Louis XV: The Monarchy in Decline by G. P. Gooch (review)

254 THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW Thisistheother side ofthepicture, andonenecessary toprovide thebalance --for,likehimornot,accept orreject hisviews, Toynbee hasaroused thought, provoked discussion abouthistory, aboutits natureandmeaning, aboutthe patternsand valuesof civilization, aboutthe futureof nationsand cultures ashasno otherhistorian, possibly nootherperson, in ourdayandage.For thisreason Mr. Montagu hasmadea valuable contribution to these great debates inbringing together thiscollection, which includes articles andessays almost inaccessible elsewhere. Thepicture of Toynbee's influence wouldhave beenpresented in betterfocushad moreof the favourable reviews beenineluded , since Toynbee is,indeed, a "portent of ourtimes," andto understand hisimpact weshould haveasmuch ofthepicture aspossible. Nonetheless we canonlybe gratefulthatin thiscollection we haveasmuchaswe have.All students of the course of ideasin ourtimeareherebyput in debtto Mr. Montagu. University of Toronto RICHARD M.SAUN•)ERS SHORTER NOTICES Louis XV: TheMonarchy in Decline. ByG. P. GoocH. London, NewYork, Toronto: Longroans, Green &Company. 1956. Pp.xiv, 285.$5.00. T•s biography of Louis XV isthemost recent fruitof a career ofmorethan ordinary scholarly productivity. It isapendant topreviously published studies ofeighteenth-century monarchs, butincontrast toFrederick II, Maria Theresa, and Catherine II, Louis XVwas aroyal misfit. Heisnot avery satisfactory subject fora formal biography. Like theking ofchess heistheobject of the game but others make the interesting moves. Weget afewglimpses of Louis atease ininformal private parties, and there isone interesting chapter relating theking's efforts atsecret diplomacy, theone field, apparently, in whichhe exerted himself asa ruler.The resultwasconfusion at homeand abroad, ending in thetotalfailure of Louis' ill-considered schemes. Thewhole episode would have been unthinkable inthe reign ofhis predecessor. Because Louis XV's interests were so largely concentrated inhunting, cards, and women, many oftheimportant aspects ofFrench lifescarcely enter his story.As Gooch pointsout,the intellectual fermentthat madeParisa centre forEurope might iust as well have taken place onanother planet so farasit concerned theking. Yetif thethird Bourbon king was aself-centred dilettante, this itself isanimportant fact. "The ancien rdgime was doomed tocollapse, not bythepenofthephilosophes, who merely encouraged their readers tothink forthemselves, butbytheobstinate refusal ofthecrown and theprivileged classes tosanction themoderate changes thatwould have averted anocean of blood and tears." Gooch has notmade anewinterpretation ofthereign ofLouis XV,buthe has redrawn the picture with asure hand. Atatime when there isatendency toromanticize theOldRegime, this reminder ofitsfailure issalutary. Thebook hasnofootnotes, butthereareuseful bibliographical notes printed attheendofeach chapter. WALTER BALDERSTON University ofWestern Ontario ...