2 unequal parts

200 pretty tough first pages: the rise of Fouquet, the game client, with many details and too many proper names for characters than secondary; with mostly stodgy and lacking education explanations on the functioning of finance and taxation of the time. (Small arrow: p128 JC Petitfils Servien Abel brought to the French Academy in 1634 when it was founded by Richelieu in 1635)
A second undeniably exciting and brilliantly told party begins with Colbert's offensive until the fall and death of the superintendent.