The Helmet of Navarre

by Bertha Runkle, André Castaigne (Illustrator)

The Helmet of Navarre is a historical fiction novel written by Bertha Runkle. Set in 16th century France, the story follows the life of a beautiful and cunning woman named Gabrielle de Montgomery. Gabrielle is a French noblewoman who is married off to a Spanish nobleman, Don John of Navarre. However, Gabrielle is not content with her life as a submissive wife and is determined to gain power and influence in the court of King Henry III.As Gabrielle navigates the treacherous political landscape of the French court, she becomes embroiled in a dangerous plot to overthrow the king. Along the way, she forms alliances with powerful figures such as the Duke of Guise and the infamous Catherine de Medici. However, as her ambition grows, Gabrielle finds herself increasingly isolated and vulnerable to the machinations of her enemies.The Helmet of Navarre is a thrilling tale of political intrigue, romance, and betrayal. With vivid descriptions of the opulent French court and its colorful characters, Runkle brings the world of 16th century France to life. Gabrielle's journey from a naive young woman to a powerful political player makes for a compelling read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.1901. Bertha Runkle is the author of the well-known bestseller, The Helmet of Navarre, an historical novel of swordplay and romantic adventure in old Paris. The hero of the book is a follower of Henry of Navarre in Paris, at the moment when the Huguenot king enters the city.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Historical Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1900

Reviews

[Michael Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic romanticism at its best in form and execution; I could almost feel the curtains come up and go down right when they needed to.

[Hyrum · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was interesting reading from a perspective of the distant past, but that was the only positive aspect of this book. The author often took forever to get to the point, and everyone was too infatuated with aristocracy. I read up until 30% then skimmed the rest, skipped to the end to see if it got interesting, but no.

[Susan C Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

France - Historical

[Sandie Mixa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was good and got really good toward the last 100 pages. I just struggled with the language and the author's style. Character descriptions were somewhat lacking. Some good action and a happy ending.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of swordfights, action scenes, escapes by the skin of their teeth, and romance. What more could you ask for?

[Preston Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast fun classical romantic read.