L' allée du roi

Although a novel, this book has been well researched using historical sources and is the nearest thing we shall ever get to an autobiography of Francoise d'Aubigne, later Marquise de Maintenon the secret wife of Louis XIV. The book follows her life from near-poverty in Niort and La Rochelle, to her marriage to poet and wit Paul Scarron, and to her rise through court circles to become the king's favourite and eventual wife. A worthwhile read for not only students of the period, but for the general reader.
To English readers possessing 'schoolboy' French it is not a hard book to tackle, although it is probably wise to know something of the historical background before attempting it. This book is also available in English as "The Way of the King".