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The Serpent and the Moon: Two Rivals for the Love of a Renaissance King
Set against the stunning backdrop of Renaissance France, The Serpent and the Moon is a true story of love, war, intrigue, betrayal, and persecution. At its heart is one of the world's greatest love stories: the lifelong devotion of King Henri II of France to Diane de Poitiers, a beautiful aristocrat who was nineteen years older than her lover.
At age fourteen, Henri was married to fourteen-year-old Catherine de' Medici, an unattractive but extremely wealthy heiress who was to bring half of Italy to France as her dowry. When Catherine met Henri on her wedding day, she fell instantly in love, but Henri could see no one but the beautiful Diane. When Henri eventually became king, he and Diane ruled France as one. Meanwhile, Catherine took as her secret motto the words "Hate and Wait" and lived for the day Diane would die and she could win Henri's love and rule by his side. Fate had another plan.
Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, herself a descendant of both Catherine and Diane, imbues this seldom-told story with an insider's grasp of royal life. The Serpent and the Moon is a fascinating love story as well as a richly woven history of an extraordinary time.
At age fourteen, Henri was married to fourteen-year-old Catherine de' Medici, an unattractive but extremely wealthy heiress who was to bring half of Italy to France as her dowry. When Catherine met Henri on her wedding day, she fell instantly in love, but Henri could see no one but the beautiful Diane. When Henri eventually became king, he and Diane ruled France as one. Meanwhile, Catherine took as her secret motto the words "Hate and Wait" and lived for the day Diane would die and she could win Henri's love and rule by his side. Fate had another plan.
Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, herself a descendant of both Catherine and Diane, imbues this seldom-told story with an insider's grasp of royal life. The Serpent and the Moon is a fascinating love story as well as a richly woven history of an extraordinary time.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2013
About the author
Princess Michael of Kent
12 books49 followersPrincess Michael of Kent (Marie Christine; née Baroness Marie Christine Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, 15 January 1945), is a German-Born member of the British Royal Family. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, who is a grandson of King George V.
Princess Michael is an author, and has published several books on the royal families of Europe. She also undertakes lecture tours, and supports her husband in his public work. The Kents do not officially carry out royal duties, although they have on occasion represented Queen Elizabeth II at functions abroad.
Princess Michael of Kent was born on 15 January 1945, in Karlovy Vary (formerly Carlsbad), in then-German-populated Sudetenland, in what is now the Czech Republic, near the family estates of her Austrian maternal grandmother, Princess Hedwig Windisch-Graetz, prior to the defeat and the end of Nazi Germany and of World War II in Europe, and the following expulsion of the German population later that year. Princess Michael is the only daughter of Baron Günther Hubertus von Reibnitz (of German descent) and his Austro-Hungarian wife, Countess Maria Anna Carolina Franziska Walpurga Bernadette Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár, a daughter of Count Friedrich Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár, an Austro-Hungarian diplomat, who served as Ambassador at St. Petersburg at the outbreak of World War I. The Princess's father also had a daughter named Margarita, born on 18 January 1924, from his first marriage to Margherita, Countess von Seherr-Thoß.
Through her mother, the Princess is a descendant of Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II of France, and Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France (his wife), and also of painter Peter Paul Rubens. After her parents' divorce, her father, a Nazi party member who had held the rank of Sturmbannführer or “Assault (or Storm) Unit Leader” in the SS during the Second World War[4], moved to Maforga, Mozambique. Marie Christine, her mother, and her brother, Baron Friedrich (Fred) von Reibnitz (now living in Canberra), moved to Australia, where her mother ran a beauty salon. Friedrich became an Australian Government official. He has a daughter, Princess Michael's niece Maya Scott, born 1978 in Canberra to a fellow civil servant, Mary Scott. Maya Scott is a photographer and artist based in Western Australia.
Princess Michael is an author, and has published several books on the royal families of Europe. She also undertakes lecture tours, and supports her husband in his public work. The Kents do not officially carry out royal duties, although they have on occasion represented Queen Elizabeth II at functions abroad.
Princess Michael of Kent was born on 15 January 1945, in Karlovy Vary (formerly Carlsbad), in then-German-populated Sudetenland, in what is now the Czech Republic, near the family estates of her Austrian maternal grandmother, Princess Hedwig Windisch-Graetz, prior to the defeat and the end of Nazi Germany and of World War II in Europe, and the following expulsion of the German population later that year. Princess Michael is the only daughter of Baron Günther Hubertus von Reibnitz (of German descent) and his Austro-Hungarian wife, Countess Maria Anna Carolina Franziska Walpurga Bernadette Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár, a daughter of Count Friedrich Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár, an Austro-Hungarian diplomat, who served as Ambassador at St. Petersburg at the outbreak of World War I. The Princess's father also had a daughter named Margarita, born on 18 January 1924, from his first marriage to Margherita, Countess von Seherr-Thoß.
Through her mother, the Princess is a descendant of Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II of France, and Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France (his wife), and also of painter Peter Paul Rubens. After her parents' divorce, her father, a Nazi party member who had held the rank of Sturmbannführer or “Assault (or Storm) Unit Leader” in the SS during the Second World War[4], moved to Maforga, Mozambique. Marie Christine, her mother, and her brother, Baron Friedrich (Fred) von Reibnitz (now living in Canberra), moved to Australia, where her mother ran a beauty salon. Friedrich became an Australian Government official. He has a daughter, Princess Michael's niece Maya Scott, born 1978 in Canberra to a fellow civil servant, Mary Scott. Maya Scott is a photographer and artist based in Western Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 24, 2018
4 stars - It was great. I loved it.
When I was twenty-one, I traveled from Vienna to London to study history, history of art, and interior design. I decorated my small apartment entirely in black and white, drove a black and white Mini, and acquired a black and white kitten. I had no real reason for adopting my monochrome lifestyle except that I imagined it chic and different. Then my mother told me about Diane de Poitiers, our ancestor, who famously styled her whole life - and her country - in black and white.
A rather engaging nonfiction book that reads much like a novel. How interesting that the author is related to both of the historical female powerhouses of their time, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici (Queen Hate and Wait). She also claims in her author’s note that Diane’s love story is the greatest in French royal history, and I would have to agree.
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Favorite Quote: He who inflames me has the power to extinguish me.
First Sentence: As the sun filtered through the autumn mist shrouding the harbor of Marseilles, three hundred cannons boomed from the ramparts of the chateau d’If and all the bells of the city rang out to announce the arrival of the papal flotilla.
When I was twenty-one, I traveled from Vienna to London to study history, history of art, and interior design. I decorated my small apartment entirely in black and white, drove a black and white Mini, and acquired a black and white kitten. I had no real reason for adopting my monochrome lifestyle except that I imagined it chic and different. Then my mother told me about Diane de Poitiers, our ancestor, who famously styled her whole life - and her country - in black and white.
A rather engaging nonfiction book that reads much like a novel. How interesting that the author is related to both of the historical female powerhouses of their time, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici (Queen Hate and Wait). She also claims in her author’s note that Diane’s love story is the greatest in French royal history, and I would have to agree.
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Favorite Quote: He who inflames me has the power to extinguish me.
First Sentence: As the sun filtered through the autumn mist shrouding the harbor of Marseilles, three hundred cannons boomed from the ramparts of the chateau d’If and all the bells of the city rang out to announce the arrival of the papal flotilla.
September 24, 2014
I was very excited when I found this book because I adore anything to do with Catherine de Medici who I find woefully under-appreciated in the history books. With that being said I acknowledge that there was a bias towards Diane de Poitiers who was always potrayed in glowing terms while Catherine was usually written off as "fat" and ugly. However she did bring up Catherine's intelligence a great deal which I appreciated and described the history of France which I haven't read much about and cleared up my confusion on the prisoner situation with Henry's dad. It did quite well on detailing the menage de trois (sp?) relationship between them and how complicated and uncomfortable that must have been. I was fairly impressed with it though I am still peeved that the writer clearly loved and admired Diane in history over Catherine and that it was so palpable.
June 4, 2015
The greatest romance in history. The most beautiful woman since Helen of Troy, and the King who loved her yet was forced to marry another.
This is the love triangle that was Diane De Poitiers, Katherine DeMedici, and Henri the 2nd of France.
HEnri was not supposed to be King. He was the second son of Francis I and yet, after the death of his brother Phillipe, he had no choice and thus had to marry strategically, and politically instead of for love.
The serpent and the Moon tells the tail of these tragic three. From Dianes early years as part of Francis's "Amazons", to her re programming the young Henri after his return, after being ransomed by his father, from Spain, to their love affair and ultimately the struggle between love and politics.
Beautifully and sympathetically written, by Princess Michael of Kent.
This is the love triangle that was Diane De Poitiers, Katherine DeMedici, and Henri the 2nd of France.
HEnri was not supposed to be King. He was the second son of Francis I and yet, after the death of his brother Phillipe, he had no choice and thus had to marry strategically, and politically instead of for love.
The serpent and the Moon tells the tail of these tragic three. From Dianes early years as part of Francis's "Amazons", to her re programming the young Henri after his return, after being ransomed by his father, from Spain, to their love affair and ultimately the struggle between love and politics.
Beautifully and sympathetically written, by Princess Michael of Kent.
August 11, 2011
Vous voulez vous plonger dans le règne de François 1er et de Henri II ? Vous souhaitez connaitre les jalousies et les anecdotes au combien nombreuses entre Catherine de Médicis et Diane de Poitiers ? Ce livre est pour vous ! La Princesse Michael de Kent se charge de vous emmener dans les méandres de cette Renaissance Italienne sur de nombreux chapitres. Il y a certaines répétitions et les occurences ne sont pas toujours bien choisies mais l'Histoire est là déchiffrée, décortiquée, analysée et vous passez un moment agréable :)
April 2, 2017
I have to say, I'm very impressed with this book. Meticulously researched & rich in historical detail, especially as it pertains to European alliances & conflicts (political as well as personal) of the time & the roles played by the central characters, this work offers a very good overall view of 16th century French history; as exceptionally well-informed as it is informative. I doff my hat to HRH, for whom I have a newly-found respect as an author.
September 21, 2009
Several years ago, before this book was published, I heard the author, Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent ("HRH"), speak about the book and its subject, the history of Catherine de Medici (the "Serpent") and Diane de Poitiers (the "Moon"), and their complex relationship both with Henri II, Catherine de Medici's husband and Diane de Poitiers lover (~19 years her junior), and with each other. While certainly regal and not someone to cozy up to for a nice chat (before the talk HRH reduced a poor young thing in P.R. to a puddle on the floor when the PYT failed to produce a working slide projector for HRH's slides), HRH went on to speak for over an hour about the subject without benefit of notes (or the slides) - we in the audience were in the palm of her hand, she is that good a story teller. The book was published the following year; I promptly bought a copy, and then inevitably set it aside as other books piled up on top. Triggered by a recent Goodreads review of a terrific audio book ("The Devil's Queen") that relates the fictional first person account of Catherine de Medici's life, I picked up "The Serpent and the Moon" to read simultaneously with listening to "The Devil's Queen" (well, not at the exact same time...). While the latter covers a greater span of history - it will presumably end with the death of Catherine de Medici (I have another couple of CD's to go) - it's been fascinating to read / listen to these two books at the same time given that they cover almost exactly the same ground, albeit "The Serpent and the Moon," while not written by a "professional" historian (HRH's contention, not mine), is non-fiction and "The Devil's Queen" is fiction.
That "The Serpent and the Moon" is non-fiction doesn't mean that HRH doesn't have an agenda. The title of the book alone indicates that she comes out on the side of Diane de Poitiers versus Catherine de Medici in terms of who was most likely to win a popularity contest at the time, not to mention the love of King Henri II up to his death ("The Devil's Queen" plays the latter a little differently...). Nevertheless, HRH appears to have done all her homework, referencing many original sources, in particular letters and reports of the time, and while she may not be a "professional" historian, from my point of view she may as well be. Although the book is historical non-fiction and therefore at risk of being dry and tedious, HRH provides a great deal of detail and spins a narrative that moves the story right along. As a descendant of both women, she has the royal chops to provide perspective on royal life (even royal life of the second half of the 16th C. - some things have changed, but not everything!) as well as gain access to many private letters and sources. The book itself (the original hard copy edition) is a lovely, physically hefty piece of published work. As complicated as the various entwined family trees are (including repeat use of a limited number of names - typical for royals throughout time), the family tree at the beginning of the book could actually have used a couple more generations and contemporaneous detail as a number of names are referenced without being included on the tree; but this is a minor nit.
Reading this book and listening to the other makes me want to rent "Queen Margot," the 1994 film of Catherine and Henri's daughter Margot's marriage to Henri de Navarre, including court intrigue plus the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. A fascinating movie, and having these two books tucked under my belt, it will now make more sense.
That "The Serpent and the Moon" is non-fiction doesn't mean that HRH doesn't have an agenda. The title of the book alone indicates that she comes out on the side of Diane de Poitiers versus Catherine de Medici in terms of who was most likely to win a popularity contest at the time, not to mention the love of King Henri II up to his death ("The Devil's Queen" plays the latter a little differently...). Nevertheless, HRH appears to have done all her homework, referencing many original sources, in particular letters and reports of the time, and while she may not be a "professional" historian, from my point of view she may as well be. Although the book is historical non-fiction and therefore at risk of being dry and tedious, HRH provides a great deal of detail and spins a narrative that moves the story right along. As a descendant of both women, she has the royal chops to provide perspective on royal life (even royal life of the second half of the 16th C. - some things have changed, but not everything!) as well as gain access to many private letters and sources. The book itself (the original hard copy edition) is a lovely, physically hefty piece of published work. As complicated as the various entwined family trees are (including repeat use of a limited number of names - typical for royals throughout time), the family tree at the beginning of the book could actually have used a couple more generations and contemporaneous detail as a number of names are referenced without being included on the tree; but this is a minor nit.
Reading this book and listening to the other makes me want to rent "Queen Margot," the 1994 film of Catherine and Henri's daughter Margot's marriage to Henri de Navarre, including court intrigue plus the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. A fascinating movie, and having these two books tucked under my belt, it will now make more sense.
August 13, 2015
I ADORED this book, mainly because it was about a slice of history I knew nothing about: the life long affair of France's Henri II and his mistress, Diane. It starts off with the teen crush of Henri on the beautiful, recently widowed Diane, who is nearly twenty years his senior, but she befriends the shy prince. He never forgets her kindnesses to toward him and as he grows to manhood, their verbal intimacies, grow for Henri into a deep and abiding love. He becomes determined to make her his own. Diane is wise and encourages him to take to wife the little Italian, Catherine de Medici, which Henri grudgingly agrees to do. Unfortunately, Catherine is a hoyden from hell, is extremely jealous of Diana's relationship with her husband, and does everything to sabotage it. Unfortunately, in the end, she gets her way, and Diana is left in the cold. Princess Michael of Kent has written a powerfully moving novel of a love story for the centuries.
April 29, 2015
Wonderful view into the private lives of three of the most famous and perhaps infamous personages in French history, Henry II, Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. Fantastic read!
Read
September 22, 2020In the wrost of times when our politics are a dumpster fire....my brain apparently craves the politics of ole and royal mistresses. This was exactly what I needed. Onto the next!
Read
June 22, 2019I can't finish it. I don't take well to a blatant propaganda.
August 12, 2013
Princess Michael of Kent has written a highly readable, meticulously researched work about Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henri II of France, and his queen, Catherine de Medici, both of whom she is descendant. The time period spans 1499 to 1566, when Europe is entering the height of the Renaissance. The duchess and the queen are both unusual women for their time, both brought to power by extraordinary circumstances. Incorporated into the history of events are juicy little morsels describing everyday life at the time, which made this book very enjoyable for me. Much detail is given on the cuisine, fashion, occult rituals performed by Catherine de Medici and the beauty routine Diane used to preserve her famous complexion. Princess Michael has a wealth of resources due to her royal connections and I found her perspective on the dynamic amongst all these personalities very refreshing. Her prose was quite entertaining and beautifully written, which isn't an easy feat to pull off for a history piece.
December 18, 2010
Nonfiction. Henri II had one wife, the notorious Catherine de' Medici, and one main mistress, Diane de Poitiers. He would have married Diane if he could have. Catherine was the one who bore him children, and eventually ruled France through the disastrous lives of Henri's three crowned sons. "Hate and Wait" was Catherine's motto, as she passed the years learning the rituals of witchcraft and pretending to the members of Henri's court to be a nice little woman. During Catherine's waiting years, Diane ruled Henri. HRH Princess Michael of Kent, a descendant of both Catherine and Diane, evaluates their lives.
There is poetry in the author's soul, but she sets it aside throughout most of the book, to concentrate on delivering her facts and interpretations. The dryness of some sections is less noticeable because of the delicate ink drawings throughout the book. Its crowning glory is the section of magnificent color photographs of paintings related to the time.
There is poetry in the author's soul, but she sets it aside throughout most of the book, to concentrate on delivering her facts and interpretations. The dryness of some sections is less noticeable because of the delicate ink drawings throughout the book. Its crowning glory is the section of magnificent color photographs of paintings related to the time.
June 30, 2012
If there ever was a real, tender, warm-hearted love story on royal families, this is one of them, for sure.
Diane de Poitiers and Henri II of France were clearly soulmates, only separated by time and chance: time because Diane was 14 years senior to Henri and chance because of the dynastic marriages that led to Henri beying married to Catherine de Medici, for money and land sake.
The author succeded in bringing up to life early Renaissance France, François I´s court and then, afterwards Henri II´s one, in a very easy to read factual book, that left a thirst for more, from Princess Mickael of Kent.
I sincerely recomend this author to writte about any given historical subject as it did not seemed bias to me and also she managed to keep it interesting and not in the very least boring.
Diane de Poitiers and Henri II of France were clearly soulmates, only separated by time and chance: time because Diane was 14 years senior to Henri and chance because of the dynastic marriages that led to Henri beying married to Catherine de Medici, for money and land sake.
The author succeded in bringing up to life early Renaissance France, François I´s court and then, afterwards Henri II´s one, in a very easy to read factual book, that left a thirst for more, from Princess Mickael of Kent.
I sincerely recomend this author to writte about any given historical subject as it did not seemed bias to me and also she managed to keep it interesting and not in the very least boring.
September 7, 2011
The cover makes this narrative seem more risque than it is, actually, though it is about the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of French King Francis I, and his wife, Catherine de Medici, so it does treat sexuality (but tastefully and only briefly in regards to producing heirs to the throne, etc). The rivalry was important in European history, and very unusual, since Diane was the older woman (by 17 years), and Catherine eventually ended with the power and influence, acting as regent and reigning queen mum for her three sons in succession. This book is a good pairing with the book about Catherine. It is VERY biased toward Diane.
June 25, 2013
Henri II, King of France, was in love with one woman, Diane de Portiers, and married to another, Catherine de’ Medici. These three people lived in the midst of the Renaissance, a time known for its resurgence of the arts but also for incredibly complex machinations, and no small number of wars, among European monarchies. The history of Europe at this time is told in The Serpent and the Moon by focusing on this triad of people and the circles around them.
More thoughts on my blog: The Serpent and the Moon by Princess Michael of Kent.
More thoughts on my blog: The Serpent and the Moon by Princess Michael of Kent.
August 19, 2013
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I am a lover of Tudor history, and so knew just a little of the time period from France's point of view and this book gave me the knowledge I craved. As other reviewers have noted, there is a definite slant towards Diane de Poitiers and away from the queen, Catherine de'Medici. I think the book is more of a biography of Diane then of love triangle between the two women and the king. I do believe I will have to search out a book about Catherine now, as I would like to know more about her. All in all this was an enjoyable read, well-written and definitely recommended.
April 13, 2015
As a writer, I found this book tiresome. I had hope d to become engaged in the story, but the writing left me bored. And it is a powerful tale! I read the book after visiting France in 2014. The story of Chenonceau fascinated me, and I wanted to know more about the two ladies who fought for it. The book contains lots of history--accurate history. However, it lost the tale of the rivalry in the more of other facts.
October 15, 2016
I originally delved into this book because of my love for the TV series, Reign. The book delivered with so much content on history and I was surprised to learn of the actual relationships between King Henri II, his queen Catherine and his queen of heart, Diane De Poitiers. This is quite the love story. I walked away from this story actually learning much about what a dignified and beautiful soul Diane is portrayed as here. 400 years later and she still exudes radiance and influence.
September 7, 2014
The author has an agenda--white wash her ancestor.
October 27, 2025
Extremely biased but still very fun.
May 1, 2014
I seem to be having an unlucky run of bad or at least so-so books recently. I went into this one optimistically. Whilst I’ve been an aficionado of the Renaissance for many years, my main focus has been Renaissance England under the Tudor dynasty, I’m not so knowledgeable about the Renaissance in the other great European powers of the time, having only a working knowledge as these figures interacted with Tudor England. The Serpent and the Moon is more specifically marketed as a dual biography of Catherine de’ Medici, wife and queen of Henri II, and Diane de Poitiers, Henri’s mistress, and I was looking forwards to learning more about these historical figures too, both of whom were key figures of the age.
First, half of the book is spent discussing events before we even get to the dynamic of Diane and Catherine together with Henri. Now, I understand a certain amount of setting up; the need to explain how these individuals came to their famous circumstances, discussion of childhood and upbringing, and setting the scene so that the reader can better understand the world in which these figures moved. In the case of Diane, who was 18 years Henri’s senior, there’s a need to cover a whole other life she had before becoming Henri’s mistress – Diane was married, became a mother, and widowed all before her love affair with Henri. However, half the book felt like too much. Whilst I did get a better understanding of the sequence of events and the relationships involved in the French Renaissance court, it dragged on too long and too much unnecessary detail was given. Significant chunks of the book are devoted to what François I, Henri’s father, was doing, with very little mention of Catherine or Diane at all. After the second half things get going on the love triangle dynamic and we get into the meat of the biographies, but by this point my patience was worn a little thin from the first half, and the continuing detours and unnecessary details resulted in me actually skimming the more relevant second half. Henri’s death seemed covered very quickly and little page space seemed devoted to Catherine and Diane’s lives after his death. This was disappointing because the author seemed to be really building up to that moment, repeatedly telling us how Catherine’s motto was Hate and Wait and how she nursed her jealousy, waiting for a time when she could exact vengeance on Diane… only to have a very short discussion at the end about how Diane was forced to give up the crown jewels and her beloved chateau but everyone still kept visiting her and kept on pretty good terms and she and Catherine lived out the rest of their lives, the end. Is that it? I mean, I know the author can’t make up some horrible vengeance if there was none, but is there going to be no discussion of Catherine’s long and involved reign as the queen mother behind three French kings? The author devotes more time to Diane’s more obscure beginnings than she does to Catherine’s long and well-documented grip on power following Henri’s death. This was rather disappointing.
Second, the author crosses that line in non-fiction history between the facts and inferring her own ideas of peoples’ thoughts and feelings and presenting them as fact with no disclaimer: “As [Catherine] bowed before [Henri], she caught her breath in awe and admiration”, and “Almost everyone who would dominate Catherine’s new life attended the ceremony, and she observed each of them shrewdly. She liked her father-in-law immediately, with his bold, handsome face, ready smile, his height and natural air of kingship”. Now, I’ve read non-fiction histories before that included imagined scenes, namely Cro-Magnon by Brian Fagan, and my current read of After the Ice by Steven Mithen, but in both cases the authors make it crystal clear what is fiction and what is fact, and draw a clearly marked line between them. It is poor objectivity in a history non-fiction to surmise the thoughts and feelings of historical personages and incorporate it into the text in a way that the unwary reader will assume it is fact. Unfortunately the author does it far too often in this book, particularly in respect to assuming love and good intentions from Diane’s side and jealousy and hatred from Catherine’s side.
Speaking of which brings me to my third point about this book. It’s just too biased for my liking. In the author’s note at the beginning, Princess Michael of Kent assures the reader that “since I descend just as directly from Catherine de’ Medici as I do from Diane de Poitiers, I have no personal interest in damning one while glorifying the other”. However, in the same breath she adds; “I simply want to tell the story of a beautiful, cultured, and fascinating woman”, referring to Diane de Poitiers. Her Royal Highness opens the author’s note by openly stating her lifelong enthusiasm for Diane’s fashion sense and style of monochrome black and white. If I may put it bluntly, descending equally from two people does not automatically make one objective when writing about them. It is patently clear in The Serpent and the Moon that Princess Michael is biased in favour of Diane de Poitiers over Catherine de’ Medici; Diane, according to the book, is described as incomparably "beautiful","desirable", "rare", well-educated, noble, "honorable", "highly intelligent", cultured, gentle, and all round benevolent and wonderful, meanwhile Catherine is described as "fat, little Catherine", with "bulging eyes" and a "podgy mouth", "jealous", "resentful", "awkward", “not… remotely attractive…it would take a miracle for [Henri] to fall in love with her”, at best she is described as “clever” and “shrewd”, but whilst the author uses positive words to describe Diane’s smarts (intelligent, educated, cultured), suggesting openness and goodness, for Catherine she uses terms more associated with deviousness, calculation, and underhandedness (clever, and shrewd). Furthermore, Diane and Henri’s love is spun as pure, the chivalric ideal, noble, good, epic, and eternal. Diane’s quandary as a staunch Catholic tempting the king into sin is brushed aside. The author even asserts that Diane did not begin her relationship with Henri because he was the dauphin (later, king) for personal gain. Now, novice as I am on this topic it seems to me that there was a deep affection between the two as evidenced by Henri keeping Diane as his mistress from his late teens to the end of his life, even as Diane was 18 years older than him, and I’m sure the author is correct when she says that Diane would have been flattered by the attentions of the handsome young prince and after only having known marriage with a much older man previously enjoyed having a physical relationship with a vigorous younger man. But I don’t think I can buy into the idea that it was all noble, pure love on her part, with no thought of personal gain. Diane received extraordinary gifts of money, jewels, dresses, and estates from the king, and had many of her candidates promoted to office and in many cases directed the policy of the king in the ruling of France. I’m not convinced it was all noble everlasting love. I’m sure there must be more to Diane and Catherine than this. In a book that’s supposed to be an equal and objective biography of both Diane and Catherine, The Serpent and the Moon very much sings Diane’s praises whilst being less than enthusiastic about Catherine. In the end it just made me feel uncomfortable.
Fourth, and finally, the book is indeed a popular history. It’s written as a simplistic narrative with very little analysis or deconstruction of the sources and evidence. Once or twice the author points out where she thinks other historians have made incorrect assertions about Diane, Henri, or Catherine, but it’s dealt with cursorily and unfortunately I was never treated to an in-depth critique, nor indeed an in-depth biography of these two women. Since I came to this book as a novice, I do walk away from it with a better understanding than I had, and also a better knowledge of the order of events, but no more than that. The writing style is competent but meanders with detours, and the bias is all too evident. So-so, but I probably won’t be turning to Princess Michael of Kent for my history non-fiction again. Not an authority I would trust or credit as a thorough historian.
5 out of 10
August 11, 2026
Princess Michael of Kent (or Princess Pushy as she's known) is not a historian in any academic sense, but has nonetheless put together the unfolding story of the conflict between Diane and Catherine (we assume she did, but given her history of plagiarism, who can say).
This account was a helpful compliment to Hugh Noel Williams Pearl of Princesses I recently finished. There is some overlap, but it goes further in areas and obviously in relation to the disaster which was King Henri II's home life. The author boasts of being from both lines, but presents Diane in a more favorable light. I thought that odd given Diane was Henri's mistress. I was team Catherine all throughout, but I get it, Henri II had his issues growing up in part in a prison as a small child, so veering toward his adult babysitter as a place of safety made sense. Diane was 15 years old when she married her nearly 40 year old husband, so neither one of them had much to work with emotionally.
Catherine's moto "Odiate et Aspetate", Italian for "hate and wait" certainly plays out well in the end. Diane had been cruel to Catherine throughout the duration of her marriage to Henri II, so when Henri II dies (a stick to the eye, ooof!) the consequences for Diane were rewarding to read.
This was all together a fun and fascinating read. Here is the table of contents translated to English:
Front matter
— Princess Michael of Kent's Family Tree
— Family Tree of the Principal Characters
— Author's Note
Chapters
The Royal Wedding (p. 21)
The Mistress and the King (p. 41)
The Renaissance Monarch (p. 85)
Felony and Betrayal (p. 107)
The Defeat at Pavia (p. 135)
The Captivity (p. ~155)
The Hostages (p. 167)
The Young Knight (p. 199)
The Widow (p. ~219)
Catherine's New World (p. 229)
The Dauphin Is Dead! Long Live the Dauphin! (p. 251)
The Reign of Duplicity (p. 271)
A Ménage à Trois (p. 277)
The Death of the Renaissance Monarch (p. 315)
King Henri II (p. 329)
The King's Mistress (p. 355)
Anet (p. 393)
A Precarious Domestic Balance (p. 421)
Henri II on Campaign (p. 443)
A Cruel Fate (p. 473)
Epilogue (p. 501)
Back matter
— Chronological Table (p. 511)
— Bibliography (p. 519)
— Photo Credits (p. 529)
This account was a helpful compliment to Hugh Noel Williams Pearl of Princesses I recently finished. There is some overlap, but it goes further in areas and obviously in relation to the disaster which was King Henri II's home life. The author boasts of being from both lines, but presents Diane in a more favorable light. I thought that odd given Diane was Henri's mistress. I was team Catherine all throughout, but I get it, Henri II had his issues growing up in part in a prison as a small child, so veering toward his adult babysitter as a place of safety made sense. Diane was 15 years old when she married her nearly 40 year old husband, so neither one of them had much to work with emotionally.
Catherine's moto "Odiate et Aspetate", Italian for "hate and wait" certainly plays out well in the end. Diane had been cruel to Catherine throughout the duration of her marriage to Henri II, so when Henri II dies (a stick to the eye, ooof!) the consequences for Diane were rewarding to read.
This was all together a fun and fascinating read. Here is the table of contents translated to English:
Front matter
— Princess Michael of Kent's Family Tree
— Family Tree of the Principal Characters
— Author's Note
Chapters
The Royal Wedding (p. 21)
The Mistress and the King (p. 41)
The Renaissance Monarch (p. 85)
Felony and Betrayal (p. 107)
The Defeat at Pavia (p. 135)
The Captivity (p. ~155)
The Hostages (p. 167)
The Young Knight (p. 199)
The Widow (p. ~219)
Catherine's New World (p. 229)
The Dauphin Is Dead! Long Live the Dauphin! (p. 251)
The Reign of Duplicity (p. 271)
A Ménage à Trois (p. 277)
The Death of the Renaissance Monarch (p. 315)
King Henri II (p. 329)
The King's Mistress (p. 355)
Anet (p. 393)
A Precarious Domestic Balance (p. 421)
Henri II on Campaign (p. 443)
A Cruel Fate (p. 473)
Epilogue (p. 501)
Back matter
— Chronological Table (p. 511)
— Bibliography (p. 519)
— Photo Credits (p. 529)
November 10, 2017
After reading a LOT about 16th century England, I’ve finally started reading about what was going on over on the Continent while the Tudors were being their bad boy and bad girl selves.
Oodles of scandal, apparently! And – this made me laugh – everyone so engrossed in their own national affairs, that the Tudors pop up only rarely on the radar. Quelle horror! What would Henry VIII think to be so overlooked?!
Anyway, this is a great read about, not just Diana de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, but their whole extended family (they were cousins!) and how they were part of that crazy bridge time between the feudal era and the Renaissance.
I would have preferred just a little more focus on a linear structure – the jumps back and forth in the some sections left me confused now and then as to where we were in the timelines. Still, I very much appreciated the full coverage on everyone’s parentage and backstory. Everything and everyone was connected, by either blood, marriage or back room deals, and it is all mapped out here in titillating detail.
As Princess Diana famously pointed out, three people in a marriage makes things a bit crowded, and it was no less true in the 16th century as it was in the 20th as Catherine de Medici is forced to share her husband with Diane de Poitiers. But all the while having the motto: ‘Hate and Wait’…
Oodles of scandal, apparently! And – this made me laugh – everyone so engrossed in their own national affairs, that the Tudors pop up only rarely on the radar. Quelle horror! What would Henry VIII think to be so overlooked?!
Anyway, this is a great read about, not just Diana de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, but their whole extended family (they were cousins!) and how they were part of that crazy bridge time between the feudal era and the Renaissance.
I would have preferred just a little more focus on a linear structure – the jumps back and forth in the some sections left me confused now and then as to where we were in the timelines. Still, I very much appreciated the full coverage on everyone’s parentage and backstory. Everything and everyone was connected, by either blood, marriage or back room deals, and it is all mapped out here in titillating detail.
As Princess Diana famously pointed out, three people in a marriage makes things a bit crowded, and it was no less true in the 16th century as it was in the 20th as Catherine de Medici is forced to share her husband with Diane de Poitiers. But all the while having the motto: ‘Hate and Wait’…
March 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it borders on hagiography. But still, it's a great story, and very wonderfully written.
HRH Princess Michael of Kent tells us of her ancestor, Diane de Poitiers, and her relationship with King Henri II of France. Her relationship with Henri's wife, Catherine de Medici, is also explored. The writing makes it hard to put down. Princess Michael definitely has a way with words and her style draws you in completely. It's rich in detail, and it paints a vivid picture.
The thing I didn't like about the book was the way it sort of glossed over Diane's faults. It's almost as though she didn't have any. I really enjoyed reading about life in the French court, particularly the sections that had to do with King Francois I and his wife, Queen Claude.
Great reading.
HRH Princess Michael of Kent tells us of her ancestor, Diane de Poitiers, and her relationship with King Henri II of France. Her relationship with Henri's wife, Catherine de Medici, is also explored. The writing makes it hard to put down. Princess Michael definitely has a way with words and her style draws you in completely. It's rich in detail, and it paints a vivid picture.
The thing I didn't like about the book was the way it sort of glossed over Diane's faults. It's almost as though she didn't have any. I really enjoyed reading about life in the French court, particularly the sections that had to do with King Francois I and his wife, Queen Claude.
Great reading.
September 13, 2018
Mixed feelings about this one. While the Renaissance world of 16th Century France is well described, I'm not entirely sure that the author succeeded in making her subjects quite as lifelike. Diane comes across as simply angelic, lacking any flaws, while Catherine de Medici is a cardboard cut out who feels almost peripheral to the story. The other annoying thing was the jumpy order of things. While there is a general timeline to the events followed, within various decades we go back and forward several years at once in a contradictory manner. Information at times seemed to be slotted in simply not to waste the author's research, rather than with regard to its relevance to the story at that point.
August 20, 2020
It took me unfortunately some months to finish it. It is indeed interesting and informative. But I guess I expected more to know about Diane vs Catherine. In my opinion it was more about Henry and his father. If the description was different, then my expectation would have been accordingly and the disappointment would not be there.
Nevertheless, it is a nice book telling about 16th century relationship between France and Spain, the difficult relationships of Henry and François and how the men were influenced by the women by their side.
Nevertheless, it is a nice book telling about 16th century relationship between France and Spain, the difficult relationships of Henry and François and how the men were influenced by the women by their side.
April 15, 2024
I really wanted to love this book. This is my favorite period of French history. But the author's historical inaccuracies got to be too much. She is a good, entertaining writer, but she is no historian, a fact that she herself admits. However, after one whopper too many, I had to quit. If you're looking for a good read, you might like this, but don't read with an eye to learning about French history.
May 1, 2021
3-4 stars. Clearly the result of massive research. Some interesting history and some tedious and repetitive content. Needed a sharper editor. I may have much preferred to just read Madame de Beaujeu’s treatises, the writings of Catherine de Médicis, whatever remains of the correspondence between Henry II and Diane de Poitiers, and then the latter’ will.
May 10, 2021
This author is the biggest racist from the Royal Family. She bought two Black Sheep and named them venus and Serena Williams. She wears blackmoor brooch which fetishize images of slavery.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.harp...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.harp...
August 19, 2021
A fascinating look at the unorthodox relationships of Henri II of France, who married Catherine de Medici (with whom he had 10 kids), but maintained a life-long relationship with Diane de Poitiers. I knew the basic outline of this story, but had no idea how much was happening during the French Renaissance and how much of it was due to Diane's influence.
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