Marguerite de Valois
Alexandre Dumas
Read by John Van Stan
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!
Renee M.
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
Fleur
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.
Ladygiggle
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!!
A LibriVox Listener
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
HolmesBoy
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
A LibriVox Listener
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
A LibriVox Listener
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
Anewelding
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