The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

Who was Catherine de Medici? She was the most powerful woman of the 16th century. Was she responsible for so much bloodshed or was she the victim of it? We may never know, but her voice in this story is so authentic that you do want to believe her.

Her story starts at the age of 10 in Florence. At the age of 14, she travels to France to marry Henry, son of King Francois I. She is humiliated by him from the very beginning: him being late for their wedding and him having a mistress. What gives her strength and guidance is a book passed on to her which was given to her great grandfather Lorenzo the Magnificent – Machiavelli’s treatise – “considered one of the most elucidating on how men in power ought to behave.”

In 1552 her husband grands her power to rule in his absence. After the death of her husband, at the age of 40, she rules as regent over a kingdom where Huguenots (Protestants) fight for religious freedom. She commits to bring tolerance between the faiths. Soon after she learns about a betrayal and the bloodshed between Huguenots and Catholics planned behind her back, which marks her as a ruthless Queen in history.

This very engrossing very well-written story has a lingering effect which makes you want to submerge into history.

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