The memoirs open with the author's birth and early military service, quickly turning to the inner workings of the court of Versailles at the close of the seventeenth century. The narrative details the complex hierarchies, the relentless struggle for precedence among the nobility, and the calculated elevation of the King's illegitimate children. Saint-Simon provides vivid portraits of the major players, including Louis XIV, his ministers, and the intricate web of courtiers who vied for royal favour.
A central thread of the text is the profound moral decay concealed beneath the glittering surface of the absolute monarchy. The author exposes the hypocrisy of figures like the Chief President Harlay and details the devastating impact of continuous wars on the French populace and treasury. Interwoven with political maneuvers are personal anecdotes, court scandals, and the rise and fall of prominent personalities, such as the disgraced minister Chamillart and the controversial churchman Fenelon.
The narrative follows the changing fortunes of the royal family, marked by unexpected deaths, dynastic anxieties, and the rigid etiquette enforced by the King and Madame de Maintenon. The shadow of the Dauphin's death and the subsequent intrigues surrounding the succession are laid bare with rigorous detail. Saint-Simon portrays the king not as a grand hero, but as a vain and isolated ruler manipulated by those closest to him.
The later volumes recount the final decline and death of Louis XIV, followed by the Regency of the Duke of Orleans. The author details his own political involvement during this transition, particularly his efforts to humiliate the legitimized princes and restore the ancient privileges of the peerage. The chaos of the financial system under Law and the diplomatic maneuvers involving Spain and Cardinal Alberoni are meticulously recorded.
The work concludes with the gradual retirement of the author from public life, the deaths of key political figures like Dubois, and the declining health and ultimate demise of the Regent. Throughout the sprawling narrative, the author maintains his uncompromising perspective, driven by a fierce loyalty to his class and a relentless desire to record the truth for posterity.
