The first half of the 17th century - the era of Richelieu and Louis XIII, nicknamed the Just - was difficult in the history of France: conspiracies of nobles and revolts of the Huguenots, peasant uprisings and participation in the Thirty Years' War, shortages and epidemics... And yet, as in any another era, people worked, had fun, got married, gave birth to children, in a word, lived their ordinary, everyday lives. The book presents a broad panorama of the life of the French at that time - from peasants and artisans to royal officials, courtiers and musketeers. The reader will find out what was in fashion at court, what the king dined on, how they fought the plague, what saints they prayed to, what they studied at the university, what taxes they paid; will visit a theatrical performance and the siege of La Rochelle, the Bastille and the Cardinal's palace.