Still the standard and most complete work
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For anyone mildly interested in the France during this period of Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu, this book will probably be first on your list to read. The book not only informed the reader about the policies and works of the two great leaders of France during this period but how their actions affected the people of France, her cultures, her friends and enemies abroad. Book of monumental study, it proves to be highly readable and while I have no knowledge of the French language, I can't complaint about the writing or the translation. This book clearly showed that when Richelieu became the Chief Minister of France, that nation was on a verge of becoming another Holy Roman Empire, weak, divided and a non-factor. But in partnership with his King, who realized a good thing when he saw it, by the time both men were dead, France was on a verge of becoming a next European superpower, replacing her old rivial Spain. But the cost of such move, was heavy on the French people. The book wonderfully explains the cause and effects of such policies. I would considered it as a mandatory reading material for anyone interested in French history.
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