The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by Christopher Gortner - Book Revie

A most maligned and misunderstood queen, Catherine de Medici has captured the fascination of countless of generations of men and women over numerous centuries. Rumours of her manipulations, which may have involved murder, sorcery, and poisonings circulate about her to this day. But who was Catherine de Medici and what is her true story? In a novel that spans her entire life, from 1519 to 1589, historical fiction author, Christopher Gortner unravels some of the mystery surrounding fascinating, incredible woman of history.

Catherine de Medici

Catherine de Medicia was born in Florence Italy in the year 1519; the daughter of Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne and Lorenzo de Medici II, the Duke of Urbino.






Madeline and Lorenzo  

Catherine had a very troubled, difficult childhood. At the age of one, both of her parents died suddenly from a disease.  After Florence rebelled against the Medici family, she was placed in a convent to be raised and educated by the nuns. At the age of thirteen, her uncle, Pope Clement VII, began to seek a husband for her.

Pope Clement VII

He settled on Henry II, the second son of Francis I, King of France. Ever dutiful, Catherine accepted her fate and travelled to France to begin her new life. She could not realize how difficult life would be for her there. From the moment she arrived, those in the French court held her Italian background against her and she never truly gained acceptance.

Henry II

When her uncle the pope died, any political influence she may have brought to the French Court also perished with him. Because he sent her to her marriage with a poor dowry of 100,000 écus, she was relegated to the background of the French court, where she remained even when her husband's elder brother died and she attained the dignity of Dauphiness.

Due to her failure to conceive an heir, she was obliged to continue in her distant obscurity. She faced numerous challenges and confrontations by her husband's mistress, Diane de Poitiers, and the King's mistress, Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly, the Duchesse d'Etampes. Of the two, Diane, a beauty of middle age and far older than either Catherine or her husband, was Catherine's greatest nemesis.

After eleven years of marriage, Catherine conceived the first of ten children. Upon the death of her husband, her son became king, and Catherine found herself suddenly thrust onto the political arena as his regent. The novel encompasses her life through several wars, religious battles, political intrigues, and the death of several of her children.

Catherine could prohesize the future through her dreams and she employed Nostradamus to aid her in predicting what was to come. Christopher Gortner depicted these scenes with care and credibility and without sensationalism.

Biographical historical novels are one of the most challengng genres to produce. It requires years of research and a deep understanding of the political and environmental climate of the era. Christopher Gortner has pieced together Catherine de Medici's entire life, and he did so in a clear, unbiased, and neutral manner. His thorough and skilful writing accurately portrayed the times, which makes his depiction of Catherine de Medici believable and enduring.

From start to finish, with its beautiful prose and brilliant historical detail, this novel satisfied in every manner. In biographical historical novels, it is a fine line that divides fiction and fact, and authors strive for accuracy. Christopher Gortner excelled at this. He seamlessly weaved centuries of historical occurrences into a smooth, easy to read novel. Catherine's life filled with intrigue and suspense, love and loyalty, wars and betrayal literally exploded on every page. A complex story indeed, one that Christopher wrote with great heart and zealous panache.

I can't speak enough good words about this novel. It was a truly enjoyable story, well told, and carefully crafted. As an avid reader and collector of Italian biographical fiction, this novel was one that I anxiously awaited. And because I've read all of the author's previous books, I knew it would make a terrific summer novel. Coming fast on the heels of his previous successful novel, The Last Queen, I eagerly await his next work.

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

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici   by Christopher Gortner  

The ambitious, gripping tale of one of history’s most powerful and misunderstood women . . .

At the age of fourteen, Catherine de Medici, last legitimate descendant of the Medici blood, finds herself betrothed to the King Francois I’s son, Henri. Sent from her native Florence to France, humiliated and overshadowed by her husband’s life-long devotion to his mistress, when tragedy strikes her family Catherine rises from obscurity to become one of 16th century Europe’s most powerful women.

Patroness of Nostradamus and a seer in her own right, accused of witchcraft and murder by her foes, Catherine fights to save France and her children from savage religious conflict, unaware that her own fate looms before her—a fate that will demand the sacrifice of her ideals, reputation, and the passion of her own embattled heart. . .

From the splendors of the Loire palaces to the blood-soaked battles of the Wars of Religion and haunted halls of the Louvre, this is the story of Catherine’s dramatic life, told by the queen herself.

Giveaway - Win a Pendant of Catherine de Medici

It's Catherine de Medici week at History and Women! I'm excited to announce that we'll be giving away a beautiful pendant of Catherine de Medici.

All you have to do to win is:

1. You must be a Canadian or U.S. resident.
2. You must be a follower of this blog.
3. Visit Christopher Gortner's blog Historical Boys and tell us the name of his constant companion.
4. Leave a comment with your email address and tell us what it is that you find most fascinating about Catherine de Medici.

Winners will be announced the second week of August!

Good luck to all! This is one week not to miss!

And the winners are . . .

Drumroll, please. We have two lucky winners for this week's book giveaways:

The winner of a copy of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree is . . .

Linda!!!

The winner of a copy of The Crown in the Heather is . . .

Michelle!!!

The winners have been notified by e-mail. Thanks to all those who entered and please come back and try again. Next week's giveaway is a pendant of Catherine de Medici. Details to follow soon.

"The Golden Mean" by Annabel Lyon

The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon takes us to Greece where we meet Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, King Philip of Macedon, and his son, the future Alexander the Great.
King Philip of Macedon invites his friend Aristotle to tutor his two adolescent sons. Aristotle arrives only reluctantly in the Macedonian capital for he wanted to become the leader of the Academy in Athens instead. One of Philip’s sons, Arrhidaeus is mentally disabled while Alexander is a keen and kindred spirit, raised to be a warrior and king.
To his surprise, Aristotle enjoys the challenge of teaching the two boys. He works to improve Arrhidaeus life, but his main goal is to teach Alexander about balancing the power of muscle and the power of mind. Alexander should learn to use the golden mean, the balance between the extremes. However, not everybody agrees to Aristotle’s ideas of how a king should rule his country. The king is at war, and his son, the heir apparent, must prove himself worthy on the battle field. Meanwhile Aristotle fights his own war – the battle for Alexander’s mind and for his own career, because he has not forgotten his desire to become one of the greatest philosophers of all time.

“The Golden Mean” boldly explores the relationship and influence of Aristotle, a philosopher, on Alexander, a warring king. Annabel Lyons chooses first person and present tense for her prose, which may not be every reader's choice. She uses an earthy, modern voice, and she does not shy away from profanity and sensuality. The Greeks were known not only for their accomplishments in philosophy and maths but also for their down-to-earth approach on human life. The question remains how close Annabel Lyon can get into Aristotle’s mind; however, this question set aside, “The Golden Mean” provides an unique glimpse into a time in which great gods were fallible, great minds invented democracy, and great kings stretched their realm to the unknown and beyond.

Interview with Ann Weisgarber, Author of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree

• How did you become interested in writing about African American ranchers in South Dakota?

I’ve always loved the West and admire the determined spirit of the people who call it home. I knew there were African-American cowboys, and I had visited a few historical forts where black troops had been posted during the late 1800’s. I didn’t know anything about African-American settlers, though, until I happened to see a photograph of a woman sitting in front of a sod dugout. The photo wasn’t labeled, but from the background the location could have been Nebraska or one of the Dakotas. I was intrigued for several reasons. This unnamed woman was alone, and she was an African-American. I did a little digging and found John Ravage’s Black Pioneers. His non-fiction book was filled with accounts of black settlers in the West.

This was new history for me, and that was exciting. But it was more than that. I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman in the photograph. She was alone in the middle of a wide open stretch of land. I didn’t know her name, and I didn’t know where she lived, but I knew this: she had a story that needed telling. I decided to do that for her.


• How did you research this novel? Did you spend time in the locations you wrote about?

I did the research in bits and pieces. I’d write a scene and realize that I didn’t know anything about the details. For instance, Isaac was posted at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. This meant I had to research the fort and the cavalry units. When I discovered that the Ninth Cavalry served as reinforcements at Wounded Knee Creek, I then had to research the massacre. From there, I researched the relationship between Buffalo Soldiers and Indians. After that, I read about Pine Ridge Reservation. One piece of information often led to a new idea. Many times the research shaped the book.

I did have a four-week writing residency at Badlands National Park, but I did very little writing while I was there. Instead, I talked to people who lived in the area, I visited Ft. Robinson, and I went to Lead to see the gold mine. I was in the Badlands during a three-day windstorm with gusts so strong that it was impossible to walk upright. There was an electrical storm where the night sky turned white and stayed white for seconds at a time. Best of all, the residency was an opportunity to experience the quiet beauty of the Badlands.

I returned to the Badlands one other time, but that was only for a few days. That was long enough to renew my commitment to finish the manuscript.


• Rachel’s voice is so strong and clear in this story. Did you find it challenging to take on the voice of an African American woman from the early 20th century?

Thank you. It was a challenge and that was one reason why it took so long to write the book. I had to step back in time and imagine a point of view very different from my own. Reading about historical figures such as Ida B. Wells Barnett and Booker T. Washington helped. But it seems to me that assuming a different voice is nothing new for people who write historical fiction. Many writers put aside the “Can I?” and “Should I?” questions. It’s a matter of connecting with the characters on an emotional level. In my case, I was determined to give the unnamed woman in the photograph a story. I wanted to do the best I could. That was my focus.


• Every author has a unique path to publication. Can you tell us a little about yours?

The book -- an American story -- was first published in the UK and then in France. Prior to any of that, I had an agent who did her best to find a U.S. publisher. No one was interested. Several editors said the story was too quiet, and I took that to mean the novel wasn’t ready. My agent lost interest, but we parted on good terms. I went back to page one and started another round of revisions.

Meanwhile, I read about Macmillan New Writing in Poets & Writers. The imprint, a division of Pan Macmillan in the UK, was willing to publish new writers who did not have agents. I sent the manuscript to MNW. It was a long shot. The imprint received thousands of manuscripts and printed twelve novels a year. Eleven weeks later, Will Atkins, the editor, sent an e-mail. He liked the novel.

Eight months after it was published in the UK, it was nominated for the Orange Prize, a literary prize for women writers. A month later, it was nominated for the Orange Award, a prize for new writers. In the States, the Texas Institute of Letters awarded it the Best Work of First Fiction prize.

The nominations in the UK and the prize in Texas opened the door for Rachel DuPree. Pan Macmillan sold the U.S. rights to Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group. It’s a great match for me. My editor, John Siciliano, and the team believe in the book.

The book came to the U.S. through the back door, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my process. This was how it was meant to be.


• What’s next for you?

I'm currently working on a novel that takes place in 1900 in Galveston, Texas. The plot revolves around a college–educated woman who marries a dairy farmer. The story begins a month before the 1900 Storm, the historical hurricane that killed more than six thousand people.


• Where can readers find out more about you and your book?

My website is www.annweisgarber.com. There, readers will find my e-mail address and they are welcome to write me. They’ll also find the first few pages of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree as well as a few articles about the historical facts behind the book. Under Book Clubs, readers can find questions for book discussion groups.

Excerpt - The Personal History of Rachel Dupree

South Dakota. The land of opportunity. But that was before the drought, that was before me and Isaac put a child in the well. That was before we did it the second time. The second time, Liz screamed when Isaac told her he needed her. She screamed until I put my hand over her mouth and held her lips together. It was wrong what we were doing to her, but Isaac was right about the horses and Jerseybell. They had to be watered.

Like before, I latched Alise and Emma in their room. I went with the others to the well, none of us saying anything as we walked against the wind. Isaac carried Liz who cried into his shoulder, her arms around his neck. At the well we knew what to do, we knew what to expect, and that made it all the worse. We were getting used to doing this thing. We were giving in to it.

Afterward, Isaac watered our four horses and then hitched two of them, Bucky and Beaut, to the wagon. He was holding true to his promise to get supplies, and John was going with him.

Me and the girls – I had to make Liz – went down the rise to the barn to see them off. John waited on the buckboard, all grins. It had been a good while since he’d been to Scenic; it had been Mary’s turn the last time. I gave Isaac a small cloth bag. “Soda biscuits and a can of pears,” I said. “It’s all I’ve got.”

“It’s enough.” He quickly touched my arm and then he hoisted himself to the top of the wheel. The wagon rocking some, Isaac settled on the buckboard, finding the worn spots where he always sat. He took the reins from John and giddyupped the horses. Creaking, the wagon lurched, and they pulled away, Rounder lagging behind them likely as hot, thirsty and hungry as any of us.