The Serpent and the Rose, Catherine Butterfield
The Serpent and the Rose, Catherine Butterfield
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The Serpent and the Rose
Marguerite de Valois and Catherine de Medici: A mother-daughter battle for the ages

Author: Catherine Butterfield

Narrator: Catherine Butterfield

Unabridged: 8 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Book Baby

Published: 03/23/2024


Synopsis

THE SERPENT AND THE ROSE is a historical novel told in diary form by Marguerite de Valois,  a French princess whose life was so sensational that William Shakespeare was inspired to write "Love's Labour's Lost" about her. Beautiful, brilliant, and accomplished, Marguerite was in a lifelong battle with her mother, the infamous Catherine de Medici. She was also the victim of a politically motivated smear campaign defaming her as a sexual deviant; a reputation she has, to this day, never fully shed. “The Serpent and the Rose,” highly researched and inspired by her memoirs,  paints a sympathetic and often humorous portrait of this remarkable woman.KIRKUS REVIEW -  “A sweeping but intimate story that highlights the author's clear attention to detail….. Over the course of this novel, Butterfield employs diary-like style from Marguerite’s perspective that makes for a brisk read, and Marguerite, despite her royal background, comes off as approachable and very human throughout.”HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY REVIEW - 5 stars, Highly Recommended Award of Excellence  - ​​"The Serpent and the Rose" is a captivating tale that skillfully weaves together historical, dramatic and personal elements. Catherine Butterfield brings to life a fascinating period in French history and paints a complex and memorable portrait of Queen Marguerite de Valois."  


Reviews

Goodreads review by Melanie on February 25, 2024

In her engaging and thrilling novel, The Serpent and The Rose, which is based on historical events in 16th century France, Catherine Butterfield takes us inside the mind of the extraordinary Marguerite de Valois, as she survives (and even thrives) through the tragedies and exultations and disappoint......more

Goodreads review by Lily on January 11, 2024

I found this novel to be totally absorbing, beautiful and surprising, and well-researched. It achieves a difficult balance of being true to its period (as far as I know) and portraying a deeply felt truth about feminine power and its challenges in a patriarchal world.......more

Goodreads review by Reader on March 08, 2024

What a story! What a life, what adventures, what loves, what tragedies—all told in the first person, with wry sensibilities and sharply-honed craft in abundance. I knew virtually nothing about the personages before I read the book, and though I do enjoy historical fiction, this was unlike in style w......more

Goodreads review by Laura on March 05, 2024

I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially with strong female characters. Unfortunately many books in this genre devolve into romance novels. But not this book, not at all! The relationships between Marguerite and her family are complex and well written. And although she experiences love and he......more

Goodreads review by Mary on March 02, 2024

This is a highly enjoyable read, a romantic adventure set in a turbulent time of religious wars and land conquest. The narrator evolves from an innocent, flirtatious girl into a true feminist, and her witty observations give the story a contemporary feel.......more