[dded]

Thanks. I might have to check out Bredin

(Proust, at 4k pages, is perhaps too long! :-) But I appreciate the recommendation. That split in society was emphasized by Tuchman, as I recall.)

[rodgerd]

Proust is shorter than "The War of the Roses, WITH DRAGONS!", and plenty of people have ploughed through that.

[pash]

It's not too long. :)