I always think that read about history is fascinating! It always makes me wonder, how is possible to humans, searching for power and wealth, do whatever they want, not caring if their acts will bring suffering for people. And history is, almost all the time, about that. One wanting more power than another, one thinking that his/her believes are true and the other, not. It's so crazy and so sad! And more i read about St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, more i think that it was an abominable act! Catherine de' Medici didn't want to lose her power as Queen Regent on throne, and as Philip of Spain was constantly questioning her faith, she decides to use Charles' mental disorder and bring the killing on the huguenots. The cruelty that happened during days on France, was totally full of terror and butchery! Catherine's decision, makes Charles become even more crazy and sick. He became the mad King. She use all her power to keep the throne, so Henry can become a King. She plots against the lifes of innocents, she doesn't care for Margot, she doesn't care for no one, just Henry. Seriously, i think Catherine was the Evil on earth. A mother that instigate the cruelty to scare her sick son, to make him become even more mad, a mother that wanted the sons dead, so she could place her favorite on throne and a mother that would beat a daughter, till she loose consciousness, that's impossible to don't see her as an evil woman! Of course, besides that, there're so many assassinating by her command! But at the end, she did so many bad deeds to put her "ALL" (Henry) on throne, and it was a huge disappointment. Henry was a fop, useless person. As his mother, Henry was also hated by french people! All Henry cared was to keep his extravagances, while the french people were starving. After reading this trilogy, i believe the House of Valois were the wickedest family who ever ruled on France! Catherine never was loved and because of that, her only wish was to rule, to have power. She was indeed a Madame Serpent, the Queen Jezebel! That was another excellent reading!
Like Book Two in the Catherine de Medici trilogy, this final instalment features many more characters and follows events in their lives. Thus, in a sense it’s better to have more variation, but I still prefer Book One – “Madame Serpent” – for its more limited yet more engrossing themes. Catherine is even less to the fore in this third novel than in the previous one. She’s more like the central character, rather than the main one. Catherine only cares for her third-oldest son, who becomes France’s Henry III. The rest of her children are scared of their mother – a mother who’d readily see them dead if it meant advancement for her favourite son, though he strikes me as a complete and utter waste of space. It’s hard to feel any warmth for someone of Catherine’s nature, but she nevertheless is the best-drawn character of the book. She, like the real Catherine de Medici, is a fascinating woman. Much of her reputation is based on rumours and on the reputation that sixteenth-century Italians had for poisoning those who stood in their way. Even so, there’s evidence enough to show she was no saint.My favourite character is Margot, Catherine’s daughter who married Henry of Navarre, France’s future Henry IV, founder of the Bourbon monarchy.Although I like the first in the trilogy best, while also preferring the second instalment above this third one, “Queen Jezebel” still proved to be an entertaining read.
What do You think about Queen Jezebel (2006)?
This was the best book of the trilogy. There was a lot of action and drama which the first two books (especially the first one) lacked. The book ends with the death of Catherine de Medici (I don't consider this a spoiler - a trilogy written about one historical person will probably end with the death of that person), but that kind of leaves certain events unresolved, so I've jumped straight into Evergreen Gallant (about Henri of Navarre). There is some overlap between the trilogy and the Navarre book, but I think it will resolve the events left in the trilogy after Catherine died.
—Sara W
I haven't even read the other two books in this trilogy, but I think this book stands alone as a good read. I thought that Plaidy really had a feel for the period and the people involved, especially Catherine herself; described so effectively she genuinely gave me the creeps....Queen Jezebel has completely changed my outlook on French history as a whole, and now I want to learn more about Catherine and her family. Written back in the 50's, I don't think this book has aged at all, and manages to remain a story as opposed to historical lecture.
—Joshua Pascoe
The novel Queen Jezebel by Jean Plaidy recounts the details of Catherine de Medici's later life. This is the third and final book of her life. Of the three novels, this is the most turbulent. It depicts her incredibly shrewdness, calculating mind, and mistrust of everyone around her, including her sons. Determined to end the hostility between the Catholics and Huguenots, Catherine arranges a political marriage between her Catholic daughter Margot and the Huguenot King Henry of Navarre. But this marriage failed to bring about the peace between the rival groups. As her control over her son, the king, wanes, she convinces him that there is a plot to assassinate him. This prompts Charles to launch the St Bartholomew day massacre to rid France of Huguenots.The dreadful murders of Henry Guise and Jeanne Navarre play a pivotal role in this book, giving readers insight and a deeper understanding of her sordid motivations and craftiness of this formidable and cunning queen. Like the previous two books in this series, Catherine's life is brought to life with vivid details and includes all the main characters of the period. Powerful liaisons, treachery, debauchery, hate, love, and cunning machinations to gain power unfold with clarity and excitement in this final installment. If you are intrigued with Catherine de Medici, then this is a novel not to be overlooked. It is the most comprehensively detailed book about her life. Highly recommended.
—Mirella
