La Reine Margot

Rating:
Summary: Tres, tres bien!
Review: I adore this book; but then, I adore most of the work of Alexandre Dumas. This is a fabulous work of historical fiction; Dumas' roots as an actual historian are displayed here. The history is not quite accurate-- romance and drama were obviously the author's priorities this time-- but is close enough to help high school students nail European history exams. Trust me on this one.

The characters are vibrant (especially Margot, which is something of a surprise because Dumas' female characters are not as often sympathetic as are his male characters); the plot is intricate; and the adventure and emotion run high. Margot is daughter, sister, and wife to kings of France, so you know that a great deal of intrigue will be present as well.

I have a small complaint about the translation. Sometimes the translator's decision to leave a word in French or translate it seems arbitrary. Additionally, sometimes a badly chosen English word interrupts the flow of the story. However, this minor annoyance should not dissuade anyone from reading a truly thrilling five-star book.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good :)
Review: La Reine Margot was, in my opinion, a pretty good story. There is lots of deception on the part of the Queen de Medicis, one of the more fascinating characters in the story. The book gives a glimpse of France during the Huguenot/Catholic struggle for power. The beginning is slow, but the story is good. I found it difficult (not being familiar with the history) to learn the characters' names. The first chapter is particularly trying, but I pressed on and the book seemed to ease up a LOT and give way to a story of plotted murders, backstabbing, a little superstition/witchcraft, and many close calls. La Reine Margot wasn't nearly as good as The Count of Monte Cristo (if you have not read this, it is definitely a page turner!), but it was a good story that gives a little insight into history while livening it up with Dumas's sword-fighting, heroic style. Notice that I tend to be a little harsh by granting it three stars, but this is only because The Count of Monte Cristo was truly his best work and must be set apart from his others.

Rating:
Summary: Spellbound
Review: The previous review was right on the money. Having said that I will add that, not being 100% fluent in French, I thought I would have a tough go of it at the beginning, with all the Msr. & M., but I found it to be a spellbinding tale of intrigue and historical significance set in a time when civility even applied to one's worst enemy.

Rating:
Summary: A historical French soap-opera
Review: This is a Historical novel that takes place in France, in the XVIth century. There's a very very bad black widow -as a matter of fact, black mother as well this is Catherine of Médicis-, a beautiful and amorous young queen married to somebody she does not love but with whom she forms an alliance just in order not to be a widow herself and go to a convent, a romantic heroe, his true friend -who sometimes loves him a little bit too much and a bunch of intriguers. Alexandre Dumas, in his newspaper serial style - this novel was first published that way-, interweave different stories aboiding boring descriptions and getting to the point: quick dialogue, short chapters, attractive characters, and everything to catch you from the first page, which he achieves. It really is a page turner, with several love stories that never goes with marriage and several marriages that never goes with love but with alliances. I have read that some United States reviewers are a bit confused because of the historical part and that's a problem unless you know European History or have a book with comments and notes. If you end the book and want to know what happened afterwards, read British Enciclopedia or something like that, because all characters are historical, even the Romantic hero La Mole and his friend. To those that have seen the 1990s French movie, you have the advantage of imagining the whole story with the beautiful faces of Isabelle Adjani and Vincent Perez, and the great soundtrack and spectacular staging from his director, which reminds of an opera. To those who doesn't I'd say go to your videoclub and try to find it!! It's not a substitute but a perfect complement.

Rating:
Summary: A historical French soap-opera
Review: This is a Historical novel that takes place in France, in the XVIth century. There's a very very bad black widow -as a matter of fact, black mother as well this is Catherine of Médicis-, a beautiful and amorous young queen married to somebody she does not love but with whom she forms an alliance just in order not to be a widow herself and go to a convent, a romantic heroe, his true friend -who sometimes loves him a little bit too much and a bunch of intriguers. Alexandre Dumas, in his newspaper serial style - this novel was first published that way-, interweave different stories aboiding boring descriptions and getting to the point: quick dialogue, short chapters, attractive characters, and everything to catch you from the first page, which he achieves. It really is a page turner, with several love stories that never goes with marriage and several marriages that never goes with love but with alliances. I have read that some United States reviewers are a bit confused because of the historical part and that's a problem unless you know European History or have a book with comments and notes. If you end the book and want to know what happened afterwards, read British Enciclopedia or something like that, because all characters are historical, even the Romantic hero La Mole and his friend. To those that have seen the 1990s French movie, you have the advantage of imagining the whole story with the beautiful faces of Isabelle Adjani and Vincent Perez, and the great soundtrack and spectacular staging from his director, which reminds of an opera. To those who doesn't I'd say go to your videoclub and try to find it!! It's not a substitute but a perfect complement.

Rating:
Summary: fun, great novel on court intrigue
Review: This is a lesser known Dumas novel than, say, the Count of Monte Christo. But it is just as good as the others he did: vivid personalities, attention to detail, and fabulously intricate plots. It tells the story of Margot and her marriage to the King of Navarre, an ambitious Hugenot in constant danger of assassination. With the backdrop of the religious wars, she finds love in a knight that she attempts to cloister from the dangers of court intrigue. It ends in tragedy, hope, and the promise of further adventure.

Based on available historical sources at the time and embellished with Dumas' unique sense of drama, it is a spectacular read, full of danger, sudden developments, and psychological depth. While it may not be as deep as Stendhal's best works, it is absolutely first rate as a historical novel, a genre that Dumas helped to develop. It stimulates the reader's desire to plung more deeply into French history as well.

High recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: swashbuckling and intrigue
Review: This is Dumas at his almost-finest, very vivid and exciting, great characters and plot, even Nostradamus! As fine as Sir Walter Scott's Kenilworth. The reason that the title is given in French is because it would translate as Queen Madge, which doesn't sound so good.

Rating:
Summary: swashbuckling and intrigue
Review: This is Dumas at his almost-finest, very vivid and exciting, great characters and plot, even Nostradamus! As fine as Sir Walter Scott's Kenilworth. The reason that the title is given in French is because it would translate as Queen Madge, which doesn't sound so good.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing piece of historical fiction
Review: This is one of my favorite novels by Dumas. Spellbinding to the end, it follows young Margot and her power-hungry family from the St. Bartholemew's Day Massacre to King Louis' death. Dumas is at his finest, rivaling The Count of Monte Cristo with his provoking prose and poetic descriptions. The characters and plot, based loosely on real figures and events in French history, evoke a variety of emotions in the reader and the final chapters leave one breathless. If you plan on reading any book by Dumas (besides the Count), read THIS one.