It is impossible today to fully imagine the image and power of the late Bourbon monarchy in words and pictures. Versailles set the high standard for all of Europe. But this book comes very close, indeed. Versailles was the symbol and seat of the King and his Court. This book gives you an intimate survey of the rooms and gardens with exquisite detail and extraordinary insight. Nothing will ever surpass a visit to the Palace of Versailles - but this book will take the armchair traveler there. The hidden salons and private rooms welcome you as they did Louis XVI and Marie Antionette. This book is a high quality publication with excellent content. A fine addition to any art history library.

This is a book that is a treasure the pages are rich and full of color and if you close your eyes you can almost feel that you’re actually at Versailles. Coincidently it got me thinking and researching into Versailles after seeing Versailles the king of France TV series and they have something that is called a Versailles hidden gems night at the ball and you can go and see these beautiful artworks and architecture right there and dance the night away while you’re actually in the costume that they make for you and everything is taken care of for you. This book is an inspiration and it is wonderful and really educational to read and interesting and I know where I’m going for vacation !

The photography is stunningly beautiful - of course, it would be rather hard to take dull pictures of one of the most beautiful palaces on earth. The book is large and perfect for my coffee table, within easy reach whenever I want to flip through pages and pages of beautiful, full-sized color photographs of Versailles and its gorgeous rooms and grounds. Also included are pages and pages of the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Hameau de la Reine, Marie Antoinette's bucolic little village/retreat built especially for her in the 1780's nearby the Petit Trianon. Exquisite book and the next best thing to actually being there in person.

The book is a stroll down memory lane. I have been to Versailles twice and the book brings back many of the spaces that were a part of the tour. Lots of written commentary about the history of the place. I would prefer to have more pictures.

Beautiful

Tolle Fotos und hervorragende Texte!!

E' arrivato questo mattina; tutto considerato puntualmente. Libro elegante con belle foto. Eccellente come accessorio da coffee table .

Rico em detalhes, fotos e textos.História pura.Viajei através das fotos!Um lindo presente.

Very nice photos.