Francis I

By: Leonie Frieda

Narrated by: Carole Boyd

Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of Catherine de Medici returns to 16th-century Europe in this evocative and entertaining biography that re-creates a remarkable era of French history and brings to life a great monarch - Francis I - who turned France into a great nation.

Catherine de Medici's father-in-law, King Francis of France, was the perfect Renaissance knight, the movement's exemplar and its Gallic interpreter. An aesthete, diplomat par excellence, and contemporary of Machiavelli, Francis was the founder of modern France, whose sheer force of will and personality molded his kingdom into the first European superpower. Arguably the man who introduced the Renaissance to France, Francis was also the prototype Frenchman - a national identity was modeled on his character. So great was his stamp that few countries even now are quite so robustly patriotic as is France. Yet as Leonie Frieda reveals, Francis did not always live up to his ideal; a man of grand passions and vision, he was also a flawed husband, father, lover, and king.

With access to private archives that have never been used in a study of Francis I, Frieda explores the life of a man who was the most human of the monarchs of the period - and yet remains the most elusive.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 Leonie Frieda (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group

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4 out of 5 stars

By BobMichael on 10-15-22

Entertaining

Very enjoyable, although occasionally too many names and titles without adequate detail or context. Pronounciation of "landsknecht" totally wrong and irritating.

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4 out of 5 stars

By Laileanah on 06-03-20

fascinating and fast paced

I thoroughly enjoyed this look at Frane's Renaissance King and in many ways foolish knight, Francis I.
This is really an extremely interesting period in European History, frightening as it devolves into colonial theft and chattel slavery but interesting none the less.
So many colorful characters: Charles V of Spain & Hapsurg Austria/Netherlands+, Suleman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire, Henry VIII of England and of course the multiple Popes during this time period.

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3 out of 5 stars

By Evan on 09-21-20

Questionably researched

The reading overall is quite pleasant. The writing is less so. Coming to this from a Charles V biography exposes a fundamental lack of research and attention to detail by the author, as well as a tendency to take historical (questionable) sources at face value.

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3 out of 5 stars

By Kindle Customer on 01-22-24

More than anybody needs to know

The last half was very interesting. The first half was excruciating detail on the infinite marriages & never ending deliances among the principles.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Adeliese Baumann on 09-29-18

Rekindling salamandrine fires...

Leonie Frieda was responsible for reawakening my interested in Valois history through her biography of Catherine de Medici. In this biography of Catherine's father-in-law, she brings to life an all but forgotten king.

Frieda's research and erudition are impressive, but her writing is always lively and intriguing, never dull. There is so little available in English about the Valois monarchs, apart from the dreck that passes for historical fiction and is propogated through the preposterous miniseries adapted therefrom! If you're really interested in the times of the Valois, read both of Frieda's excellent books instead.

Frieda makes the time period come to life, as she did with Catherine, and illustrates just how complicated, contradictory, and sometimes exasperating, François was. Many of his decisions are no less than baffling, while others are brilliant. Coddled by his mother, Louise of Savoy, he would also be led by other women in his life, sometimes disastrously so. Both a biography and a portrait of France, the book illuminates a France unfamiliar to many. Truly his reign set the foundation for French modernity in countless ways.

May you enjoy it as much as I did.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Kimberly K on 04-12-21

Very informative, interesting and easy to follow

I really like this biography. It gives little side note of information along the way without getting off track and doesn't get boring. The book also doesn't get bogged down with too many unnecessary details, as can sometimes be the case.

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3 out of 5 stars

By 2point71 on 06-23-18

A chronology, not an analysis

I purchased this book because I was intrigued by the subtitle 'The Maker of Modern France', having thought that if anyone deserves the title of 'maker of modern France' it's Richelieu or maybe Henri IV . However, there is nothing about this in the book. The book itself is a reasonably good description of Francis' rather pointless wars and feuds, particularly with Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII, as well as some interesting descriptions of life at his court. But that is it. Nothing about the growth of French Protestantism, nothing more than a passing mention of the growing power of the Guise, to name just two obvious omissions. I was hoping there would be _some_ sort of summing up in the penultimate chapter - nope, just a long description of Francis' funeral. So overall, this book was disappointing, it's more like a well written and very long Wikipedia article, and in no way lives up to its billing. Just go to Wikipedia, you'll probably learn about more and in a lot less time.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Georjaneknighthawk on 10-19-18

Excellent and well researched

This book helped me have a better grasp of French history and how it meshed with that of England, Italy, Spain, and other parts of the Holy Roman Empire. Great narration.

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1 out of 5 stars

By jdh737 on 01-01-19

Sadly, flat and boring account of Renaissance France

The details are more or less accurate but they are pieced together with out regard to the story. When we read history we look for the story to unfold. The characters are flat and boring in this account, sadly.
The narrative felt like a bold faced advertisement for the author’s previous book on Catherine de Medici. The facts do not support the authors claims that CdM was well liked in the french court, that she was beautiful or that Henri ll had any tender sentiments toward his wife whatsoever.
This book uses the final pages to abuse Diane De Poitiers. Where is that appropriate in an account of François I, I ask you? Wish I had saved my money.

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