A Tale of Two Murders - Passion and Power in Seventeenth Century France, by James R. Farrthe Philippe Giroux Affair, Duke University Press, 2005. A Murder Trial that Ensnarled Henri II Bourbon, Cardinal Richelieu, and King Louis XIII. A True Crime Story from Centuries ago.

A Tale of Two Murders - Passion and Power in Seventeenth Century France, by James R. Farrthe Philippe Giroux Affair, Duke University Press, 2005. A Murder Trial that Ensnarled Henri II Bourbon, Cardinal Richelieu, and King Louis XIII. A True Crime Story from Centuries ago. From the back cover write-up : “As scandalous as any modern-day celebrity murder trial, the ‘Giroux Affair’ was a maelstrom of intrigue, encompassing daggers, poison, adultery, arch-enemies, servants, royalty, and legal proceedings that reached the pinnacle of seventeenth-century French Society. In 1638 Philippe Giroux, a judge in the highest royal court of Burgundy, allegedly murdered his equally powerful cousin, Pierre Baillet, and Baillet’s valet, Philibert Neugot. The murders were all the more shocking because they were surrounded by accusations (particularly that Giroux had been carrying on a passionate affair with Baillet’s wife), conspiracy theories (including allegations that Giroux tried to poison his mother-in-law), and unexplained deaths (Giroux’s wife and her physician died under suspicious circumstances). The trial lasted from 1639 until 1643 and came to involve many of the most distinguished and influential men in France, among them the prince of Condé, Henri II Bourbon; the prime minister, Cardinal Richelieu; and King Louis XIII. Professor Farr reveals the Giroux affair not as a riveting murder mystery, but also as an illuminating point of entry into the dynamics of power, justice, and law in seventeenth - century France.” TITLE : A Tale of Two Murders - Passion and Power in Seventeenth Century France AUTHOR : James R. Farr (Professor of History at Purdue) IMPRINT : Duke University Press PLACE : Durham, NC DATE : 2005 EDITION : Not stated … Presumed First Paperback Edition (Issued simultaneously with the hardcover) PHYSICAL DETAILS : Academic paperback published for the trade. Contains a map and several black-and-white illustrations as well as a few halftone photographs; has a Preface, a List of Characters, Notes, an Epilogue, and an Index; xiv + 225 pages; approx. 6” x 9 1/4”; pictorial wraps, glued. CONDITION -- VERY GOOD -- This is a previously owned book which remains clean and attractive with near-negligible signs of handling (a soft impact to the fore-edge has cause a bit of just-discernible roughing to the top corners of a few pages which is not egregious) - else clean and presentable. Cover is bright, with no crease to spine; interior has no writing, marginalia or underlining.…