We have all grown up with the notion that being princess or a queen is a fantasy to aspire to. In writing Antoinette's Sister, I wanted to explore if that fantasy was attainable or if royalty had the same struggles as the rest of us commoners. As the long-time co-host of the Wine, Women and Words Literary podcast I have had the pleasure of reading and interviewing a number of authors who also explored this concept.
Antoinette’s Sister is the story of Queen Maria Carolina of The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. When she is forced, by her domineering mother, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria to marry King Ferdinand she is beside herself with grief. The King is rumored to be a dimwit who would rather play games than rule his country. Taking control of the kingdom, she finds a steady balance between ruling and family until the unthinkable happens. As the French Revolution breaks out, Maria Carolina is on the verge of losing her favorite sister, Marie Antionette, and finds herself face-to-face with the world’s most cunning general, Napoleon Bonaparte.
You always remember your first. This was the book that started my fascination with the pressures of being a queen, it also started my fascination with the Tudor monarchy. We all know the tragic story of Anne Boleyn but to have it told from the perspective of her sister was so refreshing.
The acclaimed international bestseller of the Tudor court, during the years of Henry VIII's pursuit of Anne Boleyn - and the revolutionary sequence of events that followed.
1521. Young Mary Boleyn arrives at court, maid in waiting and favourite to Queen Katherine of Aragon.
Yet Mary catches the eye of the capricious king and - propelled by the ambitions of the powerful Boleyn family - she betrays her queen, and takes her place as Henry VIII's new mistress.
But while Mary is in childbed, a rival comes to court - her sister Anne, a…
I love Vanessa’s writing style. Through her novel, we learn about Dolly Kirwan Thomas, a former slave who rose to be the most powerful woman in the Caribbean. Through this book, we get to see another side of the 18th century and the harsh realities of colonialism, and one woman’s journey to rise above it.
"Riveting and transformative, evocative and immersive...by turns vibrant and bold and wise, discovering Dorothy's story is a singular pleasure."--The New York Times
A remarkable, sweeping historical novel based on the incredible true life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a free Black woman who rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners in the colonial West Indies.
Born into slavery on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, Doll bought her freedom-and that of her sister and her mother-from her Irish planter father and built a legacy of wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier, and…
People in history are remembered as being larger than life. Likewise, people are either characterized as villains or heroes but to the extreme. There are many stories about Empress Wu, but Weina Dai Randel was able to demystify her and make her a relatable human whose story can still inspire us.
"Randel's gorgeous debut novel seductively pulls back the curtain to reveal the heartbreaking world of...China."-Stephanie Dray, NYT bestselling Author of America's First Daughter A thrilling work of historical fiction, bringing romance, intrigue, and the unexpected rise of an Empress to intoxicating life under the inscrutable moon. In Tang Dynasty China, a concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the Emperor's attention. Many hope to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of…
Everyone knows about Josephine Bonaparte but what about the woman who came before, Desiree Clary? While the future Queen of Sweden was Napoleon’s first love, she eventually finds herself at odds with one of the greatest generals. I loved reading about another side of the French Revolution and what Napoleon was like before he was famous.
A sweeping novel about the extraordinary woman who captured Napoleon’s heart, created a dynasty, and changed the course of history—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor's Wife, The Accidental Empress, and Sisi
“I absolutely loved The Queen’s Fortune, the fascinating, little-known story of Desiree Clary—the woman Napoleon left for Josephine—who ultimately triumphed and became queen of Sweden.”—Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls
As the French revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the life-altering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone and it’s fallen on her…
There are some books that stick with you, years after you read them, andThe Confessions of Catherine Medici is one such book. Being the Queen of France might sound good on paper but the struggles that Catherine went through. There is delicious court drama and a woman coming into her own.
“The Confessions of Catherine de Medici is a dramatic, epic novel of an all-too-human woman whose strength and passion propelled her into the center of grand events. Meticulously-researched, this engrossing novel offers a fresh portrait of a queen who has too often been portrayed as a villain. Bravo Mr. Gortner!”—Sandra Gulland, author of The Josephine B Trilogy and Mistress of the Sun
The truth is, not one of us is innocent. We all have sins to confess. So reveals Catherine de Medici, the last legitimate descendant of her family’s illustrious line. Expelled from her native Florence, Catherine is betrothed to…
When Lara was four years old, her father moved from Rochester, New York, to Anchorage, Alaska, a distance of over 4,000 miles. She spent her childhood chasing after him, flying a quarter of the way around the world to tug at the hem of his jacket.
Now that he is in his eighties, she contemplates her obligation to an absentee father. The Truth About Unringing Phones is an exploration of responsibility and culpability told in experimental and fragmented essays.
When Lara was four years old, her father moved from Rochester, New York, to Anchorage, Alaska, a distance of over 4,000 miles. She spent her childhood chasing after him, flying a quarter of the way around the world to tug at the hem of his jacket. Now that he is in his eighties, she contemplates her obligation to an absentee father.
The Truth About Unringing Phones: Essays on Yearning is an exploration of responsibility and culpability told in experimental and fragmented essays.
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