MADAME DE BRINVILLIERS And Her Times 1630-1676

Hardback. Among the records of famous criminals, the trial of Marie Marguerite d'Aubray has always taken a prominent place. The author did not intend to reproduce the crimes of the Marquise, but more a picture of the lively circles in which she lived. The first part of the book concerns itself chiefly with the conditions under which the Marquise lived. An attempt is made to show the utter heartless and complete lack of moral fibre in the Court and the town, for which Louis XIV and his ministers were largely personally responsible. The second part relates the 3 crimes which were definitely brought home to the Marquise and Sainte-Croix. It also introduces the strange character the ecclesiastical financier Pennautier and his dealings with Sainte-Croix. The third part followss the evidence at the trial, with many lacunae, summarises the famous "factum" or defence of Maitre Nivelle, and deals with the ministrations of the Abbe Pirot. The many documents which were still in existence and the voluminous memoir left by the priest allowed the last days of Madame de Brinvilliers to be reconstructed with remarkable accuracy. In three parts : Part I - The Cause: French Society, 1661-1676; Part II - The Crime; Part III - The Punishment. 319pp. 12mo. h/back. From the library of true-crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Fr. hinge beginning to show, browned pp. and eps. G++