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Agnes Sorel Mistress of Beauty
The King's eyes went to a young woman across the room. The
extraordinary face startled him. He had never seen such perfection. He could
not believe that she was real, she must be an apparition, a figment of his
imagination, born out of his starved existence, but she was real and he knew in
that moment that she must be his.
So intense would be his love for her that he showered her with jewels,
gave her castles and chateaux, and then he made her official mistress, the first
official Mistress of France, equal to his wife the Queen. But with it came a price,
jealousy -- "Jealousy which is as cruel as the grave."
This is a story of love, desire, envy, and jealousy, those qualities of the
human heart which are timeless and universal.
extraordinary face startled him. He had never seen such perfection. He could
not believe that she was real, she must be an apparition, a figment of his
imagination, born out of his starved existence, but she was real and he knew in
that moment that she must be his.
So intense would be his love for her that he showered her with jewels,
gave her castles and chateaux, and then he made her official mistress, the first
official Mistress of France, equal to his wife the Queen. But with it came a price,
jealousy -- "Jealousy which is as cruel as the grave."
This is a story of love, desire, envy, and jealousy, those qualities of the
human heart which are timeless and universal.
- GenresFranceHistorical Fiction
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 5, 2020
Terrific
A great read about two cousins and their lives together. Wonderful storytelling and hard to put down. I liked the author's writing style and look forward to reading more. You can probably find yourself in both of these women.
A great read about two cousins and their lives together. Wonderful storytelling and hard to put down. I liked the author's writing style and look forward to reading more. You can probably find yourself in both of these women.
August 1, 2022
Good Story
Description in this book was over done, skipped a lot of it. Parts of the story were repeated and there were many many editing mistakes.
Overall I truly enjoyed the history and the story created to glue it together.
Description in this book was over done, skipped a lot of it. Parts of the story were repeated and there were many many editing mistakes.
Overall I truly enjoyed the history and the story created to glue it together.
August 27, 2018
Enjoyable
I enjoyed reading this book, despite a few grammatical errors and historical discrepancies. I do recommend it to anyone who is interested in her story.
I enjoyed reading this book, despite a few grammatical errors and historical discrepancies. I do recommend it to anyone who is interested in her story.
November 30, 2022
Agnes Sorel is known as the woman who gave the French king Charles VII reason to live, and is responsible for turning him from the cowardly, unpleasant worm who murdered the Duke of Burgundy, into a victorious leader the country could be proud of. That’s a tall order! So of course I wanted to know who the woman was behind the legend, and Noreen Nash did a fine job of piecing this contradictory story together. I expected to meet a selfish, power-hungry viper, like most kings’ mistresses, but Agnes is depicted as something quite different. In fact, we find a modest, sweet, unpretentious beauty who is easily intimidated and who cares very deeply what other people think of her. She wasn’t really interested in becoming the king’s mistress; her heart had already been given to another who betrayed her affection and married elsewhere. When King Charles quietly but insistently laid claim to her favors, she acquiesced out of deference rather than love, recognizing how much he needed her. It wasn’t until later that she found herself returning his affections:
So often she had wondered why her first childish impression had been of a cruel, ungrateful King, neither attractive nor impressive. She saw a different man now. A kind, beneficent one. It had been said he showed no gratitude to those who had served him well, yet he had never stopped repaying her for the happiness she had given him.
Apparently Agnes’s beauty was unparalleled, and the courtiers were torn between admiration and scorn. For the most part, Agnes kept to herself unless the king insisted on parading her out on special occasions. These conspicuous demonstrations always backlashed onto poor Agnes, who was perfectly cognizant of the insult to the long-suffering queen. Unfortunately, the Dauphin Louis (later known as the Spider King) took an especial dislike to her after she rejected his advances. Once he abused her in public, Louis was expelled from court which made him an even more bitter enemy. Agnes’s only consolation, aside from the king, was her cousin Antoinette, who harbored a secret jealousy that threatened to tear both of their lives apart. Was Agnes so naïve—or trusting—that she never suspected Antoinette’s dark side? Apparently so. In the Prologue, we are introduced to her death scene, complete with the suggestion she was poisoned. We are left to decide who was responsible for this dreadful act of malice. Due to her status as the king’s mistress, Agnes found herself with plenty of enemies. No one seemed to care how deeply the king would be affected by her death. Very nicely done.
So often she had wondered why her first childish impression had been of a cruel, ungrateful King, neither attractive nor impressive. She saw a different man now. A kind, beneficent one. It had been said he showed no gratitude to those who had served him well, yet he had never stopped repaying her for the happiness she had given him.
Apparently Agnes’s beauty was unparalleled, and the courtiers were torn between admiration and scorn. For the most part, Agnes kept to herself unless the king insisted on parading her out on special occasions. These conspicuous demonstrations always backlashed onto poor Agnes, who was perfectly cognizant of the insult to the long-suffering queen. Unfortunately, the Dauphin Louis (later known as the Spider King) took an especial dislike to her after she rejected his advances. Once he abused her in public, Louis was expelled from court which made him an even more bitter enemy. Agnes’s only consolation, aside from the king, was her cousin Antoinette, who harbored a secret jealousy that threatened to tear both of their lives apart. Was Agnes so naïve—or trusting—that she never suspected Antoinette’s dark side? Apparently so. In the Prologue, we are introduced to her death scene, complete with the suggestion she was poisoned. We are left to decide who was responsible for this dreadful act of malice. Due to her status as the king’s mistress, Agnes found herself with plenty of enemies. No one seemed to care how deeply the king would be affected by her death. Very nicely done.
October 19, 2021
Loved every minute
I love reading about women who have influenced history and other women's lives. Agnes Sorel may have been France's first well known mistress as she becomes as important as Joan of Arc to the French King, Charles. Agnes was able to use her wit, charm, kindness, and style to help bring about a more united France.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history. Nash was able to breathe life into Agnes' story.
I love reading about women who have influenced history and other women's lives. Agnes Sorel may have been France's first well known mistress as she becomes as important as Joan of Arc to the French King, Charles. Agnes was able to use her wit, charm, kindness, and style to help bring about a more united France.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history. Nash was able to breathe life into Agnes' story.
March 31, 2022
Another side…
Of royalty that garnered compassion in me for Agnes and Charles where historically they’ve more likely been shown disdain for their relationship.
In a system where everyone USED others to gain wealth, prestige, and power to elevate themselves socially, politically, ecumenically, relationally, and economically, Agnes and Charles were Renegades, only genuine LOVE for each other was their ONLY motive.
Of royalty that garnered compassion in me for Agnes and Charles where historically they’ve more likely been shown disdain for their relationship.
In a system where everyone USED others to gain wealth, prestige, and power to elevate themselves socially, politically, ecumenically, relationally, and economically, Agnes and Charles were Renegades, only genuine LOVE for each other was their ONLY motive.
April 30, 2022
WOW
What Agnes went through w her cousin and the kings son. Who can she trust, if anyone at all? Why wasn't her food tested before she ate or drank? Why? WOW.... phenomenal research.
What Agnes went through w her cousin and the kings son. Who can she trust, if anyone at all? Why wasn't her food tested before she ate or drank? Why? WOW.... phenomenal research.
September 6, 2022
Loved it!
September 15, 2022
Enjoyable story about an era with which I was unfamiliar. Some repetition that could have been remedied by a good editor but overall a good read and educational
December 30, 2022
fascinating story badly edited
I have never heard of Agnes prior to this. Enjoyable read, would have been even better with proper editing and maybe a bit more story.
I have never heard of Agnes prior to this. Enjoyable read, would have been even better with proper editing and maybe a bit more story.
June 29, 2022
Great Read!
Exciting story about two women -Both beautiful. One was kind and generous. The other one was evil, greedy and a liar.
Exciting story about two women -Both beautiful. One was kind and generous. The other one was evil, greedy and a liar.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews