R. J. KnechtCritiques

Knecht's work on the French Valois rulers is short but detailed. It is obvious that the Valois rulers endured constant pressure not only from outside (such as the Hundred Years War with England) but also from within (such as the Burgundian threat that chose sides as they pleased & the Guise who soon became a dangerous threat near the end of the Valois line). The author divides his book between the Early Valois & the Later Valois. His claim that the Later Valois rulers had greater strength perhaps should be tempered with the reality that the Later Valois made the same mistakes their earlier forebears had done & undid all their own gains. It is a very good accounting of the Valois rulers if you want a short reading.

An excellent history of a fascinating slice of French history.

A solid detailed book about exactly what the title says, the French royal court from the reign on Charles VIII through that of Henri III. It begins with a basic political overview and then goes on to social, literary and artistic aspects of court life.

Knecht wrote a succinct and consice biography of Richelieu that drifts neither into hero-worship nor demonization. Richelieu was arguably among the top five most influential men in France, ever, and that is saying a lot.