The True History of the State Prisoner, Commonly Called the Iron Mask by Baron Dover investigates one of the most enduring mysteries of the reign of Louis XIV. Drawing on documents from the French archives, the author attempts to identify the masked prisoner whose secret captivity has fascinated readers since Voltaire and Dumas.
The book sifts evidence and legend to reconstruct the history of the prisoner held by order of the Sun King, illuminating the secret apparatus of the absolute monarchy. It is a careful study of a famous historical enigma rooted in the politics of the Bourbon court. This free EPUB download presents the complete documentary account.