The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

I'm starting this thread a bit early because there are so many editions of the book that I wanted to give people a chance to research which one they would like to use for the discussion.

I had trouble finding a copy via the library, so in the end, I decided to buy a copy: La Reine Margot, Oxford World's Classics, version.

It doesn't matter which edition people use; base it on your own preferences.

Feel free to share which edition you decided to use.

I bought the oxford worlds classic version also.

Dianne wrote: "I bought the oxford worlds classic version also."

Hi Dianne - to me, it looks like the best. And not too expensive.

I find the Oxford Classics to be very good

Deborah wrote: "I find the Oxford Classics to be very good"

They are definitely one of the best.

Lynnm wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I find the Oxford Classics to be very good"

They are definitely one of the best."

Always my first choice, and if not available penguin. I "cheated". Total book freak downloaded it. I was given a kindle for Christmas along with a subscription to kindle unlimited. It's come in handy. I don't sleep that well and can read it the darkened room without turning on light and disturbing hubby. He was always ok with my doing that, but I always felt guilty about turning it on in the middle of the night.

Me too, downloaded the copy as I ma not sure if I can find it in my part of the world :(...thanks for the heads up..I'm all set now.

I downloaded a Kindle edition by e-arts from Amazon that was published last year. The title says "QUEEN MARGOT (Unabridged): Historical Novel - The Story of Court Intrigues, Bloody Battle for the Throne and Wars of Religion." I understand there are abridged versions out there in print and in digital. This Kindle edition also has a linked Table of Contents (yay!).

Mine is whatever is free on Gutenberg.org. When I get back to the US, I'll have more choice (at the public library). Looks like it's from 1900, Thomas and Crowell.

I am reading the French version, since I was a French major in university. This is the first Dumas book for me. I have started the book and it took a while but now is exciting.

Dumas may have used a ghostwriter. As an aspiring ghostwriter myself, I forgive him, but does knowing this change your perception of him and his works?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world...

As I was reading one of the chapters, I noticed that the writing was very basic-a straight description of what was happening, with no subleties of language.

Rosemarie wrote: "As I was reading one of the chapters, I noticed that the writing was very basic-a straight description of what was happening, with no subleties of language."

Hi Rosemarie,
So what you are saying is that the French version is also very basic, right? I am reading a translation into Danish and from the very first pages on I am struggling with the basic language and a suspicion that the translator was lazy. Now I know that it has nothing to do with the translator.

Lori wrote: "Dumas may have used a ghostwriter. As an aspiring ghostwriter myself, I forgive him, but does knowing this change your perception of him and his works?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world......"

Well, I'm going to chalk it up to the fact that I am just not in the mood for this style of writing right now, and am going to pass on this read. The idea sounded really good, but the actual reality has been disappointing. Sorry, maybe next time.

I was a French( and German) major in university, and we did not read any of Dumas' works. Now I see why. They were written to entertain his readers-- and they certainly do that. The dialogue passages are more successful than the descriptive passages, and he is also good at creating suspense.

Rosemarie wrote: "I was a French( and German) major in university, and we did not read any of Dumas' works. Now I see why. They were written to entertain his readers-- and they certainly do that. The dialogue passag..."

Agree Rosemarie....plodding along...lets see

Something must be wrong with me because I'm enjoying it! It might not be the greatest literature ever but I really don't care.

I wanted court intrigue...got it. I wanted murder and mayhem...got it. I wanted a historical novel...got it.

And like the characters. Can't wait to see what happens with Marguerite and La Mole.

Can someone post a link to where I might buy this?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_... This link is for paperbacks, but Kindle editions are also available.

Project Gutenberg offers free editions of books in the public domain for download...
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/searc...

Baylee wrote: "Can someone post a link to where I might buy this?"

If you like the Kindle or Epub formats you can pick up all of Dumas' works in a very affordable bundle (all older public domain translations).

https://www.delphiclassics.com/shop/a...
or
https://www.amazon.com/Delphi-Works-A...



Or all in French....

https://www.delphiclassics.com/shop/a...
or
https://www.amazon.com/Oeuvres-dAlexa...

Please pardon the interruption, but for those of you interested in the May read, the poll is up! You should be able to find it on the bottom of the home page or under "polls" on the right side of the page. For those using the app, I am going to try giving you a link

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...

I just finished a reread of Dorothy Dunnett's The Game of Kings which takes place in Scotland in 1547, placing the time several years before the events of Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois. Game of Kings is also historical fiction done with lots of detailed research on events in that country involving Marie de Guise (yep, that de Guise) and her baby daughter (Later to be known as Mary, Queen of Scots). One of the final events of that novel (not a spoiler, it's history) was the decision to send toddler, Mary to France as the fiancé of prince Francis (II).

One of the things I love about historical fiction is that it helps me understand all the crossover pieces of history.

Some history...

The Father of all these princes was Henry II, who also had a fairly famous, long-standing relationship with Diane de Poiters and was killed when a jousting pole went through the eye-cage of his golden helmet (as prophesied by Nostradamus), leaving a relatively young Catherine d'Medici and bunch of underage princes.

His first son, Francis II, came to the throne as a teenager (around the same time as Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England), but only for about a year before he died. His wife was Mary Stuart... Mary, Queen of Scots, whose mother was Marie de Guise.

There was a big French-Scottish connection, as well as all the Catholic vs. Protestant stuff. Reformation times. When Francis II died, Mary went back to Scotland and into more Religious/Political trouble.

Brother Charles (IX) came to the throne at 10 years old.

I got caught up researching the Scottish-French connections and started a timeline of sorts...

England:

- Henry VIII (1491-1547)
Persecuted Protestants until he started The Church of England (Protestant) so he could annul his marriage to his first wife was (Catholic) Catherine of Aragon, widow of his older brother, and marry his second wife, Anne Bolyen. Then he persecuted Catholics.

- Edward VI (Protestant, 1537-1553), Henry's son

- Lady Jane Grey (Protestant, reigned 9 days), cousin

- Mary I (Catholic, 1516-1558), Henry's daughter, married to Phillip II of Spain whose next wife would be Elisabeth Valois, daughter of Francis I/sister of Margot & the French kings

- Elizabeth (Protestant, 1533-1603), Henry's other daughter

- James I (VI of Scotland) 1566-1625, son of Mary, Queen of Scots (whose mother was Henry VIII's sister), Baptized Catholic, but since Mary was imprisoned soon after his birth, James was raised a Protestant

- Charles I (1600-1649), son of James I, married to Henrietta Maria (daughter of Henry Navarre/Henry IV of France and Marie d'Medici), executed in part because he was "too Catholic," after Civil War which made Oliver Cromwell (Protestant) Lord Protector

- Charles II (1630-1685), son of Charles I

- James II (VII of Scotland), brother of Charles II, King for 3 years, until revolt which pitched James & his Catholic son in favor of his Protestant daughter, Mary (II), and her Dutch husband, William (William & Mary) and started the whole Jacobite Uprising/Bonnie Prince Charlie chain of events which end with the Battle of Culloden (Hello, Outlander fans)

Scotland:

- James V (1512-1542)

- Mary I (1542-1587), Queen of Scots whose first husband was Francis II of France

- James VI (I of England) 1566-1625

See England above.

France:

- Francis I (1494-1547) French Renaissance, Mona Lisa acquired

- Henry II (1519-1559), son of Francis I, married Catherine d'Medici

- Francis II (1544-1560) son of Henry II & Catherine

- Charles IX (1550-1574) son of Henry II & Catherine

- Henry III (1551-1589) son of Henry II & Catherine

- Henry IV (1553-1610), cousin, first wife was Marguerite d'Valois, second wife was Marie d'Medici (weird, right?) who is crowed Queen of France the day before her husband is assassinated.
Their son, Louis XIII (1601-1643), and grandson, Louis XIV(1638-1715), are important characters in the d'Artagnan Romances (starting with The Three Musketeers).

Also, the Duc d'Alencon was a suitor of Elizabeth I of England. She was over 20 years older than him, and he was one of her last suitors.

I read somewhere that she had nicknames for all her suitors and his was "froggie" because of his ears or something like that. It's supposedly the origin of the slang term used in later years.

I just learned about another fascinating woman related to this story.

Francis I had a sister named Marguerite, who when married became Marguerite de Navarre. She was the grandmother of our Henry Navarre, and a very influential figure in the French Renaissance and Reformation. Her most notable work is The Heptameron. (Which was recommended to me just this evening through another book group)

Wikipedia link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margu...

Also for her daughter:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeann...

Interestingly, Margarita from "The Master and Margarita" is supposed to be a descendant of Queen Margot. There was a rumor that Queen Margot had an illegitimate child.

Ooo. That is interesting. I've had that on my tbr fir awhile since its on the Boxall list. Maybe I'll have to move it up since I seem to be finding all these connections.