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Marguerite of Valois: Queen of Navarre and France, 1553-1615
An enthralling biography of the remarkable queen, Marguerite of Valois, and the tumultuous decades of the French Wars of Religion.
The ideal book for fans of Tracy Borman, Antonia Fraser and Nancy Goldstone.
Daughter, sister and wife of kings, Marguerite was famed as the most beautiful woman in France, enchanting courts with her wit, charm, and profound intelligence. Yet, for all her brilliance, Marguerite could not escape the political intrigues and religious unrest that enveloped France in the sixteenth century as Catholics and Protestant Huguenots fought for control of the throne.
At the age of nineteen in 1572, Marguerite was married to the Protestant King of Navarre, Henri, with the hope that this would unify the competing factions and end the religious conflict. Six days later, however, Catholics massacred Protestant Huguenots who had gathered in Paris for their wedding in what has infamously known as the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.
E.R. Chamberlin uncovers the turbulent life of this fascinating queen as civil strife deteriorated in the nation and her marriage broke down after years of being unable to produce an heir leading to her eventual exile. Drawing upon Marguerite’s own remarkable Memoirs and numerous other sources, Chamberlin’s well-researched book overcomes the myths depicting her as a scarlet woman, and instead reevaluates the life of this magnificent queen and the tragic period through which she lived.
“adept at clarifying political tangles … [Chamberlin] follows Marguerite's career through marriage (unhappy), exile and alliance with brother Hercule, travels, divorce and final isolation.” Kirkus Reviews
“The sole modern study of Marguerite in the English language” Queenship in Early Modern Europe
The ideal book for fans of Tracy Borman, Antonia Fraser and Nancy Goldstone.
Daughter, sister and wife of kings, Marguerite was famed as the most beautiful woman in France, enchanting courts with her wit, charm, and profound intelligence. Yet, for all her brilliance, Marguerite could not escape the political intrigues and religious unrest that enveloped France in the sixteenth century as Catholics and Protestant Huguenots fought for control of the throne.
At the age of nineteen in 1572, Marguerite was married to the Protestant King of Navarre, Henri, with the hope that this would unify the competing factions and end the religious conflict. Six days later, however, Catholics massacred Protestant Huguenots who had gathered in Paris for their wedding in what has infamously known as the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.
E.R. Chamberlin uncovers the turbulent life of this fascinating queen as civil strife deteriorated in the nation and her marriage broke down after years of being unable to produce an heir leading to her eventual exile. Drawing upon Marguerite’s own remarkable Memoirs and numerous other sources, Chamberlin’s well-researched book overcomes the myths depicting her as a scarlet woman, and instead reevaluates the life of this magnificent queen and the tragic period through which she lived.
“adept at clarifying political tangles … [Chamberlin] follows Marguerite's career through marriage (unhappy), exile and alliance with brother Hercule, travels, divorce and final isolation.” Kirkus Reviews
“The sole modern study of Marguerite in the English language” Queenship in Early Modern Europe
- GenresHistory
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2022
25 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
E.R. Chamberlin
43 books29 followersEric Russell Chamberlin (1926-2006)
Historian and author. Chamberlin was the author of numerous popular history books ranging from ancient Rome to twentieth-century Britain. Although he was born in Jamaica, he returned to England with his father during the Great Depression. Chamberlin dropped out of school when he was fourteen and became an apprentice leather dresser.
When he was old enough, he eagerly left this work behind to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1944. He served in the military until 1947 and then found work at the Norwich Public Library. It was here that his real education began, and Chamberlin took advantage of his vocation by reading history texts avidly. He later also worked at the Holborn Public Library and then for the book division at Readers’ Digest.
His first book, The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, was released in 1965. This would be followed by thirty more books over the next three decades. Among these are The Bad Popes (1969), The Sack of Rome (1979), The Nineteenth Century (1983), The Emperor, Charlemagne (1986), and The Tower of London: An Illustrated History (1989). Also active in historical preservation projects, Chamberlin helped rescue the Guildford Institute building from destruction in 1982 and had a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson constructed on Mt. Etna in Italy.
For the former endeavor, Chamberlin was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Surrey in 1982.
Historian and author. Chamberlin was the author of numerous popular history books ranging from ancient Rome to twentieth-century Britain. Although he was born in Jamaica, he returned to England with his father during the Great Depression. Chamberlin dropped out of school when he was fourteen and became an apprentice leather dresser.
When he was old enough, he eagerly left this work behind to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1944. He served in the military until 1947 and then found work at the Norwich Public Library. It was here that his real education began, and Chamberlin took advantage of his vocation by reading history texts avidly. He later also worked at the Holborn Public Library and then for the book division at Readers’ Digest.
His first book, The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, was released in 1965. This would be followed by thirty more books over the next three decades. Among these are The Bad Popes (1969), The Sack of Rome (1979), The Nineteenth Century (1983), The Emperor, Charlemagne (1986), and The Tower of London: An Illustrated History (1989). Also active in historical preservation projects, Chamberlin helped rescue the Guildford Institute building from destruction in 1982 and had a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson constructed on Mt. Etna in Italy.
For the former endeavor, Chamberlin was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Surrey in 1982.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 31, 2022
E. R. Chamberlain has become perhaps my favorite historian. He is a meticulous researcher, but more than that, once I begin one of his books I find it hard to put down. This life of Marguerite of Valois I found to be immensely tragic and I was stunned by the violence and perfidy attending anyone having anything to do with the French court. Some relief came with the last chapter when some semblance of peace finally seemed at least temporarily to attach itself to the remaining aging characters of the Valois drama. I’ll be reading more of this author.
November 19, 2022
A very enthralling book about an incredible person. Her story is very tragic. And her loyalty was returned many times with betrayal.
March 12, 2023
Very good Reading for anyone interested in historic figure of marguerite de Valois - one of early feminists, intellectuals among women, trailblazer of modern arts patronage.
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November 12, 2024⭐️ DNF. 25% through the book, and she hasn’t even been formally engaged to Henri yet. 🥱
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews