The Serpent and the Rose: Marguerite de Valois and Catherine de Medici: A mother-daughter battle for the ages

THE SERPENT AND THE ROSE is a historical novel told in diary form by Marguerite de Valois, a French princess whose life was so sensational that William Shakespeare was inspired to write "Love's Labour's Lost" about her. Beautiful, brilliant, and accomplished, Marguerite was in a lifelong battle with her mother, the infamous Catherine de Medici. She was also the victim of a politically motivated smear campaign defaming her as a sexual deviant; a reputation she has, to this day, never fully shed. “The Serpent and the Rose,” highly researched and inspired by her memoirs, paints a sympathetic and often humorous portrait of this remarkable woman.

KIRKUS REVIEW - “A sweeping but intimate story that highlights the author's clear attention to detail….. Over the course of this novel, Butterfield employs diary-like style from Marguerite’s perspective that makes for a brisk read, and Marguerite, despite her royal background, comes off as approachable and very human throughout.”

HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY REVIEW - 5 stars, Highly Recommended Award of Excellence - ​​"The Serpent and the Rose" is a captivating tale that skillfully weaves together historical, dramatic and personal elements. Catherine Butterfield brings to life a fascinating period in French history and paints a complex and memorable portrait of Queen Marguerite de Valois."

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Release date

Audiobook: 30 March 2024