This is not only the story of Catherine, it's also about her daughter Marguerite, the Queen of Navarre, and Catherine's rival, Diane de Poiters, who was her husband's (Henry II) mistress. You can imagine what a tale unfolds here!

The story of these three and the times in which they lived is one of those truly amusing side trips the scholar can take while pursuing a path of historical and/or literary interest.

The book is illustrated with photographs of paintings and drawings and is written in an entertaining style that brings people, events and locations to life in the imagination. The research is thorough as well. Whether or not you have a particular interest in Italian or French history, you'll find this an entertaining and informative read. Don't miss it if you can help it.

Before reading this book, I knew very little about Catherine de Medici and how her reputation as an evil queen came about. Author Strage does an excellent job of explaining young Catherine's life and how she came to be Queen of France. For the first twenty years of her marriage, she lived under the shadow of her husband's mistress Diane de Poitiers and again the author does an excellent job of explaining this strange relationship. After ten years of marriage, Catherine finally begins to bear children and these children will become the key players in the latter half of her life. Three sons will succeed their father as kings while one daughter will marry Henri of Navarre and eventually he will succeed to the kingdom of France. However, the religious wars of the period (between Protestants and Catholics) must first be fought. Catherine has a major part to play in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre and this infamous act will color all the rest of her life as perceived by future historians.

The books is very well written and especially accessible. You do not need to know a lot about the time period to understand all the characters and their motivation. I would recommend this book as good for someone just beginning to review this time in history.

This is the kind of biography that's a joy to read, and I'llhappily read anything Strage has written. He writes with humor andinsight, painting a vivid picture of the people and the times. He knows how to keep things moving along. He includes the fascinating details that illuminate the time (what herbs were used to treat an illness, or exactly how that prisoner was tortured), yet doesn't get bogged down in needless explanation. You don't have to be an expert in 16th century France to enjoy this book.

The first time I picked up this book I just skimmed it. It was so interesting that I then read it from cover to cover. Informative, interesting. The author covered the subject very well. I would read parts of it again and again.

This book should be required reading for the members of the human race. An absolutey enthralling account of how man's fixation with his sexuality has helped shaped society and history. Strage did an outstanding job in his research, and his analysis is nothing less than brilliant. I guarantee that you will never be able to look at the world in the same way again.