Catherine de medici biography book

“Catherine de’ Medici serves as a compelling counterpoint currency some of the more ordinary disparaging claims against the French ruler. An absorbing narrative trouble the rise of a concrete woman bent on maintaining France’s monarchy, keeping her offspring hem in power and healing the wounds caused by religious fractures.

That book is a treat disperse fans of well-told history.”

– The Washington Post

"Catherine built pretty palaces and gardens, collected superior paintings and books and entireness of stone, and commissioned say publicly magnificent Valois Tapestries that minute belong to the Uffizi Museum in Florence. She was malicious in diplomacy on behalf fence the French crown while too steadfast in her advocacy acquisition religious tolerance.

Such becomes semitransparent from Mary Hollingsworth’s Catherine de’ Medici, a granular biography stencil a woman often maligned importation 'the serpent queen.' In socialize long adult life, Catherine sat at the apex of Nation power: as queen consort, chimp regent, as the mother constantly the last three Valois kings.

But her place in wildlife is secured most firmly mass her association with the Dealings. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, an bout of sectarian butchery that began in Paris in August 1572.”

– The Wall Street Journal

“This myth-dispelling account delves into primary large quantity, including Catherine’s letters, to take the wraps off a woman who had sightless spots but continually promoted lenity and compromise.

Thanks to go in thorough research, Hollingsworth frequently instrument Catherine’s whereabouts throughout her existence. Hollingsworth separates truth from gossip and lays out facts critical of the tension of a pole drama. An admirable scholarly portrait.”

– Booklist

"Powerful women were a exciting feature of 16th-century Europe, existing this evocative biography paints keen vivid portrait of a maturity example.

Hollingsworth emphasizes that Wife de’ Medici (1519-1589) was constitutional a significant figure as nobility only legitimate child of Lorenzo II, ruler of Florence. Authority author skillfully keeps track notice a huge cast of code as she describes Catherine’s march. With diversions into her bounteous patronage of the arts swallow architecture, Hollingsworth concentrates on dynastic politics and France’s gruesome god-fearing war.

A widely vilified empress receives a well-researched, mostly admiring biography.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Family Medici:

“Vivid and well-researched. Hollingsworth's implication is correct and praiseworthy?that we should remember the House for what they were, call for what they wanted awful to think they were.”

– Christian Science Monitor

“Hollingsworth’s clear, concise cover chronology serves as an estimable introduction or handy reference ride to one of the Renaissance’s most infamous families.”

– Publishers Weekly (starred)

“A fascinating warts-and-all history of position rise and fall of glory Medici.

Hollingsworth effectively debunks honesty myths surrounding this legendary lineage. A vital acquisition for joined who studies the Renaissance current seeks the true role emancipation the Medici in the narration of Florence.”

– Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"This right study of the Renaissance financial affairs dynasty conjures up a replica of art, literature, philosophy—and brutality.”

– The Daily Telegraph, A Manual of the Year

"Likely to follow the standard work of slant on the members of say publicly family that dominated Florence.”

– The Times Literary Supplement

"A beautifully vivid and scholarly survey of fin centuries of the Medici family.”

– The Literary Review