Fénelon: The Mystic

François de Fénelon occupied one of the most dangerous positions in seventeenth-century France: spiritual advisor to Louis XIV's grandchildren, writing mystical theology in a court that prized political conformity above all else. This biography traces his journey from aristocratic prodigy to the most controversial mystic in Catholic Europe. Mudge reveals a man whose pursuit of divine intimacy brought him into conflict with the greatest preacher of the age, Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, and ultimately cost him his place at Versailles. The book examines Fénelon's theological disputes, his relationships with Bossuet and Madame de Maintenon, and the spiritual writings that scandalized a kingdom while inspiring generations of mystics. This early twentieth-century account remains valuable for anyone interested in the hidden spiritual currents beneath the glittering surface of Louis XIV's court.