A review by halkid2
The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland
4.0
I'm a big fan of Sandra Guilland -- loved her three novel series about Josephine Bonaparte. This was also a quick and very enjoyable read!
Although this book is advertised as being about the court of Louis XIV and his mistress, Athenais de Montespan -- both are more peripheral, though important characters. The central protagonist is Claude des Oeillets as she moves in and out of Parisien theatre in the 1600s. The rivalries between Pierre Corneille and Moliere, followed by the appearance of Racine-- all of them vying for the king's favor -- make interesting reading. Claude, who comes from a family of actors, eventually finding her way into Athenais's service, where she is exposed to the brutal rivalries of court. These are similar in many ways to theatre, as is the competition between Louis's mistresses. It all makes for fascinating reading.
Although this book is advertised as being about the court of Louis XIV and his mistress, Athenais de Montespan -- both are more peripheral, though important characters. The central protagonist is Claude des Oeillets as she moves in and out of Parisien theatre in the 1600s. The rivalries between Pierre Corneille and Moliere, followed by the appearance of Racine-- all of them vying for the king's favor -- make interesting reading. Claude, who comes from a family of actors, eventually finding her way into Athenais's service, where she is exposed to the brutal rivalries of court. These are similar in many ways to theatre, as is the competition between Louis's mistresses. It all makes for fascinating reading.