McCullough examines the royal response to popular revolt, rebellion, and resistance under Louis XIV. In particular, the text explores the complexities authorities dealt with in deciding to use coercive force; Louis XIV's reliance on his standing army to maintain order within the kingdom; the significant difficulties encountered by intendants, governors and other local authorities as they tried to implement the Crown's coercive policies; and implications of this study for more familiar debates including the nature of French absolutism and the role of armed coercion in the process of 17th-century state formation. The author completed a doctoral degree in history at the U. of Illinois in 2005; he now works in defense policy analysis for a private firm in McLean, Virginia. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)