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Loading... Henrietta Maria: The Warrior Queen Who Divided a Nation (edition 2022)by Leanda de Lisle (Author)
Work InformationHenrietta Maria: The Warrior Queen Who Divided a Nation by Leanda De Lisle
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""Dispelling the myths around this legendary queen, this biography of Henrietta Maria, queen consort of King Charles I, retells the dramatic story of the English Civil War from the perspective of this dynamic woman. Henrietta Maria is British history's most reviled queen consort. Condemned in her lifetime as the "Popish brat of France," an adulteress, and a traitor, she remains in popular memory the wife who wore the breeches in her marriage, the woman who turned her husband Catholic (and so caused the English Civil War), and a cruel and bigoted mother. This clear-eyed biography unpicks the myths and considers the story from Henrietta Maria's point of view. A portrait emerges of a woman whose closest friends included Puritans as well as Catholics, who crossed swords with Cardinal Richelieu, and led the anti-Spanish faction at the English court. A witty conversationalist, Henrietta Maria was a patron of the arts and a champion of the female voice, as well as a mediatrix for her persecuted fellow Catholics. During the civil war, the queen's enemies agreed that Charles would never have survived as long as he did without the "She Generalissimo." Seeing events through her gaze reveals the truth behind the claims that she caused the war, explains her estrangement from her son Henry, and diminishes the image of the Restoration queen as an irrelevant crone. In fact, Henrietta Maria rose from the ashes of her husband's failures--a "phoenix queen"--presiding over a court judged to have had "more mirth" even than that of the Merry Monarch, Charles II. It is time to look again at this often-criticized queen and determine if she is not, in fact, one of British history's most remarkable women" No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)941.062092History and Geography Europe British Isles Historical periods of British Isles 1603-1714, House of Stuart and Commonwealth periods 1642-1649, English Civil WarLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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There is much to be gleaned here about her family life, her political life, and her life in exile. Most of what we think we know about her comes from people who didn't like her. This book sets the record straight and helps up come to know the woman a little bit better. ( )