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The Moneyman
Vivid and dramatic story of a great conspiracy and a great love, set in 15th century France. King Charles VII, Agnes Sorel - his mistress, Jaques Coeur - the king's moneyman - history's first great merchant prince.
434 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1947
9 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Thomas B. Costain
128 books186 followersCostain was born in Brantford, Ontario to John Herbert Costain and Mary Schultz. He attended high school there at the Brantford Collegiate Institute. Before graduating from high school he had written four novels, one of which was a 70,000 word romance about Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. These early novels were rejected by publishers.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 4, 2013
Although this is not my favorite of Costain's books, it is still a good read that will keep you turning the pages. Set during the 100 Years' War in France, it's the story of Jacques Couer, a merchant who becomes King Charles' Moneyman. Couer is a man ahead of his time, essentially modern. He exalts commerce over chivalry.
The focus of the story involves a major moral problem. Couer believes that in order to save France, he must help provide a successor to the king's dying mistress, Agnes Sorrel. By chance, he finds a poor young woman who looks remarkably like Agnes, and persuades her that by using her influence with the king in this way, she can be another Maid (i.e., St. Joan of Arc). Couer has no moral qualms about sacrificing Valerie's soul for the sake of the nation. The morality of the plan is not really questioned--only its necessity and practicality.
There is also a romantic (if I can use that term in this context) idealization of budding capitalism. This did not appeal to me in the least.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book. Valerie falls in love with a knight named Sire D'Arlay. He works to save her from her fate. At the same time, the aristocrats at court plan to bring down Jacques Couer. The intrigue and romantic complications are suspenseful and well written.
As in all Costain's books I have read, the main female character is seen from a 1950's man's viewpoint. For example, there are a few scenes where Valerie, although in danger for her life, is worried about the clothes she is wearing. In other words, she's a little shallow. But this flaw does not affect the whole book as Couer and Sire D'Arlay are the viewpoint characters.
The focus of the story involves a major moral problem. Couer believes that in order to save France, he must help provide a successor to the king's dying mistress, Agnes Sorrel. By chance, he finds a poor young woman who looks remarkably like Agnes, and persuades her that by using her influence with the king in this way, she can be another Maid (i.e., St. Joan of Arc). Couer has no moral qualms about sacrificing Valerie's soul for the sake of the nation. The morality of the plan is not really questioned--only its necessity and practicality.
There is also a romantic (if I can use that term in this context) idealization of budding capitalism. This did not appeal to me in the least.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book. Valerie falls in love with a knight named Sire D'Arlay. He works to save her from her fate. At the same time, the aristocrats at court plan to bring down Jacques Couer. The intrigue and romantic complications are suspenseful and well written.
As in all Costain's books I have read, the main female character is seen from a 1950's man's viewpoint. For example, there are a few scenes where Valerie, although in danger for her life, is worried about the clothes she is wearing. In other words, she's a little shallow. But this flaw does not affect the whole book as Couer and Sire D'Arlay are the viewpoint characters.
March 27, 2021
Not my favorite of Thomas B. Costain's novels, but a very enjoyable romp through historical France and the politics of the time. I enjoyed reading this book but would most likely not come back to it again.
August 1, 2018
Excellently written.
October 23, 2018
Enjoyable romp through 15th century France--I learned about Charles VII, Jacques Couer and Agnes Sorel, all fascinating people, fictionalized here but with the bones of their stories intact after almost 600 years.
May 3, 2020
59 years on my bookshelf & finally read. An engaging swashbuckler with a refreshingly clean plot and vocabulary!
October 30, 2020
Libro entretenido y movido, cuesta un poco iniciarlo pero con el tiempo te envuelve y no lo puedes soltar
May 2, 2022
A professor of mine would write, "Fine," on any paper he thought was good but nothing extraordinary to say. So I'll say, Fine.
October 1, 2014
I picked this up as a library discard. It was an interesting, old-fashioned novel, by one of the powerhouses of 50 or so years ago. The story involved the 16th century court of Charles VII of France and his treasurer, or 'moneyman'. The moneyman, Jacques Coeur, had risen from being a furrier to an important, rich merchant, with a fleet of ships. His shops sold many kinds of items, department stores, if you will. The story involves a conspiracy, an evil count and countess who successfully pull off a "My Fair Lady" transformation of an itinerant actor's daughter, Valerie, into a court lady. [Valerie already has a 'posh' voice.] Coeur intends her as a replacement for the king's mistress, Agnes, at the mistress's request; Valerie is almost a look-alike for Agnes. Much intrigue follows. France is in the midst of the Hundred Year's War; Coeur offers to finance it and pushes the use of cannon. He feels the Age of Chivalry and knights is dying. In a very good courtroom drama, Coeur and Valerie are on trial for their lives; they are suspected of poisoning Agnes. False evidence and false witnesses are produced. Coeur is not allowed to defend himself and has no defense attorney.
The author tried to give a feel for that time in history, but his details of people's clothes and of the foods were overwhelming, although my mouth did water at mention of some of the foods. I wish he had added a glossary of medieval terms. I got some idea of what people looked like from the drawings of the characters on the end papers. I can see why the author was popular in his day: a rousing, swashbuckling story. The characters were rather two-dimensional, though. Torture scenes were too gruesome for my taste. This novel was not one of the author's best, but enjoyable, all the same.
The author tried to give a feel for that time in history, but his details of people's clothes and of the foods were overwhelming, although my mouth did water at mention of some of the foods. I wish he had added a glossary of medieval terms. I got some idea of what people looked like from the drawings of the characters on the end papers. I can see why the author was popular in his day: a rousing, swashbuckling story. The characters were rather two-dimensional, though. Torture scenes were too gruesome for my taste. This novel was not one of the author's best, but enjoyable, all the same.
June 2, 2016
The Moneyman was the first of two novels I read by Costain. I found it in a pile of books my Grandma was getting rid of when she moved and it grabbed me from the beginning. I'm a Christian but I really, really get annoyed by traditional Christian novels. After reading Moneyman I really had no idea that Costain was a Christian author, the religious undertones were so subdued, yet I appreciated them. The love story was well written and I appreciated the complexity of the Moneyman's character. A realistic yet satisfying ending made this a book I will highly recommend.
P.S. I tried reading the Silver Chalice (?) which is supposedly Costain's most popular work. I didn't make it very far. I don't know if it was the dominating religious plot that turned me off or not, but I felt it wasn't as compelling as the Moneyman.
P.S. I tried reading the Silver Chalice (?) which is supposedly Costain's most popular work. I didn't make it very far. I don't know if it was the dominating religious plot that turned me off or not, but I felt it wasn't as compelling as the Moneyman.
April 18, 2018
Historical novel about the man who financed Charles VI's war against England. His character was a real historical figure. Most others were fictional. Good story in the 1940's style of novel writing. Chivalry, court intrigue, betrayal, all the classic features. Good story.
July 6, 2012
Costain is a graceful enough writer, and his historical novels based on real events and people are pleasant to read. There is more intricacy in the plotting and characterization than, for instance, in Rafael Sabatini.
July 18, 2014
I grew up reading Thomas B. Costain....He was high on my list of favorite historical authors, along with Samuel Shellebarger, Noel B. Gerson ( in all his many identities) Robert Graves and Mary Renault...Perhaps these authors have become a tad dated, but I still love them all....
July 27, 2019
Literally my first historical fiction, this book made me a fan of this genre.
With amazing writing, the author brings to life Jacques Coer and Agnes Sorel of France, two people you should definitely know about! The never ending drama, twist and turns will keep the reader hooked. Loved it!
With amazing writing, the author brings to life Jacques Coer and Agnes Sorel of France, two people you should definitely know about! The never ending drama, twist and turns will keep the reader hooked. Loved it!
May 2, 2011
Two stars because I can't remember much in the way of details.
August 3, 2008
A typically entertaining work of historical fiction set at the French court of "Charles the Well Served.
March 10, 2013
It was my dear late father that introduced me to Thomas b. costain when I was 10! I read the book in 3 days. Thomas b. costain is my first love...in reading! lol!!
June 22, 2013
Classic Costain: intricately plotted, historically researched, emotionally engaging. This man knows how to make a high stakes story come to life.
June 6, 2014
Fantastic writing. One of my favorites of Costain.
July 17, 2014
Read this as a kid, but don't recall much of it now. But I loved all of Thomas Costain's novels. Not sure how they have survived the test of time, though.
April 9, 2015
The story of how King's are funded through the middle-ages. It will raise an eyebrow and give a laugh at times.
March 26, 2014
Costain makes his characters come to life. I cans still see them .
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews