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Young Queens
- Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power
- Narrated by: Olivia Dowd
- Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins
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Young Queens
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Summary
WATERSTONES' BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: HISTORY
The boldly original, dramatic intertwined story of Catherine de’ Medici, Elisabeth de Valois and Mary, Queen of Scots – three queens exercising power in a world dominated by men.
'Alluring, gripping, real: an astonishing insight into the lives of three queens' ALICE ROBERTS
'Takes us into the hearts and minds of three extraordinary women' AMANDA FOREMAN
'Conveys the vitality of the past as few books do. An enviable tour de force' SUZANNAH LIPSCOMB
Sixteenth-century Europe: Renaissance masters paint the ceilings of Florentine churches, kings battle for control of the Continent, and the Reformation forever changes the religious organisation of society. Amidst it all, three young women come of age and into power in an era of empires and revolutions.
Catherine de’ Medici’s story begins in a convent stormed by soldiers intent on seizing the key to power in Florence – Catherine herself, a girl barely 11 years old. It ends with her as the controversial queen mother of France, a woman both revered and reviled.
Mary, Queen of Scots’ story begins in Scotland and ends in England. A queen turned traitor, from the confines of her English prison she longs for the idyll of her childhood in France. Elisabeth de Valois’ story begins in France, where she is born the beloved daughter of a king. It ends tragically in Spain as a cherished queen consort and mother – one who must make the ultimate sacrifice for her kingdom.
Catherine, Mary and Elisabeth lived at the French court together for many years before scattering to different kingdoms. These years bound them to one another through blood and marriage, alliance and friendship, love and filial piety; bonds that were tested when the women were forced to part and take on new roles. To rule, they would learn, was to wage a constant war against the deeply entrenched misogyny of their time. A crown could exalt a young woman. Equally, it could destroy her.
Drawing on new archival research, Young Queens masterfully weaves the personal stories of these three queens into one, revealing their hopes, dreams, desires and regrets in a time when even the most powerful women lived at the mercy of the state.
Critic reviews
"Amidst the turbulence of the 16th century, the lives of a Queen Mother, a Queen Consort and a Queen Regnant became irrevocably entangled as they restitched the tapestry of Europe with the thread of five great houses. Both an evocative re-imagination of political history and a meditation on the nature of queenship, Young Queens is a tour de force of storytelling." (Nadine Akkerman)
"This exceptionally researched narrative successfully weaves together the stories of three of the most intriguing queens in sixteenth-century Europe, revealing them to be integral parts both of one another's lives and the complex worlds in which they lived. Leah Redmond Chang expertly navigates the tumultuous waters of the French, Spanish, and Scottish courts, and in so doing brings these fascinating queens to brilliant and vivid life." (Nicola Tallis)
What listeners say about Young Queens
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. F
- 24-06-23
Captivating Queens brought to life
This book is a remarkable account of some of the most influential women of the 16th century. The story draws you into the lives of three queens and their struggle to rule at a time when women were not looked upon as leaders. It beautifully outlines how their lives were intertwined and expertly portrays the bonds between these Renaissance royals. It is captivating and the author effortlessly draws you in with each chapter. Skilfully written and beautifully read. I disagree that Olivia’s narration did anything to detract from the story. It was a joy to listen to and the story really brings history to life.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 10-04-24
Interesting and well researched
I’ve read a lot of books about Tudor women and Mary Queen of Scots so was interesting to learn about other Queens at the time
I don’t agree with other reviews that narrator ruined it - I thought it was easy listening and enjoyed the book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- P.
- 16-06-23
Well written and very interesting!
A good book on the lives of catherine de medici, elizabeth de valois and mary queen of scots. I do not agree with one of the other reviewers that the performance of the person reading this book is poor. She does mispronounce some names and place names yes but she has a pleasant voice and a good intonation.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MABS
- 05-11-23
Very good
There are several books on the relationship between Mary of Scotland and Elizabeth I. However those two women, while their lives were heavily intertwined for decades, never met in person. This book looks at the at times close and at times diverging lives of three women who had lived close , interconnected lives. Two were ‘foreigners’ in France and one became a foreigner on marriage and moving to live the rest of her life in Spain.
This is the second biography of Catherine de’ Medici life I’ve read and I absolutely devoured it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Carol
- 01-06-23
Richly informative but ruined by the performance
I have found this book very interesting and informative, both about the history of the period and about the lives of the queens it describes. With a wealth of detail offered from the letters cited, in particular, it builds a picture of both the characters of the queens and of their lives and difficulties.
However, the book is sadly let down by its reader. I imagine that Olivia Dowd claimed to be able to pronounce French. She can't! She mangles so many of the pronunciations of the names alone that it is a constant irritation to anyone with an educated ear. Her pronunciation of English words often goes awry as well. I can never understand why some people, paid to read audiobooks, don't do their homework a little better. It can ruin the listener's experience. It certainly has mine. It also lets the author down.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alice C.
- 05-11-23
Fascinating
Fascinating account of 3 (4 if you include Elizabeth Tudor) powerful women in the 15th C when women were little more than trading tools/child bearers.
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