Queen Margot or Marguerite De Valois (Miramax Book) [Paperback]

Alexandre Dumas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1994 | Series: Miramax Book

Released to coincide with the new Miramac film starring Isabelle Adjani, this is the classic novel unavailable for over 25 years. Massacres, conspiracies, clandestine trysts, secret alliances, daring escapes, sumptuous feasts, and duels of wit propel the action in this delightful story of French royalty during the 16th century. Advertising with movie.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This historical novel relates the stirring adventures, conspiracies, and feasts prev-alent during the last years of Charles IX's reign in the latter part of the 16th century. The marriage of Marguerite de Valois, sister of King Charles IX, to Henri de Bourbon, King of Navarre, triggers the mostly riotous events of this story. She was Catholic, he was Protestant, and their weddeing took place during the religious wars in France between the Catholics and the Huguenots. This marriage, which astonished everybody, intensified an already burning power struggle between two clans within King Charles's family. The same cult of passion and energy that marks Dumas's The Three Musketeers and other novels also vividly characterizes Queen Margot. This English edition coincides with the release of the French movie version this fall. Highly recommended for most libraries.
Ali Houissa, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

From Dumas pŠre, master of such French historical ripsnorters as The Three Musketeers, comes a tale of 16th-century France. Neither the best nor the worst of times, it was a period of religious wars, in this case between Catholics and Huguenots. The central figure is Marguerite de Valois, the daughter of Catherine de M‚dicis. Marguerite married the Huguenot Henry of Navarre, who became King Henry IV after he converted to Catholicism. What's to say? This is a novel about French royalty, so it has a lot of political and erotic intrigue and a lot of food. The book's jacket and promotion will tie in to the Miramax film starring Isabelle Adjani in the title role. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 542 pages
• Publisher: Miramax; 1st edition (December 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786880821
• ISBN-13: 978-0786880829
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #323,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true classic, July 12, 2000

By 

"dzintars" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Queen Margot or Marguerite De Valois (Miramax Book) (Paperback)

Alexandre Dumas pere was a master of story telling. If he was still living today he would definitely write some of the most popular television series. This is how this novel reads, as a TV series, and this is also how it was written, since it was first released in 2 page instalements in 19th century french daily newspapers. Every page ends in some sort of dillema or with an item a suspense. There is never a boring moment. Of course, even if this book is based on actual historical events, it cannot be considered a true rendition of what really happened. Nevertheless, Dumas succeeds in making his characters so alive, that you feel you are living through the intrigues with them. You feel what they feel. A true masterpiece of literature, in any language; and by the way, the book is a thousand times better than the movie.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thi first in the Valois series, this book is vivid and alive, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Queen Margot or Marguerite De Valois (Miramax Book) (Paperback)

If you have read this book and if you loved it like I did, I highly recommend the rest of the series. The Forty-five guardsman and Chicot the Jester follow this book in the history of the reign and fall of the Valois. Chicot is an amazing character. I recommend trying to locate these books. The Diamond Necklace also is about the fallen Valois just before the french revolution

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The saddest book ever!, May 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Queen Margot or Marguerite De Valois (Miramax Book) (Paperback)

I certainly would have given this book a 10 if it had not been for the horribly depressing ending. But besides that, this is a wonderful book. It's got everything a book could contain packed into it : love, murder, suspense, humor, mystery, horror, and tragedy. I doubt Alexandre Dumas has ever written a happy ending in his life!