An intriguing study of a royal love triangle captures the complex relationships that existed between King Henri II of France, his wife Catherine de Medici, and his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, examining the impact of the love story on the history of Renaissance France. 75,000 first printing.
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One scene sums up a major shortcoming of this otherwise impressive account of the life and times of King Henri II of France: Henri's queen, Catherine de' Medici is peering through a hole in the floor of her palace bedroom to watch her husband make love to his mistress, and Princess Michael writes, "A knife must have pierced fat little Catherine's heart." This is one of dozens of often cruel references to the physical attributes of Catherine and others at court. Fortunately, the author devotes more energy to creating a compelling image of Henri's mistress, Diane de Poitiers, 18 years his senior, who emerges as a fascinating character. Princess Michael is descended from both Diane and Catherine, but her sympathies appear to lie with Diane. Catherine is generally described as jealous, scheming and vindictive, while Diane is beautiful and well bred. Yet, as Princess Michael shows, Catherine was a quiet, dutiful wife who endured the indignity of his infidelity. Still, the author's comprehensive research ensures that readers will get a solid picture of the three main players and the complex negotiations required by life at court. 70 b&w and 16 pages color illus.
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Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00108782989
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00084684178
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Seller Inventory # 0743251040-2-19973185
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hardcover. Condition: Fair. Seller Inventory # 0743251040-4-34885829
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Condition: good. Fast Free Shipping â" Good condition. It may show normal signs of use, such as light writing, highlighting, or library markings, but all pages are intact and the book is fully readable. A solid, complete copy that's ready to enjoy. Seller Inventory # GWV.0743251040.G
Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Henri was bartered in marriage to Catherine de Medici, an unattractive commoner and despised foreigner who stood miserable by as Henri became Dauphin and later King, all the while growing more devoted to his famously beautiful mistress. Together Henri and Diane ruled France as one, their intertwined monograms appearing on everything from official proclamations to palace doorknobs. Only Henri's accidental death at the age of forty-tow ended his love for Diane - and Catherine's all consuming envy of her rival. Princess Michael of Kent, herself a descendent of both Catherine and Diane, imbues this seldom-told story with exquisite detail and an insiders grasp of royal politics. THE SERPENT AND THE MOON is a fascinating love story as well as a richly woven history of an extraordinary time. Seller Inventory # CIN0743251040VG
Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Henri was bartered in marriage to Catherine de Medici, an unattractive commoner and despised foreigner who stood miserable by as Henri became Dauphin and later King, all the while growing more devoted to his famously beautiful mistress. Together Henri and Diane ruled France as one, their intertwined monograms appearing on everything from official proclamations to palace doorknobs. Only Henri's accidental death at the age of forty-tow ended his love for Diane - and Catherine's all consuming envy of her rival. Princess Michael of Kent, herself a descendent of both Catherine and Diane, imbues this seldom-told story with exquisite detail and an insiders grasp of royal politics. THE SERPENT AND THE MOON is a fascinating love story as well as a richly woven history of an extraordinary time. Seller Inventory # CIN0743251040G
Seller: Once Upon A Time Books, Siloam Springs, AR, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear . This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear . Seller Inventory # mon0003543532
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0743251040I4N01