Blood, Fire and Gold: The story of Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici

Product Information

Blood, Fire & Gold” is a commendable attempt to explore the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici and, by extension, England and France. The problems lay therein the execution which is inconsistent, speculative, blurred between history and fiction and with the absence of new information as so adamantly claimed. “Blood, Fire & Gold” isn’t awful but it is simply average for the learned reader and is better suited as an introduction to begin their history journeys. This book]deliver[s] fascinating insights...a pacy narrative of two stormy lives."— History Today (UK) From the Publisher

Sixteenth-century Europe was a hostile world dominated by court politics and patriarchal structures, and yet against all odds, two women rose to power: Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici. One a young Virgin Queen who ruled her kingdom alone, and the other a more experienced and clandestine leader who used her children to shape the dynasties of Europe, much has been written about these shrewd and strategic sovereigns. But though their individual legacies have been heavily scrutinized, nothing has been said of their complicated relationship—thirty years of camaraderie, competition, and conflict that forever changed the face of Europe. It’s a big world, and the book does a good job of introducing the outside influences without going off into the weeds. Paranque expertly reminds us of the gravitational pull of Spain on our protagonists without bogging the story down with too much detail. Similarly, we are made aware of the dangerous line of succession that Henry VIII leaves behind, but only as it affects Elizabeth. Blood, Fire and Gold offers much more than a study of the relationship between these queens though. Paranque manages to paint a broad-strokes portrait of mid-to late 16th century Western Europe. Political intrigue is the emphasis, so, for example, Shakespeare doesn't play a role, nor do other social developments. But there is plenty of discussion of Reformation tension, of the political interplay between both France and England and Spain, of Elizabeth's embrace of piracy for war-making, etc. There is also a lot of space devoted to the personal lives of each of the queens, with enough sensitive detail to offer a genuine feel for the personalities of each woman—something that is often hard to achieve in biography, especially for people long dead. Previously called simply The Dying of the Dragons. [14] Six chapters on the great civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, ending with the murder of King Aegon II. An abridged version of 30,000 words was included in The Princess and the Queen, [5] which was published in the anthology Dangerous Women in 2013.Elizabeth and Catherine began to interact when Elizabeth became Queen in 1559. Her predecessor and half-sister, Mary Tudor, had been at war with France and had lost Calais. On her accession, Elizabeth wanted Calais to be returned to England. A compromise was reached: by the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis, the French were to keep the town for eight years, after which they would either return it or pay England 500,000 crowns.

This book, about the complex up-and-down relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Catherine de Medici, is very detailed; but in places we quite lose sight of that relationship. Paranque describes at length the lives of the two women before they interacted; and, even after that time; she will describe in great detail events such as, for example, the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. The sources of some of the speeches and letters are footnoted, but most are not, and in those cases it seems to me that the author has invented dialogue, pauses, and facial gestures like smiles; and then the book reads like a novel. The popularity of “The Crown,” the Netflix series centering on Queen Elizabeth II and her family—not to mention the recent documentary on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—confirms one’s sense that royal affairs remain a subject of intense interest, not least for citizens of modern democracies. Blood, Fire & Gold” was an eagerly anticipated, highly promoted, overly hyped piece that promised to reveal Elizabeth Tudor and Catherine de Medici in a refreshing and unique way that eschews the standard biographical history retelling. “Drawing on private correspondence and brand-new research”; Paranque’s “Blood, Fire & Gold” seemingly would shatter history bookshelves. Unfortunately, not everything lives up to its perturbed hype.

Select a format:

The final focus that of Elizabeth’s struggle with signing the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots is perhaps the strongest note of “Blood, Fire & Gold” with fresh treatment and in-depth analysis that feature Elizabeth in new ways . This, coupled with an assertive reiteration of the interplay between Elizabeth and Catherine during this time concludes “Blood, Fire & Gold” with a more memorable punch than expected. Blood, Fire & Gold” contains a section of color photo plates, a brief (not annotated) notes section and a light list of primary and secondary resources. What follows is a fascinating study of the diplomatic struggles and religious tensions of sixteenth-century Europe with two of the most influential figures at its helm. Detailing the final years of Aegon III's regency, following the return of his younger brother, Viserys, and Viserys's wife and her family. I’ve read extensively about Elizabeth I, and one or two books on Catherine de Medici, so the first half of this book was essentially a review. What makes this interesting is the focus on both of them and their relationship, if you can call it that. They never met, which doesn’t really matter. (Elizabeth never met her cousin, and Catherine’s daughter in law, Mary, Queen of Scots, but tons have been written about their relationship.) Both Elizabeth and Catherine are fascinating women. One has come down in history as the greatest Queen of England, the other as essentially a Monster. This book partially remediates the monster and tempers the greatness a bit. It was good to “see” them together. Good but not great. Recommended as a first introduction to these powerful women.