Part I. Powers
The "absolute" monarchy
War, wealth, and the great powers
The French Empire
Part II. The years of victories
The clash of empires through 1754
Escalation, 1755
World War, 1756
Killing fields, 1757
Part III. The years of defeats
Turning point, 1758
Rout, 1759
Conquest, 1760
Part IV. The long denouement
Peace or alliance? 1761
Last gambles, 1762 and 1763
Distant thunder.