Title: The Bastard Prince Of Versailles
Author: Will Bashor
Series: The King’s Secret Children: Book #1
Publisher: Diderot Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
First Publication: 2023
Language: English
Book Summary: The Bastard Prince Of Versailles by Will Bashor
Being royalty is hard enough, but when your secrets could change your life…
Seventeenth-century France. Louis de Bourbon isn’t a real prince—even though his father is King Louis XIV.
The illegitimate son of the King and his mistress, Louise de La Vallière, young Louis has been kept far from the court’s eyes until summoned to bid adieu to his mother. To atone for her guilt, she joins a convent, abandoning Louis to an uncertain future. When Louis is humiliated by his father for his role in a secret society, he struggles to redeem himself through heroism and self-sacrifice on the battlefield in his father’s army.
Will Louis find a way to connect with his father amidst the prejudices of the time and the sexuality conflict he is grappling?
Book Review: The Bastard Prince Of Versailles by Will Bashor
Will Bashor’s historical fiction novel The Bastard Prince of Versailles provides a fascinating glimpse into late 17th century French court life through the eyes of its protagonist Louis de Bourbon. As the illegitimate son of King Louis XIV navigating Versailles’ treacherous political waters, Louis serves as a lens for exploring complex questions of identity, desire and belonging. Bashor deftly transports readers to the opulent yet constrained world of the Sun King’s court through meticulous research and vivid storytelling. While focusing on the very human journey of self-discovery undertaken by Louis, the novel also illuminates the rigid social hierarchies and repressive cultural attitudes of the period. Ultimately, Bashor’s work stands out not only as an engaging work of historical fiction but as a thoughtful examination of how individual identity is shaped by outside forces and societal expectations.
From the novel’s opening scenes depicting Louis’ idyllic childhood at the Château of Sceaux, Bashor establishes contrasting views of his protagonist that set the stage for his internal conflicts. To the Colbert family’s other sons like the brash Jules-Armand, Louis appears delicate and aloof from boyish pursuits. Meanwhile the royal visitors viewing Louis and his sister view them through the lens of their royal parentage, remarking on their “angelic, smiling faces.” Bashor hints at the disconnect between Louis’ inner world and outward perceptions that will shape his journey of self-discovery. When his mother Louise abruptly abandons her children to enter a convent, the rupture foreshadows Louis’ ongoing struggle to understand himself and find acceptance outside the rigid roles assigned to him by birth and status.
Sent to live with his libertine Uncle Monsieur at the Château of Saint-Cloud, Louis encounters figures who seek to impose their own views and desires upon his burgeoning sexuality and identity. The Chevalier de Lorraine’s predatory behavior epitomizes the corrupting influence of the court yet also sows seeds of confusion in Louis regarding his own nature. Bashor handles such sensitive topics with subtlety, avoiding sensationalism and allowing the period’s attitudes to speak for themselves. When Louis questions his sexuality after one of the Chevalier’s assaults, Bashor depicts the young man’s turmoil in a way that resonates as profoundly human across the centuries. Throughout these early experiences, Bashor establishes Louis’ yearning for stability and approval as he tries to reconcile his inner self with the expectations of his role and society.
After being summoned to Versailles by his father the king, Louis finds only further hardships as an outsider at the royal court. The petty prejudices of courtiers reinforce his sense of otherness despite his royal blood. Bashor imbues even minor characters with nuance to show how perceptions of Louis are as much a product of their own biases and self-interest as his true nature. When scandal erupts involving the Chevalier, Louis’ naivety and desperation for his father’s esteem lead to disastrous consequences. His public disgrace and exile represent the utter rupture of the fragile identity Louis had constructed for himself. Stripped of status and community, Louis must embark on his most difficult journey of rebirth.
It is to Bashor’s credit that the novel remains compelling even during Louis’ prolonged physical and emotional recovery away from court. By developing the character of Marcel who stands by Louis’ side, Bashor keeps the narrative focused on the internal transformations taking place. As Louis recovers physically from battle wounds, he also gradually heals from past traumas and rebuilds his sense of self-worth independent of external validation. Bashor suggests Louis achieves a new clarity and self-possession through his experiences, represented by his choice to return to the military proving ground of his own volition. The ambiguity surrounding Louis’ supposed death also leaves room for optimism that he may finally find acceptance and belonging on his own unconventional terms, outside the confines of Versailles and expectations of his birth.
One of the novel’s most notable achievements is Bashor’s nuanced exploration of how desire, sexuality and gender roles were perceived in 17th century French society. Rather than imposing modern views anachronistically, he allows the cultural attitudes of the time to emerge through subtle details and interactions. From the early scenes of Louis cross-dressing according to noble traditions, to the Chevalier’s predatory behavior coded as acceptable masculine pursuits, Bashor’s depictions ring true to historical records. Simultaneously, he treats each character, including Louis, with profound empathy and avoids moralizing judgments. Through his protagonist’s journey of self-acceptance, Bashor suggests that human nature transcends surface definitions and social conventions.
It is a testament to Bashor’s skill that he brings the opulent yet rigid world of Versailles so vividly to life without lapsing into superficial descriptions. Meticulous research is evident in atmospheric touches like fashions, architecture, military campaigns and even the elaborate royal pageantry and etiquette governing daily life. Historical figures are deftly woven into the narrative, never overshadowing Louis’ personal story. Bashor also uses his setting to explore deeper themes of social control and the capricious nature of power. The novel serves as a thoughtful commentary on how individual identity and fulfillment are constrained by the rigid hierarchies and orthodoxies of any age. Ultimately, Bashor’s The Bastard Prince of Versailles stands out not only as an entertaining historical drama but as a profound exploration of the human experience.
While maintaining scrupulous fidelity to historical fact, Bashor infuses his prose with lyricism, emotion and suspense that keeps readers fully immersed. He has an uncanny ability to breathe life into each character, whether major players or bit parts, so that their humanity and multidimensional nature shine through. From the vividly rendered scenes of Versailles’ opulence to the gritty realism of wartime trauma, Bashor’s descriptive mastery transports readers directly to the very setting he depicts. Most remarkably, he achieves this sense of immersive authenticity without sacrificing the compelling forward momentum of his plot and the deeply felt journey of his protagonist Louis. It is a testament to Bashor’s rare talents as a storyteller and historian that he can educate while entertaining and illuminate profound truths through specific human experiences.
For readers interested in history, society, psychology or simply great storytelling, The Bastard Prince of Versailles offers rich rewards on multiple levels. As a meticulously researched work of historical fiction, it provides an unparalleled glimpse into late 17th century French court life and culture. At the same time, through its focus on one man’s personal journey of self-discovery, it touches on universal human truths that resonate across eras. Most of all, it stands as a thoughtful exploration of how individual identity is shaped by outside forces yet ultimately found from within. In crafting such a multidimensional work, Will Bashor establishes himself as a talented historical novelist worthy of wider recognition for his unique ability to immerse readers in the past while illuminating timeless aspects of the human condition. The Bastard Prince of Versailles deserves to find its place among the finest works in its genre.
