Customer Reviews

The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Catherine de Medici learned the ugly realities of power politics, Renaissance style, while she was still a child. When her family is deposed from power in Florence, Catherine is first imprisoned in the city's convents, and then is denied the chance to return to govern the city of her birth. Instead, her uncle, Pope Clement, sends her to France as the reluctant bride of an equally-reluctant Henri, duke of Orleans, the second son of the king of France, Francois I. This novel follows her life from her first encounter with the astrologer who helps her understand her destiny and helps her shape it, Cosimo Ruggieri, to their final days as allies at the French court, which Catherine now rules as Regent and mother of the king.

Kalogridis tackles the most controversial aspects of Catherine's character head-on. Catherine is an unusual girl, to say the least; she is far more interested in astrology (along with philosophy and mathematics) than in the more orthodox subject of religion. Ironically, religious conflict comes to dominate her life, as the clashes between France's Catholic majority and the Huguenots become increasingly grave. While Kalogridis does a good job in tackling the complexities of the looming religious wars and the power politics of the era, she devotes a lot more time to exploring Catherine's controversial relationship with Ruggieri. Catherine may love only her husband (who, in turn, has eyes only for his much-older mistress, Diane de Poitiers) but her strongest and longest-lived relationship, in Kalogridis's view, is with Ruggieri. In her cause, he indulges in some pretty nasty stuff -- with Catherine's tacit acquiescence. (No spoilers here, but there's a lot of explicit sorcery aimed at consolidating Catherine's power.)

To Catherine, it has been clear since childhood that the ends, however bloody, justify the means. (She seems to learn this lesson rather rapidly, in Kalogridis's narrative.) The author does a solid job of portraying hte impact of a long series of abandonments, betrayals and losses on Catherine; even when I recoiled at some of Catherine's actions, I could understand her motivation. The reason I couldn't give this book five stars (and came close to rating it 3.5 instead of 4 stars) is the degree to which the author's need for drama sometimes damages both plot and character. Sometimes, the pace of the narrative is so rapid that Catherine's emotions never felt convincing. Characters disappear abruptly, never to reappear, or to reappear only in abrupt or implausible ways. Sometimes, the author's hand is pulling her characters' strings too visibly. One particular problem I had was with Catherine's love for her husband. While the roots of this are laid out early in the plot, never really felt convincing to me -- it was presented for me to accept. Lust or passion, sure; but love? It was also hard for me to see Catherine, as a strong and independent character, being as apparently vulnerable to the plotting of those nearest and dearest to her late into her life. Could she really have seen herself, as Kalogridis portrays her viewing herself, as being "drawn and tortured and dazed by guilt" after some of the apocalyptic violence in the final chapters? It's unclear to me whether this was Catherine being disingenuous, or whether the author really believed she felt this way.

At its best, this is a nuanced and intriguing portrayal of one of the 16th century's most controversial and intriguing rulers; and the book is at its best about 2/3 of the time. That makes it worth reading for anyone interested in a dramatic, fast-paced historical novel. While not a revisionist history of Catherine -- she never emerges as someone that you'd enjoy having a cosy chat with -- it does make her appear more human and shows clearly what factors turned her into the ferociously determined monarch that she became. In this novel, Kalogridis has thankfully dialed down the over-the-top and occasionally irrelevant explicit sex scenes that distracted me from the plot of her novel about the Borgias; there's more sex than romance here, but it all fits into the plot in this case.

This will appeal to historical fiction readers who value both lively, fast-paced reads and historical accuracy -- a rare combination. It's also a pleasant change to read a novel that isn't set in the Tudor or Plantagenet courts! (It's still manageable for readers without any knowledge of the period; those familiar with Mary, Queen of Scots, will find her cameo appearance and Catherine's perception of her to be intriguing.) But anyone looking for historical romance should steer clear; Catherine has little charm or beauty, few feminine wiles and resorts instead to Machiavellian stratagems and a bit of sorcery on the side.

Those interested in Catherine can also turn to a less-sympathetic and more prosaic trilogy by Jean Plaidy, beginning with Madame Serpent. Personally, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for another novel featuring Catherine due out early next year by C.W. Gortner, author of The Last Queen: A Novel, a writer with a knack for turning historical lives into pulse-pounding fiction without descending quite as far into melodrama as Kalogridis sometimes does.

(Note to the editors: it would be great if someone could clear up the errors in the French phrases. They aren't over used and are always appropriate -- but "ma fils"? Argh...)

Review of the CD: Jeanne Kalogridis' novel of Catherine de Medici, "The Devil's Queen," is skillfully read by Kate Reading in this five disc collection. In Reading's capable hands, the story of Catherine becomes a compelling one. Kalogridis' historical novel, which at times borders on melodramatic, allows the often vilified French queen to tell her own story. And quite a story it is.

Catherine is famous as the wife of one French king and the mother of three others; she is infamous as the architect of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of French Protestants. And history has further condemned her close relationship with the astrologer Cosimo Ruggieri.

Was Catherine an evil queen of epic proportions? Kalogridis attempts to purchase a little compassion for Catherine by explaining her tumultuous background and her compelling mission to both protect her husband and to ensure the continuation of his line. Surely she was a strong queen who faced adversity - whether in the form of revolting French Protestants or her husband's much beloved mistress, Diane de Poitiers - with courage and élan.
Did she rule through witchcraft? The French people seemed to think so, and Kalogridis shows her making her deal with the devil.

The novel itself is dramatic and fast paced; Reading's presentation is compelling. But it is not a happy story; not only is Catherine not a sympathetic figure, but also the novel itself can be rather graphic and heavy handed.

Three and a half stars: It will appeal to many listeners but is too melodramatic for serious readers and not romantic/sympathetic enough for those looking for a good historical romance.

History can be dry and uninspiring, but Kalogridis infuses Catherine de Medici's life from 1527-1572 with the unique characteristics of a Medici and the unfolding events of history, the melding of politics and superstition. Although it is impossible to include all the nuances of these turbulent years, the author focuses on Catherine's life from her imprisonment in Florence to her regency in France and the gruesome St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572. At eight, Catherine witnesses her dreams demolished, her future in Florence traded in an expert move by her uncle, Pope Clement VII, that delivers her to the French court of Francis I and marriage to Henri, the Duke d' Orleans. Having cut her teeth on political intrigue during her years of incarceration, Catherine is an astute observer of the changing tide of history and the machinations of the powerful. Yielding her future to Clement's designs is the first of many painful betrayals Catherine will face.

Catherine is not of a religious temperament, attracted rather to the study of astrology and the casting of spells. Through a long association with Cosimo Ruggieri, Catherine calls upon the dark arts to control the bloody fate that fills her dreams, hoping to snare the forces of evil in her favor. Arriving at the French court, Catherine is welcomed by her father-in-law, Francis I, and eventually the affections of her own husband, Henri (Henry II). A childless marriage does little to calm her fears, but Kalogridis interprets Catherine as a resourceful character, a Medici whose life is in mortal danger in her own country, the tenuous nature of her claim as Henri's barren wife and her increasing dependence on magic to quell her nightmares. Determined, Catherine seduces Henri from the arms of his mistress, bearing him sons after ten years. Her real nightmare begins with the reigns of her sons, Francis II, Charles IX, deeply flawed men. And as life delivers each new blow, she counters, taking whatever action will secure her safety, even the death of innocents.

Religious wars plague France, Catholics vs. Huguenots, violence escalating throughout the country, Catherine at the center, cajoling, plotting, humiliating herself when necessary, calling upon the dark arts. The hubris of those who would war in the name of God is matched only by the misdirected hubris of a regent queen who would harness evil in the pursuit of protection of the throne. The author's beleaguered protagonist is riddled with nightmares and false interpretations of what she has dreamed, a prisoner of the terrors she seeks to avert. Facing overwhelming odds, Catherine's dependence on the stars cannot save her from the most painful betrayal yet to be endured. The Devil's Queen is a rich tapestry, pitting the passions of zealots against an astute regent queen beset by betrayals and disappointments, the ultimate clash in Paris and the charnel of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572,Catherine only victim, never ruler of her fate. Luan Gaines/2009.

I understand that the writer tried to make de Medici a more sympathetic character than how she is usually protrayed. However, this does not mean that she should completely rewrite history. Her portray of Catherine and Henri's relationship goes against anything every written about it. During her marriage to Henri, he was in love with Diane de Poitier and never paid any attention to Catherine except to have heirs. This can be seen in how he adorned all his residences with their combined initials and the depiction of Diane as the goddess of the hunt in almost all his chateaux. In this novel, Henri and Catherine's relationship is almost loving. The writer completely ignores two of their children, Claude the Duchess of Lorraine and Francis the Duke of Anjou. This is more of a romance novel than a novel about history.

I don't listen to audio books. This one I couldn't get in book form, but I was dying to read it, so I figured "OK, I will play it on my commute to work" I wanted to keep driving just to listen to more of the story!

The Dark Queen is all about Catherine De Medici. It begins the tale when she is just a child. Instead of seeing Catherine (or Catarina as she is called early on) as an evil woman who is obsessed with witchcraft and murder, we get to know her as a young girl, then a woman with a passionate nature and a gift for ruling. We get to follow Catherine through her childhood, her marriage and her children. Most interesting of all is her relationship with her alchemist and their dark secrets together.

The story is engaging, and the voice of the woman reading is enthralling! I found myself transported from the monotony of my daily commute into a world of intrigue and palace drama and corruption.

Though some of it is more fantastical and obviously fictionalized, the basis in reality is strong enough to keep the story grounded. This is not a historical romance. Instead, it is a portrait of a woman referred to as "the Devil's Queen" who managed to rule a country and slaughter thousands of innocents in one bloody night. We get to know Catherine like an intimate friend, which is a rare picture no one has really seen.

I loved this audio book, and it has inspired me to buy more. I would listen to this book again and again. Don't bother buying the book format, instead, give the audio book a try. Listen to it at home before bedtime, or listen to it while you drive to work. This book made my daily commute something I looked forward to every day!

The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici, is the story of Catherine de Medici--as told from her point of view. The novel opens in 1527 on the eve of major rebellion in Florence, when Catherine is eight years old, and continues through the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre and beyond. From an early age, Catherine becomes deeply involved in magic, becoming friends with the astrologer Cosimo Ruggieri, even as she struggles to protect her husband and children and keep the Valois family on the throne of France. In addition, Catherine is haunted by strange, blood-filled dreams.

I really enjoyed the story of this novel. Character development is strong, though the narration the author uses for Catherine at the age of eight sounds strangely adult-like. I enjoyed watching the interplay between Catherine and Ruggieri. Catherine's reputation was tarnished by a lot of factors, but she actually comes across quite well in this book, as a strong woman who would do anything for her family--even though the Valois family were tainted by death. It was interesting to me to see how strong Catherine's influence was, even after the death of King Henri--even as Queen Mother, people still called her Madame la Reine. It would have been interesting, however, to have seen what Catherine's true feelings were for Diane de Poitiers--in the novel, Catherine feels a lot of ambivalence towards Henri's longtime mistress. And absolutely no mention is made of Catherine's role as a patroness of the arts. The author also gets a couple of biographical details wrong--in the book, she says that Henri II's birthday is March 13th and that his Sun sign is Aries (which is incorrect; March 13 falls under the sign of Pisces). However, Henri's birthdate was really March 31. Typo, perhaps? A minor detail, but it made me wonder how much else the author might have gotten wrong.

Kalogridis's strength is description, though she does have a habit of describing over and over again how tall Henri was, and how short Catherine was. And the narration does jump around a lot, using the "years passed..." device. And there are a couple of--how shall I say--graphic scenes in the novel, which might not appeal to some. But otherwise, I enjoyed this novel--though a better one about the period is CW Gortner's The Last Queen (incidentally, he's also writing a version of Catherine's story, for publication next year).

There is no spark at all in this version of Catherine de Medici. Throughout the entire book Catherine comes across as nothing but worry, worry, worry and it becomes repetitive quickly. Surely a woman who has come down through history with such a reputation, a character that we're still reading about, must have had some charisma and must of enjoyed at least some part of her life. I understand that the facts are the facts, but as a reader it would be more fun to see the sides of her that weren't just about depression, worry and sadness. It's actually not a bad read, just a drab and dreary portrayal of an interesting historical character.

As a lover of history and those who people it, I note that the book is wonderfully researched and yet, great license is taken with the history, all of which is why we call it historical "fiction." For genuine autobiographies, seek non-fiction. However, there is stuff in here so intricate and convoluted that it could only be true: such as the political shenanigans leading up to the St. Bartholomew's Massacre.

As a Witch myself, I observe that the magical aspects of this book were extremely well researched and well written: the dark magical material and astrology were magnificently treated.

The characters are vivid and finally, Catherine de Medici emerges as a three-dimensional human being, instead of the positively one-dimensional creature that we usually see her as. I feel as though I have finally "met" this woman and understand the times in which she lives.

I would have to say that Kalogrides does for the Italian/French connection what Weir and Gregory do for Tudor England.

All this having been said, the first 3/4's of the book are highly readable. The last quarter of the book, however, reads like a history lesson with a smattering of "character," by now all too predictable. I got a little tired of the "pools of blood," yadda yadda yadda. The history is, in and of itself, as convoluted as the "Who has the Death Wand?" aspect of HARRY POTTER, but the saving grace is that the history here is TRUE. I just wish that the last few chapters were more readable.

All in all: a wonderful read and a great slice of fascinating history to become immersed in. If you don't know a thing about Catherine, her life, and her times, then this is going to be fascinating stuff.

I have always had a fascination for he Medici and Borgia Families. I never thought that much had been written about them - especially about the Medicis - until recently when I discovered "The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine DeMedici by Jeanne Kalogridis from Amazon that is available in hard back and an excellent audio CD version.

By all acounts, Catherine DeMedici was in fact a true Renaissance woman. Her interests led her to study astrology, as well as mathematics & philosophy; subjects that were by and large beyond the purvue The rumors have always been rampant that she practices the darker side of magical arts. This book accentuates her relationship with the magician Cosima Ruggieri - her alter ego in a way. A strange but serious relationship (platonic). Catherine lived in a world where young women were brought up reared in convents, then at a marriageable age of 12, these child brides are sent to be further raised (inculcated more likely) by their 'husband's family. Girls especially were little more than pawns, some, such as Catherine, were afforded the luxuries of an education and were married to extend their families power base and prestige. Catherine was mother-in-law to Mary Queen of Scots but she was also the architect of the very bloody massacre on St. Bartholomew's Day. Catherine was a living dichotomy. Throughout her marriage to King Henri, Catherine was overshadowed by Diane de Poitiers, the beautiful, sparkly Courtesan with whom Henri lived for most of his life. Despite this obvious slur, Catherine became very enamored of husband and King.

I found Ms. Kalogridis' book to be exceedingly well researched & a delight to those of us who thoroughly enjoy a fast paced, well written, largely historically accurate book that depicts the life of this often villified Queen who was, most likely, a very unusual stateswoman of her time who surely had learned at an early age that that the end can, generally, justify the means. This is not a flowery romantic book but is a highy readable, thoroughly engrossing read tale of one of the most powerful, brilliant Queens of the Renaissance era! Well done Ms. Kalogridis!

Jeanne Kalogridis is a bestselling author of historical fiction, science fiction and horror. Her published works include numerous novels and movie novelizations, a prequel trilogy to Bram Stoker's DRACULA, and many of the Star Trek stories and movies that people have come to know and love. In her newest historical fiction release, THE DEVIL'S QUEEN, Kalogridis once again proves herself to be an accomplished writer who knows how to keep readers enthralled.

THE DEVIL'S QUEEN is the story of Catherine de Medici: daughter to the ruler of the Florentine Republic, heiress at birth to the Medici fortune, Queen of France for over a decade, and mother to the last three Valois kings. An intellectual and a schemer, Catherine was naturally suited to rule and became a highly adept governor. Yet her tendency was always to protect her family and their power, and Catherine was not afraid to act against any potential threats. Queen Catherine has been named one of the most brutal rulers in French history and an instigator of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, in which tens of thousands were slaughtered in a single day.

Catherine's life was not an easy one. It was said that her stars were marred before she was born, as she would spend many long years tormented. After being imprisoned for three years by rebel insurgents, Catherine was wed at the tender age of 14 to Henry, Duke of Orleans, later King Henry II. Theirs was an arranged marriage, designed to unify Italy and France. Henry greatly resented the marriage and had already given his heart to the stunning and devious Diane de Poitiers. Even while Catherine was overlooked and spurned by Henry, her love for him was unwavering and blinding. She lived in torment from his betrayals, yet would welcome any advances he gave.

With the death of Henry's brother, Francois, Catherine found her marriage at risk of annulment, unable to produce the heirs who would secure her status. She began to despair and was determined to stop at nothing to get Henry's love and produce his heirs. So it was that she enlisted the help of a strange astrologer, Cosimo Ruggieri, and made a terrible decision that would later haunt her: to change their fates using the occult. The two of them committed unspeakable acts, "all for love." Catherine then bore Henry many children, but his illicit relationships didn't stop. Their destinies had been altered, but only for a time, and fate proved inescapable in the end. Henry was murdered, suffering terribly, and tragedy would strike again and again.

The Valois reign was a troubled time. It was the age of the French Wars of Religion, when French Protestants (Huguenots) were gaining greater power and prestige but the atmosphere was still intolerant of them, and violently so. The dominant Roman Catholics condemned them, and war threatened to engulf France. Catherine was no stranger to war, having survived capture and imprisonment by rebel insurgents as a child, but the conflict brewing across France had become more violent than any she had experienced before and would raise fears of an impending coup d'etat.

THE DEVIL'S QUEEN puts a human face on one of the most notorious rulers of France. The story of Catherine de Medici and her role in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre is one of the more captivating tales in history. Readers will really appreciate the wonderfully descriptive quality of Kalogridis's writing, the novel diving right into the political maneuvering of the royals and the lavish excess of the French court. Elements of superstition and the arcane add intrigue and fascination, as do the disturbing social customs of the era. The history here is authentic, and the main characters and plot points are genuine. The book proves exceptionally interesting and is a largely accurate portrayal of Catherine de Medici and her role in the massacre.

--- Reviewed by Melanie Smith