Jeanne Poisson the headstrong ambitious witty and erudite catches the eye and heart of French King Louis XV at a costumed ball She masters the art of seduction well enough to become accepted even by the Queen corpulent mother of ten As a sensibly chosen Royal favorite mistress she is soon ennobled Marquise of Pompadour to facilitate her introduction at court The immature dauphin crown prince proves a bitter and unrelenting enemy joined by his imposed Saxon bride and his sister at her deathbed Although friends at court help Pompadour return her health gives way
