An Excellent Biography, With Excellent Narration

This is an excellent work. I learned a great deal. I purchased a hard copy of this book and also the audiobook. The narration is excellent, however for me as an American, there are a lot of foreign names that I really needed a hard copy in order to read. The hard copy also has maps, family lines, and many notes that really added to the reading and learning experience. However this audiobook is about as good as it can be considering the complicated nature of the work. I suppose I should add that this book is really detailed and may be more than some readers will want. But speaking for myself, I am really glad that I purchased it. Thank You...

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Narrator didn't get one name right

I am halfway into this audiobook and found the text very good. It's a pity that the narrator botches the pronunciation of 80% of the names of persons and places. You would think that this being a book mainly about French and Italian people somebody would take care of assuring that the narrator pronounce the foreign names and words correctly.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Excellent

Very comprehensive and detailed. Thoroughly researched. Excellent narration. Long but worth every minute. If you love history this is for you.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

A little bias, easily recognized

It is a very nice deep dive into the life of Catherine de Medici. You can easily pick up the author’s personal dislike of Henry II’s mistress, and attempts to downplay the major disaster in Catherine’s multiple regencies with the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. The narrator is good, but her strange pronunciation of a few words pulled me out a few times, but I can’t say ‘soot’ properly, so who am I to judge.

15 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great story but marred by mispronunciations

The narrator’s French is Impeccable but I found her English mispronunciations distracting beginning with the name De Medici. The accent is on Med not di. Another example was the word “adhere” which she kept reading as adeer. Silent h I guess.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Thoroughly research ed

I've read four or five books on this subject and this one had more personal information on Catherine Dr Medici than the others; such as, her creating a side saddle for woman and, among many other more personal tidbits, she established the wearing of petticoats so she won't expose her privates when dismounting a horse, etc. The author's opinion of Diane De Poitier was overly biased, I thought, against her and in favor of Catherine. There is definitely an argument to be made for both sides but I don't agree with her assessment of Diane as overly venal and overall disinterest in sex. She and Henry II had a passionate sex life where they genuinely made love to both of their intense satisfaction. Overall, i loved this book and would highly recommend it to any person interested in this subject as it was detailed and the authors perspective was far ranging and meticulous research. I will definitely read this author's books again.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

History of France beautifully captured

Frieda captures Catherine's life complete including di Medici family her husband, the mistress Diane and all the religious wars. She had so much influence over France during her reign Great listen.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

I wish MY mother had read this book!!

Other than the monotone narration, I would however stay for the conclusion of a revelatory testament of one of histories most intriguing sovereigns, Catherine DeMedici.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

A powerful woman

It is amazing how her story unfolds through history to show a woman more capable than many of keeping a dynasty intact despite so many hurdles and in some cases despite herself. Truly a tale from history worth knowing.

Can't Miss Reading about Medici

This book covers the very interesting life of Catherine de Medici. Well written and well narrated, the story maintains a good pace with several chilling twists in this woman's mind set, actions and decisions that changed many events in history.