Memoirs of a dwarf at the Sun King's court

the long version

"Set in the over-scaled, decadent Versailles of Louis XIV, Memoirs of a Dwarf is the story of Hugues, an impoverished dwarf who maneuvers his way up into the very highest of court circles by clandestinely serving the needs of a mob of unscrupulous gamblers, of a priest notorious for saying black Masses at midnight, and - from under the gaming tables - of a number of sex-starved society women, including Louis's mistress. Along the way, Hugues finally discovers the truth of his own identity - a revelation that is a political bombshell and that subjects him to a grisly turn." "The story combines historical events and characters - Louis, his mistresses, his outrageous brother Philippe, and many other baroque personalities - with fictitious ones. Hugues's tale reaches its climax during the famous affaire des poisons, the sexual and political scandal that thundered through the royal court and threatened wholesale destruction."--BOOK JACKET.