The Duchess de la Valliere is a historical novel written by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Set in 17th century France during the reign of King Louis XIV, the book follows the life of Louise de la Valliere, a beautiful and virtuous young lady who becomes one of the king's mistresses. The story begins with Louise's childhood and her entry into court as a lady-in-waiting to the queen. She catches the eye of the king, who is immediately smitten by her beauty and purity. Despite her reluctance, Louise becomes the king's mistress and is soon caught up in the intrigues and power struggles of the court. As the king's favor begins to wane, Louise finds herself torn between her love for him and her desire for a more peaceful life. She eventually decides to leave court and become a Carmelite nun, but not before enduring much heartache and sorrow. The Duchess de la Valliere is a tale of love, passion, and sacrifice set against the backdrop of one of the most fascinating periods in French history. It is a gripping and emotional story that will leave readers captivated until the very end.1837. Bulwer Lytton's maiden play.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.