Leonie Frieda - Catherine de Medici: a Biography

Leonie Friedas enjoyable and skilfully written biography Catherines supreme command of the arts of political display is adroitly brought out Blair Worden, Sunday Telegraph

A stunning biography, which brings to vivid life a heroic woman and the tumultuous, cruel and gaudy times in which she lived. An outstanding first book by a newcomer to the ranks of English historians Paul Johnson

Leonie Frieda has handled the history of this complex period with skill. Without skimping on the drama and debauchery of the court of the Valois, she has defended, but not whitewashed, Catherine and produced a fascinating picture of a remarkable woman

Sarah Bradford, Evening Standard

As Leonie Frieda relates in this well-researched and immensely readable first biography, from her turbulent home in Florence Catherine found herself presiding over perhaps the nastiest period in all French history Frieda is much to be praised for painting a wonderfully rich canvas out of complex and nasty material

Sir Alistair Horne, The Times

Frieda succeeds in making her subject interesting and coherent, and shows her operating in a political context that left no room for squeamishness or scruple Charles Nicholl, Sunday Times

Mrs Friedas book is a well-written and colourful journey through 16th century France, entertaining to read as well as frequently illuminating Simon Heffer, Country Life

This gripping biography A real historical treat

Sainsburys magazine

Not only has her industry been formidable; she avoids getting bogged down in detail, and keeps the story moving. The reader seldom loses sight of the Queens talents in dealing with innumerable, often insoluble problems. This is a masterly biography and a fascinating one John Jolliffe, Independent

A stimulating, exhaustively researched panorama of European history which is altogether wider in scope than anything normally viewed as biography Glasgow Herald

Leonie Friedas richly detailed account paints a most fascinating picture of French court life. The political complexities are kept mercifully clear, the main lines of rivalry sharp, the characters vivid

Ann Wroe, Daily Telegraph

[Leonie Frieda] has produced an absorbing, entertaining study of a time when the luxury and depravity of princes went hand-in-hand with power-plotting, assassination and bloody vengeance

Peter Lewis, Daily Mail

In Friedas scholarly tome, Catherine de Medici is painted not in the dark hues of her critics but using a more colourful palate Through a prodigious amount of research, that was assisted by the authors versatility in five European languages, all the colour and splendour of Catherines court is recreated

Stephen McGinty, Scotsman

A most excellent book that should be read by everybody who believes that education for its own sake has value, and that history in particular has cautionary lessons to offer The author paints a brilliant picture of the French court and of her subjects private life

Claus von Blow, Catholic Herald

Impressively exhaustive the lesser-known facts are the most interesting Sarah Dunant, Independent on Sunday

Leonie Frieda has written a biography of scrupulous detail

Ethna Viney, Irish Times

An interesting and well-written book that enlightens the reader about a turbulent and fascinating period which still arouses debate and disagreement David McLaurin, The Tablet

This sympathetic and gloriously detailed biography

Caroline Murphy, New Statesman and Society

This admirably lucid biography Frieda demonstrates a sure control of her material and combines passion and precision in equal measure. Her sprightly narrative is laced with cool and polished judgments

Christopher Silvester, Financial Times magazine

This excellent biography As compelling as a page-turning novel and full of colour and insight

Sally Zigmond, Historical Novels Review

This fine biography BBC History Magazine

For Lil and Jake with love

LEONIE FRIEDA

THE HOUSE OF FRANCE

THE HOUSE OF GUISE

THE HOUSE OF MEDICI

HOUSE OF VALOIS

Francis I, King of France, father-in-law to Catherine de Medici

Marguerite of Angoulme, sister of Francis I, wife of Henri dAlbret, King of Navarre

Dauphin Francis, eldest son of Francis I

Henry II, King of France, second son of Francis I, formerly Duke of Orlans, husband of Catherine de Medici

Marguerite of Valois, sister of Henry II, wife of Emanuel-Philibert, Duke of Savoy

Francis II, King of France, eldest son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici

Charles IX, King of France, third son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici

Henri III, King of France, Duke of Anjou, fourth son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici

Duke of Alenon, youngest son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici

Elisabeth of Valois, daughter of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, wife of Philip II of Spain

Claude of Valois, daughter of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, wife of Charles, Duke of Lorraine

Marguerite of Valois (Margot), daughter of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, wife of Henri IV, King of France

HOUSE OF MEDICI

Cosimo the Elder

Lorenzo the Magnificent, grandson of Cosimo the Elder

Giuliano de Medici, brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent

Lorenzo II de Medici, Duke of Urbino, grandson of Lorenzo the Magnificent, Catherine de Medicis father

Madeleine de La Tour dAuvergne, wife of Lorenzo II, Catherine de Medicis mother

Pope Leo X, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent

Pope Clement VII, Giulio de Medici, illegitimate son of Giuliano de Medici, cousin of Pope Leo X

Alessandro de Medici, Duke of Florence, illegitimate son of Pope Clement VII

Ippolito de Medici, illegitimate nephew of Pope Leo X

Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, distant kinsman of Catherine de Medici

Maria de Medici, granddaughter of Cosimo I, second wife of Henri IV, King of France

Piero Strozzi, nephew of Lorenzo II

Leone Strozzi, younger brother of Piero Strozzi

HOUSE OF BOURBON

Antoine de Bourbon, King of Navarre, First Prince of the Blood, father of Henri IV, King of France, husband of Jeanne dAlbret

Jeanne dAlbret, Queen of Navarre, wife of Antoine de Bourbon, daughter of Marguerite of Angoulme