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The Confessions Of Catherine De Medici (2010)

by C.W. Gortner(Favorite Author)

3.93 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0345501861 (ISBN13: 9780345501868)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Ballantine Books

review 1: I liked this book very much. Gortner is sympathetic to the struggles of Catherine. Catherine has been vilified by many contemporaries particularly the Huguenots. Although she was devious in her dealing with other monarchs, she was a faithful wife and a devoted mother. I disagree with Gortner when he relates that Catherine has an affair with Coligny. Catherine was more interested in saving the Valois dynasty than in engaging in lustful intrigues with the leader of the Huguenot cause. I read this book at the same time that I was reading "Madame Catherine" by Irene Mahoney. I did this to make sure that Gortner was accurate in describing the events in Catherine's life. Cortner list this book in his bibliography. For the most part, Gortner's portrayal of the events in 16th cent... moreury France was accurate. I am looking forward to reading his book about Juana, the last queen of Spain.
review 2: This might be my favorite work of historical fiction to date... As Cortner says, Catherine was a complex woman living in a complex time. More than that, she is portrayed here as a fierce mother, with an eye for the future, and an inextinguishable source of energy and courage. This is one of those books that you finish, sit back, and simply savor. There haven't been many characters that my heart truly broke over, but Catherine is one of them. Over and over again fate seemed to mock her, she lost so many children, she was never given the opportunity to find lasting love, and the dynasty she fought so hard to keep together crumbled over and over again. I suppose the up-beat note in all of that was that she had the satisfaction of knowing France was in good hands at the very end of her life. It seems a paltry gift though for a woman that gave so much of herself in its pursuit. There's probably more that could be added to this, but I need more time to think it over. From start to finish though, this is a wonderful book that will stay in my collection forever. less

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