While reading this book, it occurred to me that James Patterson is the 21st century Alexandre Dumas. Really. They both had a book out about every 10 minutes. The books have really short chapters that often end with cliffhangers. The stories are fast-paced. Both writers collaborated with and/or supervised other people who did the bulk of the actual writing for certain books. Both authors sold well.

So why didn’t I get right into this book the first time I tried it? I was hot off the first in the trilogy (Queen Margot) which was a rip-roaring ride. I think it was because I expected the story to link up directly which it didn’t. Yes, it’s a continuation of the bigger story arc, but it puts you into a situation that is completely out of the blue and then throws you all kinds of names that can be very confusing. First, they’re French, second they don’t distinguish themselves in any way so are just a bunch of names doing a bunch of strange stuff. But if you can get beyond that, it settles down and takes off and it is one hell of a ride.

Chicot is definitely a mover and shaker in the story, but Bussy is a force also and between the two of them they steer events surrounding the King and his court. Bussy is titled in his own right, but plays his alliances fairly cool; ostensibly he's tied to the Duc d'Angou, but will not come out against the Duc’s brother, King Henri, directly. Chicot isn't a jester in the way we think of a jester; someone in Harlequin with bells and a wooden puppet on a stick. His role is more subdued and chief among them is to serve as sounding board and advisor to Henri, but with this one big difference - he's allowed to speak truth to power. He calls Henri son and often thinks of himself as the real King of France and he's not far wrong.

Monsoreau is a lovely villain to hate throughout and his poor, put-upon and victimized wife, Diana, tugs at your romantic sensibilities. She is just another piece of property to several men and she can literally be hauled off and imprisoned with hardly anyone caring. Except another man who wants to do the same. Other than Catherine and St. Luc's wife Jeanne, she's the only woman of any import in the book. No wonderful villainesses this time out.

There are secret assignations, political plots, fights, duels, threats, frienemies, and skullduggery. Also humor - the way Chicot manipulates Gorenflot is something to be in awe of and is deliberately amusing. But there is accidental humor, too, mostly between the “minions” who belong to King Henri and those of his brother the Duc d’Angou. They’re sworn enemies and destined to fight each other to the death, but the courtesy and ceremony that make up their day-to-day dealings is hilarious.

Here’s a little set-up that takes place minutes after all these people were just chatting it up in another house. The subject of their chat? A massive fight where they choose weapons, ground and who fights who. Then there’s this -

“We know how St. Luc found the four young men, and accompanies them to Schomberg’s house. St. Luc remained in the ante-chamber, waiting until, according to the etiquette of the day, the four young men were installed in the saloon ready to receive him. Then an usher came and saluted St. Luc, who followed him to the threshold of the saloon, where he announced M. d’Espinay de St. Luc.”

OMG. Can you imagine today’s cartel or gang leaders being so affable? The politeness also covers family relations. In particular the Valois family, whose matriarch is Catherine de Medici, mother of King Henri III and his brothers both dead and alive. What a family!

“Your brother (Duc d’Angou) has the family blood in his veins; he wishes, like the rest, to dethrone or poison; he would do to you what you did to your elder brother, what your elder brother did to his, what your mother has taught you to do to one another.”

It’s great. And not far off the mark. Dumas wrote historical fiction for the most part and that fiction was based around real characters and events. Of course there is embroidery and poetic license, but the basic facts are true; the Valois family killed each other one at a time in order to be king of France. As they were destroying themselves, another branch of the family, the de Guises, were having a go at them as well, thus leaving open the door to the Bourbons. That’s the next book! ( )

Great book. 2nd in the series of the Henrys after Queen Margot. It tells of a noble man who is in love with Diana of Meridor who is loved by the King's huntschief who..... well, you can see where it gets complicated. There is a plot to unseat the King. I really loved this book although it would have been easier to keep the characters straight if I knew the history better. ( )

Um dos livros mais engraçados do Dumas. Especialmente o herói, Bussy D'Amboise, e Henri de Navarre são hilários. “Catherine wished to discover wheter her son were really ill or feigning. But he, worthy son of such a mother, played his part to perfection. She had wept, he had a fever”.
Excruciante lê-lo e ter que esperar pela continuação.
( )

This wonderful novel takes place during the reign of Henri III of France. The historical background includes plotting by the de Guises and the Duc d'Anjou, and the formation of the Catholic League. The book contains some of Dumas' more memorable characters, Chicot, jester to Henri III, and Bussy d'Amboise, expert swordsman and consummate gentleman who falls in love with Diane de Monsoreau. Bussy is the Duc's man and the Duc is also in love with Diane, but beholden to her husband, the Comte de Monsoreau, who has helped him plot against the king. Wonderful dialog, fabulous sword fights, and a great deal of humor. One of Dumas' best. ( )

Illustrated with a frontispiece in photogravure, each illustration has tissue guard printed with caption. Very attractive binding in black cloth with floral decoration on covers and spines in light green and orange. Spine titles are gold, most very bright, a few slightly rubbed.