Marguerite de Valois


Read by John Van Stan

(4.4 stars; 70 reviews)

A historical fiction novel set in Paris (1572) during Charles IX's reign and the French Wars of Religion. Marguerite de Valois, daughter of deceased Henry II, is the novel's protagonist set against the infamous schemes of the Catholic power player, Catherine de Medici. - Summary by Publisher (20 hr 34 min)

Chapters

Monsieur de Guise's Latin 28:29 Read by John Van Stan
The Queen of Navarre's Bedchamber 24:12 Read by John Van Stan
The Poet-King 24:58 Read by John Van Stan
The Evening of the 24th of August, 1572 16:48 Read by John Van Stan
Of the Louvre in Particular, and of Virtue in General 18:52 Read by John Van Stan
The Debt Paid 22:02 Read by John Van Stan
The Night of the 24th of August, 1572 30:16 Read by John Van Stan
The Massacre 22:20 Read by John Van Stan
The Murderers 28:01 Read by John Van Stan
Death, Mass, or the Bastille 27:51 Read by John Van Stan
The Hawthorn of the Cemetery of the Innocents 23:01 Read by John Van Stan
Mutual Confidences 16:07 Read by John Van Stan
How There Are Keys Which Open Doors They Are Not Meant For 21:49 Read by John Van Stan
The Second Marriage Night 18:36 Read by John Van Stan
What Woman Wills, God Wills 31:44 Read by John Van Stan
A Dead Enemy's Body Always Smells Sweet 25:39 Read by John Van Stan
Maitre Ambroise Pare's Confrere 15:48 Read by John Van Stan
The Ghosts 20:02 Read by John Van Stan
The Abode of Maitre Rene, Perfumer to the Queen Mother 25:58 Read by John Van Stan
The Black Hens 14:32 Read by John Van Stan
Madame de Sauve's Apartment 19:40 Read by John Van Stan
"Sire, You Shall be King" 12:03 Read by John Van Stan
A New Convert 27:11 Read by John Van Stan
The Rue Tizon and the Rue Cloche Percee 24:35 Read by John Van Stan
The Cherry-Colored Cloak 20:45 Read by John Van Stan
Margarita 15:51 Read by John Van Stan
The Hand of God 12:02 Read by John Van Stan
The Letter from Rome 13:12 Read by John Van Stan
The Departure 12:17 Read by John Van Stan
Maurevel 9:40 Read by John Van Stan
The Hunt 17:37 Read by John Van Stan
Fraternity 16:10 Read by John Van Stan
The Gratitude of King Charles IX 14:03 Read by John Van Stan
Man Proposes But God Disposes 21:50 Read by John Van Stan
A Night of Kings 15:48 Read by John Van Stan
The Anagram 12:15 Read by John Van Stan
The Return to the Louvre 22:28 Read by John Van Stan
The Girdle of the Queen Mother 18:57 Read by John Van Stan
Projects of Revenge 28:17 Read by John Van Stan
The Atrides 23:15 Read by John Van Stan
The Horoscope 15:46 Read by John Van Stan
Confidences 21:54 Read by John Van Stan
The Ambassadors 13:57 Read by John Van Stan
Orestes and Plyades 18:19 Read by John Van Stan
Orthon 22:54 Read by John Van Stan
The Inn of la Belle Etoile 17:40 Read by John Van Stan
De Mouy de Saint Phale 13:50 Read by John Van Stan
Two Heads for One Crown 24:09 Read by John Van Stan
The Treatise on Hunting 14:44 Read by John Van Stan
Hawking 18:24 Read by John Van Stan
The Pavilion of Francois I 16:26 Read by John Van Stan
The Examination 19:56 Read by John Van Stan
Acteon 14:06 Read by John Van Stan
The Forest of Vincennes 13:48 Read by John Van Stan
The Figure of Wax 23:45 Read by John Van Stan
The Invisible Bucklers 13:56 Read by John Van Stan
The Judges 19:55 Read by John Van Stan
The Torture of the Boot 18:03 Read by John Van Stan
The Chapel 9:46 Read by John Van Stan
The Place Saint Jean en Greve 10:52 Read by John Van Stan
The Headsman's Tower 18:39 Read by John Van Stan
The Sweat of Blood 10:16 Read by John Van Stan
The Donjon of the Prison of Vincennes 9:48 Read by John Van Stan
The Regency 9:39 Read by John Van Stan
The King is Dead! Long Love the King! 11:49 Read by John Van Stan
Epilogue 16:50 Read by John Van Stan

Reviews

Seriously Scary Villain!


(5 stars)

I just love this story! There's just so much blood and intrigue. Dumas makes Catherine d'Medici the scariest villain ever penned. Plus, there are sword fights, secret passages, traitorous plots, illicit romance, plenty of poison, trap doors that plunge their victims to deadly demise, torture, beheadings, all out massacre, fancy dresses, and horses! John Van Stan does a great job with the narration. Just don't listen before you try to sleep!

Spectacular and emotional


(3 stars)

Dumas does it again! this book was phenomenal; i couldn’t stop listening. in parts it had me breaking out in a cold sweat from genuine anxiety for the characters - in particular, de Mouy’s escape during the attempted arrest of the King of Navarre had me breathless. nevertheless, some of the characters fall flat to me - la Mole is never really anything other than in love with the queen, and never shows any concern for his difficulties in being forced to convert. his whole being revolves around being in love. Margot was a great strong character - i liked that she was clearly not in love with la Mole at first, but said she was to ensure his devotion, but falls for him at last. Coconnas and Henry de Navarre are my firm favourites - the way Coconnas conducted himself during his imprisonments, torture, and beheadings are sublime and read in Dumas’ characteristic way of marrying humorous prose with very serious situations. the epilogue ruined the tone of the book completely; i was in total emotional ruin and then the epilogue (complete with the dreaded ‘one year later’, arrives to kill de Mouy and Charlotte for no reason whatsoever other than to bum Henry out; there’s no narrative tension and Charlotte is another tragic woman killed to further a mans destiny. Margot isn’t even there! it didn’t even feel like the same book) the epilogue ruined it and for that reason i don’t give it 4 stars, but the rest of the book is truly excellent and i highly recommend it to anyone. Catherine de Medici is a criminal mastermind to the highest degree and remains level with Cardinal Richelieu as my favourite of Dumas’ villains. i loved it!

i loved it.


(5 stars)

you can adjust the speed in which he reads, first off. Second, Alexander wrote with such vivid images and the reader's voice was perfect for most of it, that combined together, I was at the edge of my seat through most. The scene with the king and Renee was written with such care, you would have thought you were in the story it's self. No offense to the reader but he's not perfect at doing a girl's voice. Over all I will definitely be suggesting it to friends.

OUTSTANDING!!


(5 stars)

This book had me in near constant suspense the entire time, due to the constant intrigues and plot twists. There were so many interesting characters, I could not decide whose stories I enjoyed more. I have no idea why it is not a more popular text. Wonderfully written!

too fast for me


(0.5 stars)

The reader read too fast so I stopped in the first chapter. There is so much detail that is lost with a fast read. I will switch to a different version and recommend others do as well.

Well Read


(4 stars)

Alexander Dumas is one of my favorite authors, and the reader did a good job. Many chapter's audio files didn't seem to have been cropped properly, with long periods of silence after the chapter ended.

too fast? can slow down reader


(5 stars)

If reader is too fast (or too slow), you can change the speed in upper right corner of App. I thought this guys voice sounds great slowed down a bit!

great story and actor/reader


(5 stars)

this is a great story and the reader makes it so much more interesting. I've been listening to him read all of the Duma Books & Brews great