Orphaned in infancy, Catherine de Medici was the sole legitimate heiress to the Medici family fortune. Married at fourteen to the future Henri II of France, she was constantly humiliated by his influential mistress Diane de Poitiers. When her husband died as a result of a duelling accident in Paris, Catherine was made queen regent during the short reign of her eldest son (married to Mary Queen of Scots and like many of her children he died young). When her second son became king she was the power behind the throne. She nursed dynastic ambitions, but was continually drawn into political and religious intrigues between catholics and protestants that plagued France for much of the later part of her life. It had always been said that she was implicated in the notorious Saint Barthlomew's Day Massacre, together with the king and her third son who succeeded to the throne in 1574, but was murdered. Her political influence waned, but she survived long enough to ensure the succession of her son-in-law who had married her daughter Margaret.

About the Author

Swedish by birth, but educated in Britain, Leonie Frieda speaks five languages and is a member of the Institute of Linguists. Her long interest in Catherine de Medici has taken her to archives in Paris, Florence, Rome and Madrid, as well as the chateaux of the Loire. She lives in London.

Prizes

Debut of a great new talent as a historical biographer Hardback has been reprinted six times - 20,000 copies already sold 'Her book paints a most fascinating picture of French court life. The political complexities are kept mercifully clear, the main lines of rivalry sharp, the characters vivid' Anne Wroe, Daily Telegraph 'This masterful and compelling biography...it is narrative history at its best, both scholarly and as captivating as a thriller. She has brought a largely forgotten heroine-villainess and a whole sumptuously vicious era to life again. She is equally at home in the luxurious debauchery of the royal court as she is in the blood-reeking gutters of Paris: this is The Godfather meets Elizabeth' Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday

Reviews

'well-written and engaging.' -- Sally Cousins THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'this dense often funny account... it is full of choice details.' -- Robbie Hudson THE SUNDAY TIMES 'It's a tale of poisonings, duels, black magic and incest that Frieda does full justice to in this detailed by colourful study' -- Simon Beckett THE OBSERVER 'a scholarly yet immensely readable biography.' WATERSTONE'S QUARTERLY 'she's written a history book that has al the pace and excitement of a novel, a rare achievement indeed.' CHOICE 'it is skilfully written and on balance sympathetic to Catherine's stewardship.' -- Owen Dawson THE IRISH TIMES