The Confessions of Catherine de Medici

A Novel

By: C. W. Gortner

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 15 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Catherine de Medici was one of history’s most powerful and influential women. To some, she was the ruthless queen who led France into an era of savage violence. To others, she was the passionate savior of the French monarchy. In this brilliantly imagined novel, acclaimed author C. W. Gortner brings Catherine to life in her own voice, allowing us to enter the intimate world of a woman whose determination to protect her family’s throne and realm plunged her into a lethal struggle for power.

From the fairy-tale chateaux of the Loire Valley to the battlefields of the wars of religion to the mob-filled streets of Paris, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici is the extraordinary untold journey of one of the most maligned and misunderstood women ever to be queen.

©2010 C. W. Gortner (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The notorious Catherine de Medici emerges as a flesh-and-blood woman in this masterful recounting of her life.” (Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author)

“Remarkably thoughtful in its insight into an unapologetically ruthless queen.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Gortner breathes…life into his queen. Historical fiction fans will appreciate the vivid details of Renaissance France.” ( Library Journal)

could not put book down.

very interesting and well told. kept me captivated through out the story. a great read.

Great narration & book. I felt eager to listen!

first off I loved the story line. I really want to commend the narrator for keeping each character unique and interesting. Some narrators keep the same voice for each character and it really kills a good book for me. I couldn't listen to this one fast enough. It made me eager to leave and come home from work.

Good, solid genre fiction about an amazing woman

Catherine de Medici's life from birth to death. Catherine is a very interesting character, and I did not know before the book that she'd spent some of her youth with Savonarola's nuns - which for a Medici, was bad news. I already knew quite a bit about her reign as Queen of France. There's a bit that is 100% fiction about her relationship with a key Protestant, but it's an interesting diversion. Good, solid reader.

Great book!

Great book! I enjoyed this book and will recommend it! Narrator did a great job.

wonderful!!

It held my attention. I've never listened to a more amazing and captive book.

Too long

While I love stories of royal intrigue and the chess game of medieval kingdoms, this one is too long and becomes very tedious.

The reader is fine, but annoying. She struggles to maintain a voice for the characters and pronounces non-English words in an odd manner. She also has the strangest roll to her R, it's almost as if she's gagging on it.

What a woman

As I loved his "Last Queen", so did I love this book! And it only cost me one credit from Audible.com!

As with "Last Queen", Catherine de Medici becomes more than a by-word for 'evil'. Her early life is one that today's accused would blame for whatever they did in the present, so deeply was she hurt. Her times were hard for women, especially for women of intelligence. As they effected her, the 'times' and 'places' are also characters in the story.

C. W. Gortner showed me a very complex and deeply emotional woman, both strong willed and determined. Oh how she loved her family! Maybe too much. She was every bit "The Queen"! The Ruler! She who would have her way come hell or high water! As I listen to Cassandra Campbell's narration, I felt compelled to listen until the wee hours of the morning. I had to find out more about her and what she would do and why.

Cassandra Campbell voice was perfect for C. W. Gortner's grand story of this woman!

very entertaining....

As someone who likes t.v. shows like the Tudors and Reign I found this book entertaining. I thought Cassandra Campbell did a great job as well.

Very well done!

As a history lover I know who Catherine de Medici is but not a lot about her details. Took a chance on this book and could not stop listening. Loved the story, loved the narration. This is a great tale of a strong, intelligent woman!

Not at all historically accurate

Usually writers take some liberties but at least use history as a framework. The author here includes magic (though not as execrable as Gregory's obsession with Melusina) and made up or fleshed out rumors of love stories. That is fine. But she also elides out 20% of de' Medici's children and entire kingships of principal players. She can't decide whether de' Medici is motivated by love or dedication to France, and ends up with a muddled and powerless character. As a lover of historical fiction, I was disappointed.