Renaissance historian Mary Hollingsworth's Catherine de' Medici: The Life and Times of the Serpent Queen is a captivating, peerlessly researched biography that animates the enigmatic figure of Catherine de' Medici, who has been depicted throughout history (along with other members of her family) as conniving and power hungry. Hollingsworth challenges this one-dimensional image of Medici as the titular "Serpent Queen," offering instead a nuanced and sympathetic portrait of a woman who'd been a political pawn since birth as she navigated the treacherous waters of 16th-century European politics.
Hollingsworth's depiction of Medici's life, her complicated relationship with her husband and his mistress, her unwavering devotion to family, and her tireless efforts to maintain stability in a kingdom on the brink of civil war paint a vivid picture of a multifaceted person who was far more than a mere political operative. The book is filled with fascinating perspectives and insights into Medici's life, from her childhood in Florence to her tumultuous reign as queen mother of France.
Hollingsworth presents Medici in all her intelligence, resilience, and family loyalty. Readers see her not as a coldhearted schemer but as a fiercely protective mother of her children--three of whom became kings of France--a patron of the arts, and a skilled diplomat who ceaselessly sought peace in a kingdom torn apart by religious conflict.
Although the book does not shy away from the darker aspects of Medici's life, such as her involvement in the slaughter of French Protestants in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, it presents a contextualized view of her actions. This is a critical resource for readers of history. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, Wash.