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pocketvolcano's review against another edition
5.0
I had always read about King Francis I as a character in a book about the Tudors; Catherine Di Medici; or in an overarching book about that time in history. When I saw that there was a recent book devoted to him, I bought it immediately and was not disappointed. The authoress has a wonderful way with words and is a fantastic writer. She presents King Francis in all his flaws and glories and makes a solid case for him as the founder of modern France. I’m making it a point to read her book on Catherine Di Medici as soon as possible.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as her Catherine de' Medici book, but I think the problem might be the subject matter more than the writing.
laileanah's review
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This is extremely easy reading and very interesting to boot.
Upon my reread I removed a star because I am shocked this historian ignores the Armagnac Burgundian Civil War in a biography about France. This war is a sister war to the War of the Roses in England also set during the Hundred Years War. To neglect to mention the importance of this war on France while mentioning the War of the Roses seems more than an oversize and is unforgivable in my opinion.
Original Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this. From the content to the narrator of the audiobook.
What a fascinating and complicated period in European history.
So many colorful and horrible characters abound during this period.
Upon my reread I removed a star because I am shocked this historian ignores the Armagnac Burgundian Civil War in a biography about France. This war is a sister war to the War of the Roses in England also set during the Hundred Years War. To neglect to mention the importance of this war on France while mentioning the War of the Roses seems more than an oversize and is unforgivable in my opinion.
Original Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this. From the content to the narrator of the audiobook.
What a fascinating and complicated period in European history.
So many colorful and horrible characters abound during this period.
duchessofreadin's review against another edition
5.0
Francis I of France has long been overshadowed in history. He lived through the times of Henry VIII and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Leonie Frieda breathes life back into one of the major players in European policies and military movements, in such a way that you feel as though you are walking through the halls of the french palaces.
Francis was not born with the promise of a great future, but through his mother and her endless working and dealing, he claimed the French throne. As he sought to bring France into the newer Renaissance era, he also managed to make himself one of the most enigmatic figures of the time. While he lacked Henry VIII's flair of marrying and throwing off of wives, Francis did his maneuvering through military show and treaties. Eventually, much of this backfired on the monarch, who was seen as unable to carry through with the majority of promises. Most monarchs at the time would have dealt with the treaties the same way, Francis almost took his to extremes. He wanted to prove himself time and time again, and that lack of faith in himself could have lead to the loss of throne more than once.
This book was a fascinating read. I was hooked from the beginning. Not only does the author lay out the life and death of Francis, but she also ushers in the next era, laying the groundwork for some of the more disastrous events that will befall France. Francis may have been the founder of the modern era in France, but it was his daughter in law that brought that dream to full fruition.
Francis was not born with the promise of a great future, but through his mother and her endless working and dealing, he claimed the French throne. As he sought to bring France into the newer Renaissance era, he also managed to make himself one of the most enigmatic figures of the time. While he lacked Henry VIII's flair of marrying and throwing off of wives, Francis did his maneuvering through military show and treaties. Eventually, much of this backfired on the monarch, who was seen as unable to carry through with the majority of promises. Most monarchs at the time would have dealt with the treaties the same way, Francis almost took his to extremes. He wanted to prove himself time and time again, and that lack of faith in himself could have lead to the loss of throne more than once.
This book was a fascinating read. I was hooked from the beginning. Not only does the author lay out the life and death of Francis, but she also ushers in the next era, laying the groundwork for some of the more disastrous events that will befall France. Francis may have been the founder of the modern era in France, but it was his daughter in law that brought that dream to full fruition.