Eighteenth Century (National History of France)
Casimir Stryienski
Play
Length 13 h 11 min
Chapters 36
First published 1916
This panoramic history of the last days of Bourbon France opens with the death of Louis XIV in 1715 and the minority of the ill-educated, Louis XV. The financial genius, John Law, precipitates a market bubble, with speculators frantic to buy and sell shares. The King, indolent and sensual, is content to leave the government to his cardinals and his mistresses. Meanwhile, France loses India and North America in the Seven Years' War. In 1774, Louis XVI succeeds his grandfather. Well-intentioned, but ineffectual, he falls under the sway of Marie-Antoinette and her favorites, so that when at last competent ministers are found to confront France's problems, it is too late. (Summary by Pamela Nagami, M.D.)
Chapters
1
First Part: Regency of the Duc d'Orleans. Ch. 1: The Commencement of the Regency Read by Pamela Nagami 19:00
2
Ch. 2: The Education of Louis XV, 1715-1722 Read by Pamela Nagami 28:24
3
Ch. 3: The System, 1715-1720 Read by Pamela Nagami 34:35
4
Ch. 4: The Two Cardinals, 1719-1723, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 15:58
5
Ch. 4: The Two Cardinals, 1719-1723, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 23:41
6
Second Part: The Duc de Bourbon and Cardinal Fleury. Ch. 5: The King's Marriage, 1723-1725, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 26:55
7
Ch. 5: The King's Marriage, 1723-1725, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 20:26
8
Ch. 6: A Palace Revolution, 1725-1726 Read by Pamela Nagami 18:50
9
Ch. 7: The Queen's Dowry, 1727-1737 Read by Pamela Nagami 34:32
10
Ch. 8: The Royal Family Read by Pamela Nagami 32:52
11
Ch. 9: For the Prussian King, 1740-1743, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 17:16
12
Ch. 9: For the Prussian King, 1740-1743, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 17:17
13
Third Part: Louis XV, Ch. 10: Louis the Well-Beloved, 1743-1744, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 19:26
14
Ch. 10: Louis the Well-Beloved, 1743-1744, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 19:19
15
Ch. 11: "As Stupid as the Peace," 1745-1749 Read by Pamela Nagami 21:04
16
Ch. 12: Louis XV Becomes Unpopular, 1749-1757, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 20:11
17
Ch. 12: Louis XV Becomes Unpopular, 1749-1757, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 21:00
18
Ch. 13: The Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 22:04
19
Ch. 13: The Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 21:16
20
Ch. 14: Choiseul, 1764-1770 Read by Pamela Nagami 26:03
21
Ch. 15: The Death of the King, 1770-1774 Read by Pamela Nagami 30:10
22
Fourth Part: Louis XVI, Ch. 16: The Coronation, 1774-June 11, 1775, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 14:06
23
Ch. 16: The Coronation, 1774-June 11, 1775, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 21:45
24
Ch. 17: The Queen's Surroundings, 1775-1776, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 23:51
25
Ch. 17: The Queen's Surroundings, 1775-1776, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 17:00
26
Ch. 18: The Emperor's Visit, 1777 Read by Pamela Nagami 24:49
27
Ch. 19: Birth of Madame Royale Read by Pamela Nagami 14:52
28
Ch. 20: The End of the American War, 1779-1783 Read by Pamela Nagami 20:17
29
Ch. 21: The Queen's First Calvary, 1785 Read by Pamela Nagami 31:15
30
Ch. 22: Dawn of the Revolution, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 14:19
31
Ch. 22: Dawn of the Revolution, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 17:39
32
Fifth Part: The Artistic and Literary Movement, Ch. 23, Pt. 1: The Arts Read by Pamela Nagami 34:41
33
Ch. 23, Pt. 2: The Sciences Read by Pamela Nagami 12:27
34
Ch. 23, Pt. 3: Literature, Pt. 1 Read by Pamela Nagami 18:04
35
Ch. 23, Pt. 3: Literature, Pt. 2 Read by Pamela Nagami 21:22
36
Ch. 23, Pt. 4: The Salons Read by Pamela Nagami 14:33
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens archive.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
