Louis XIV is one of history's most notorious rulers. Ruling for three quarters of a century, the King of France had the longest reign in European history, and the effects of his rule would create the conditions that would lead to the French Revolution. Written by an authority on 17th century Europe, Pierre Goubert not only outlines the life the famous "Sun King." but the millions of subjects under his rule, and the effects his choices had on the them. Praise for Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchman " . . . It is safe to recommend the work as the best book available on the subject for the educated layman."--Kirkus Reviews   "This masterful work . . . should serve a generation of student and general readers as the essential introduction to the France of Louis XIV."--The American Historical Review "In this field M. Goubert is a past master, and his subtle portrayal of the great social trends of the age deserves to be widely read."--Times Literary Supplement