PDF The Rival Queens: Catherine de' Medici; Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois; and the Betrayal that Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful book...By eledavf VivianThe author writes in a lively fashion; always taking care to be understood by the reader. The historical characters are clearly delineated; sometimes in only a few well-chosen words; and among the many Henrys and Henries she is careful to distinguish one from another at all times; which most historians neglect to do. Her sardonic humor adds to the liveliness and the enjoyment of this history.This book gives an understanding of the rivalries among the French royal family; the Guise branch of the family; and the Navarre royal family; all of them contending bitterly either for the throne or to control the direction of the country particularly as to the struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism. Interestingly; the relationships among siblings in the French royal family itself were full of duplicity and jealousy. This history sets all of that out in far more detail than one perhaps ever encounters elsewhere. That is the great value of this book.Catherine de' Medici is usually depicted as meticulously and malevolently planning her every move; but here she is presented as tacking constantly to adapt to circumstances beyond her control; at first a survivor more than master of her fate. She became duplicitous from necessity rather than from enjoyment of double-dealing; but in the end she became a monster of duplicity.Particularly interesting is this author's contention that the young King Charles IX did indeed sanction the first; unsuccessful attempt upon Admiral Coligni's life but that he did not wish to order the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Heretofore I have always believed that he was not only implicated in that horror but was the chief culprit in collaboration with his mother; Catherine de' Medici. Yet this historian states that the massacre of thousands of Huguenots; though ordered by him; occurred only after many hours of unceasing insistence by his mother.Many of the details in this book are derived from Marguerite Queen of Navarre herself whose own writings provide so much of the substance and color. She reveals that she had never wanted to marry Henry of Navarre and that he much preferred his many lovers to her. This present biographer's view of the King of Navarre is exceedingly interesting. He is shown as a flawed human being and as a leader with many faults rather than as the peerless champion of Protestantism.I was totally surprised to learn the true story of Marguerite; so different from the version given in other history books where she is described in a paragraph or two as the center of a circle of cultivated ladies who created a society for poets and courtly lovers. This; in reality; was a relatively brief interlude in a tumultuous life; Marguerite's astonishing and often misguided existence was quite different. The turmoil and danger she suffered through is astonishing; and the fact that at last her own mother; Catherine de' Medici; wanted her to die for political reasons merely adds to the tragic dimensions of Marguerite's life as well as to the horrible reputation of her unnatural mother.The last quiet; happy years of Marguerite's life fill the reader with gratification. It is surprising and pleasing to learn that after a lifetime of storms and danger she was able to return to Paris; to the dignity she was born to. There she lived peacefully as an honored subject of a king; her former husband; who knew well how to show gratitude when it was richly deserved.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I'm so glad i found this book.By wandaI've studied this time period a lot over the years but this is the first book on this subject in a long time that was so easy to read and kept my interest so much so that I got blurry-eyed staying up all night reading this. I couldn't put it down.This historical period is difficult to follow because there is so many political and military changes in a relatively short amount of time. Plus; there are numerous powerful men women who gain the military advantage through cunning; military talent; diplomatic expertise or downright lying only to lose their advantage due to lack of finances; promoting the wrong leader; or various and many other happenstances.Margot was no dummy; she constantly suprised me how she came up with a new ally or tactic to survive and she overcame any and all the odds she was up against. When she got backed into a corner she'd quickly rally and find not just a simple lifeline but a powerful alliance that allowed her to trump her opponent~and she had many virtually invincible enemies mainly her mother; Catherine De Medici; and her brother Henry III of France.71 of 75 people found the following review helpful. Drops Reader Into Middle of 16th-Century French Court PoliticsBy Lynne E.What really sets THE RIVAL QUEENS apart; is the readability. Far too many historical biographers write plodding; strictly chronological narratives that leave out nary a discovered fact. Not so with biographer Nancy Goldstone! Her introduction drops the reader immediately into the middle of 16th-Century French politics; by describing the arranged marriage of Marguerite de Valois; a devout Catholic; to Henry de Bourbon; a Huguenot; and by hinting at the assassinations of many members of the wedding party that are only days away.This biography really explains--quite painlessly--how court politics worked in the 16th century. It brings home to the reader just how hard it was; even for those of royal status (e.g.; Queen of France Catherine de' Medici; Princess Marguerite de Valois) to maintain any semblance of power; or even to stay alive; amidst the constant espionage and intrigues of the French wars of religion. Even members of the royal family--brothers and sisters; parents and children--spied on and turned against one another on the basis of spies' reports; both true and false. Marguerite; in particular; suffered from a false report of her liaison with a courtier that ruined her reputation shortly after she left the royal nursery to attend the French court.Despite the importance of religion (Catholic or Protestant) to the devout rulers and populace of France; the 16th century French court was quite permissive about morality. Thus this dual biography entertains with accounts of various influential royal mistresses (e.g.; Diane de Poitiers). Dianne de Poitiers actually coached Catherine de' Medici to help her provide King Henry II with the requisite heirs. The biography also shows with clarity what it was like to be a female member of a ruling family; a woman whose only perceived value lay in her ability to be married off in an advantageous-to-the-family political union. Only the most extraordinary women; like Queen Catherine and Queen Marguerite; managed to escape that role and actually wield political power.This is a biography that makes you care about the characters; and about the unfolding nonfiction "plot". The writing is excellent; and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The fully-footnoted dual biography is supplemented by a useful map of France circa 1572; by a genealogical chart of the French royals; and by an excellent set of illustrations of paintings that depict the most important members of the French court; including the kings' mistresses.