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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
The history of a fascinating woman, her fascinating family, and a fascinating time.
informative
medium-paced
Some of this had me raise my eyebrows with interpretations, but overall this was a great book on Catherine de Medici. It felt like it focused more on her kids, but given that she was pulling the strings, she shines through in the end.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Not as salacious as I’d hoped, but provides an excellent overview of 16th century Europe. I mostly felt sorry for Catherine for the first third of the book— being a woman in this time period sound awful. Overall, this book paints Catherine de Medici as driven, clever, a little scary, and a devoted mother.
informative
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
Catherine de' Medici was born in 1519 in Florence. She was raised by family members, as both her parents died before she was a month old. She was from a very wealthy family, but not a terribly noble one. She was married to Henri, Duke of Orleans in 1530. Henri was not very interested in her as a wife, and openly took a mistress. They did manage to have several children, six of which survived infancy. Henri was absolutely in love with his mistress, but the did respect Catherine and her position. She was eventually crowned Queen Consort when Henri attained the throne. She survived her husband and several of her children. (Joan, Victoria, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henri III) Aside from that, she was a patron of the arts. She also was rumored to be very capable with poisons to eliminate her enemies, which is featured on the show Reign. She was accused of having ties to the occult, using witchcraft to conceive children and entertaining Nostradamus at her court. She was interested in astronomy and astrology, which added fuel to those rumors.
All I knew about Catherine before reading this book was what I saw on the television show Reign. I really wanted to read something that was a more historically accurate picture, and I happened to run across this book for .75! I really enjoyed learning about the actual woman behind the tv character. This book was an entertaining read, but full of facts as well. I enjoyed it.
All I knew about Catherine before reading this book was what I saw on the television show Reign. I really wanted to read something that was a more historically accurate picture, and I happened to run across this book for .75! I really enjoyed learning about the actual woman behind the tv character. This book was an entertaining read, but full of facts as well. I enjoyed it.
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
I read this book because I enjoyed the soundtrack for the Starz show, which seems like a silly reason to read a book, especially because I did not actually watch the Starz show and only listened to the soundtrack. But I also enjoy Italians so it seemed like a good move anyway.
Even though Catherine de Medici was born in Italian she was very French, and I have no love of anyone French except for Claude Monet. However, it was easy to read this book because her children were complete and utter train wrecks except for Margot. And this, I admit, was entertaining.
Also, one of the names of cities in this book sounds like "bleuaurgh" and it's hilarious. French is such a fake language.
One star has been removed because of France but four stars have been allowed to remain because this book was well written and her children were disasters.
Even though Catherine de Medici was born in Italian she was very French, and I have no love of anyone French except for Claude Monet. However, it was easy to read this book because her children were complete and utter train wrecks except for Margot. And this, I admit, was entertaining.
Also, one of the names of cities in this book sounds like "bleuaurgh" and it's hilarious. French is such a fake language.
One star has been removed because of France but four stars have been allowed to remain because this book was well written and her children were disasters.