If, like me, you'd heard of Cardinal Richelieu but didn't know anything about him, then this is the book to bridge that gap. Wedgwood's modest volume covers Richelieu's formative years, then discusses at length the Cardinal's grand design to strengthen the French monarchy (no easy feat with the well-meaning but rather weak Louis XIII), unite the squabbling dukedoms into something resembling a French nation state, to build a formidable navy and to keep France's enemies - Spain and Austria - in check. Richelieu was largely successful, using threats or cajolery where necessary and playing France's enemies, both within and without, off each other. The man had his faults: his understanding of finance was shaky and his involvement in French colonies rash; but at the time of the Cardinal's death, France had become the greatest power in Europe, both miltarily and culturally and he had created a legacy that lasted for over a century. The author's narrative is both lucid and crisp and her treatment of the subject is admirably balanced. ( )