duchessina a novel of catherine de medici carolyn meyer

Catherine knows that in order to secure her future, she must produce a male heir. Her husband is not interested in her, preferring his much older mistress. Married at the young age of fourteen, Catherine’s marriage is not happy.

After three years at the convent, she is finally set free, only to learn she is to be married to Henri II, prince of France, in a political union. For her own protection, she was kept locked in her home or secluded in a convent for most of her early years. But that did not make her childhood happy. Orphaned at a young age and heir to a vast fortune, Catherine de' Medici was one of the wealthiest young women in 16th century Europe. The Dauphin cares little for his new wife and Catherine's misery continues, but she creates advantages to help ease her pain and eventually finds contentment.Ī wonderful outlook on the creation of Madame Serpent, remembered in history as the 'girl who endured.' Carolyn Meyer takes another historical princess and adds strong characters and rich details to spin a delightful tale. He marries the Duchessina off to the Dauphin of France.

The Pope, her old guardian, calls for her to live in Rome until he can make arrangements for her future.Īs one of the richest woman in Europe, the Pope intends to make an advantageous marriage. Finally, the tides change and her family once again controls not only Florence but the papacy as well. The Duchessina lives in misery, enduring the pain as best she can under the circumstances. At the first convent, the nuns make their hatred of her family no secret. She becomes imprisoned within the walls of convents for her protection against the angry mob that calls for her death. When her family falls out of power, she must flee. Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for Ĭatherine de'Medici, Duchessina, grows up in a palace in Florence where her family rules the city.

Duchessina a novel of catherine de medici carolyn meyer