Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65415 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Customer Reviews

Courtesan
Although in historical fiction circles Diane Haeger is not regarded as one of the best historical fiction authors this was a darn good read. The story of King Henry II of France and Diane de Poitiers, his mistress. This is a royal romance I know very little about in fact I only found out about it after Googling Diane to find a little background about the book. So that means I don't know if there were any historical inaccuracies, although from other reviews I believe there was although some say there wasn't.

But, whether or not there were lots of historical accuracies the love Diane and Henri shared seemed so powerful and a really beautiful love story. Diane did seem to be portrayed as quite perfect, whether she was in reality I don't know. I think possibly the author was very sympathetic to Diane as we have seen in other authors who are sympathetic to their subject.

It is a beautiful telling of a 30 year love affair with a woman and a man 16 years her junior, I would love to read more about them I understand there is another book about them by Princess Michael of Kent but, apparently its awful, pretty much like the woman herself (my opinion!)

Great, Great, Great
This is a fantastic novel about the love between Diane de Poitiers and Henri II. I can not recommend this novel enough; the historical accuracy is fantastic, the characterisations are detailed and believable, the love story itself is touching.... I knew nothing about thislove affair before I had read this book and now I am looking forward to learing more about 'Madame'. That is a great achievement for any book.

A fascinating bit of history bogged down by too much *romance*
Which is really a shame, because I found this bit of history fascinating and I'm now scrambling to find what will hopefully be more satisfying reads on the period. Haeger's novel is about the relationship between the future Henri II of France and Diane de Poitiers that began shortly after his return as a troubled young teen from imprisonment in Spain. Despite the twenty some year differences in their ages, Henri is enthralled with the widowed Diane and notwithstanding the anger of his father Francois and his marriage to Catherine de Medici the relationship remains strong throughout the rest of their lives and once Henri becomes King, Diane becomes a powerful woman.

That's pretty much the basic outline, most of what follows is known history and recapped enough in the other reviews I'm not going to rehash it again. It's a story begging to be told with all the things I love to find in a piece of historical fiction - a woman who is able to hold onto a King's love despite treachery, betrayal, passion, intrigues and schemes - what's not to love? Unfortunately the author let herself get mired in the romance and was never able to get herself out of it. All we hear is Diane's perfection in all things, her great beauty (if I heard about her alabaster skin one more time.....), Henri's unwavering adoration (it does get nauseating after a while), and gag me (!) those first love scenes at Chenonceau.

So, if you want to read a historical romance about a younger man and an older woman and don't mind a sloooooow paced start this might be the book for you. For me, this was a teaser that was ultimately unsatisfying and has left me hungry for something more on the topic. Until C.W. Gortner's book comes out next year I'm hoping The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici will do the trick. 3/5 stars.