Book 98: The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C. W. Gortner
Book 98: The Confessions of Catherine de Medici.
Author: C. W. Gortner, 2010,
Genre: Historical Fiction. France 16th Century. Religious Wars.
Other Details: Paperback. 416 pages.
At the age of fourteen, Catherine de Medici, last legitimate descendant of the Medici blood, finds herself betrothed to the King Francois I’s son, Henri. Sent from her native Florence to France, humiliated and overshadowed by her husband’s life-long devotion to his mistress, when tragedy strikes her family Catherine rises from obscurity to become one of 16th century Europe’s most powerful women.
Patroness of Nostradamus and a seer in her own right, accused of witchcraft and murder by her foes, Catherine fights to save France and her children from savage religious conflict, unaware that her own fate looms before her-a fate that will demand the sacrifice of her ideals, reputation, and the passion of her own embattled heart . . . . From the splendors of the Loire palaces to the blood-soaked battles of the Wars of Religion and haunted halls of the Louvre, this is the story of Catherine’s dramatic life, told by the queen herself. - synopsis from author's website.
Another superb fictional autobiography by C. W. Gortner. I am in awe of his ability to work with primary and secondary sources and then distil from them a powerful, moving account of one of history's most controversial figures.
I studied the French Wars of Religion as part of a course on the Renaissance and so was somewhat familiar with the major players and events of this period. Gortner does provide enough background to cater to those without this type of foundation. I felt that this novel added to my understanding as well as being a highly engaging work of historical fiction. Gortner also provides a short bibliography for those wishing to learn more about this turbulent period of European history.
Historical fiction at its best. I was deeply impressed and I'll be shelving this novel alongside some of my academic works on the period as well as keeping an eye out for future works by Gortner as I have now read all of his works to date.