Young Queens

Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power

By: Leah Redmond Chang

Narrated by: Olivia Dowd

Orphaned from infancy, Catherine de’ Medici endured a tumultuous childhood. Married to the French king, she was widowed by forty, only to become the power behind the French throne during a period of intense civil strife. In 1546, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Elisabeth de Valois, who would become Queen of Spain. Two years later, Catherine welcomed to her nursery the beguiling young Mary Queen of Scots, who would later become her daughter-in-law.

Together, Catherine, Elisabeth, and Mary lived through the sea changes that transformed sixteenth-century Europe, a time of expanding empires, religious discord, and populist revolt, as concepts of nationhood began to emerge and ideas of sovereignty inched closer to absolutism. They would learn that to rule as a queen was to wage a constant war against the deeply entrenched misogyny of their time.

Following the intertwined stories of the three women from girlhood through young adulthood, Leah Redmond Chang's Young Queens paints a picture of a world in which a woman could wield power at the highest level yet remain at the mercy of the state, her body serving as the currency of empire and dynasty, sacrificed to the will of husband, family, kingdom.

©2023 Leah Redmond Chang (P)2023 Recorded Books

A Rich Entangled History That Entertains While It Educates

This book was so thorough and so well written as it connected up the lives of these three historically important queens. It completely educates while entertaining you through the entire length of the reading by a fabulous narrator. The twists and turns and the insider information about a time in history, not only intrigues, but makes us clearly aware of how history can repeat itself and maybe doing so in seemingly disguised or obvious ways today! I loved it I couldn't put it down.

Historical storytelling at its best (audiobook edition)

A well interwoven story of Catherine DM, Mary QS, and Elisabeth dV …Exceptional narration by Olivia Dowd … non-fiction at its best!

So well researched!

This is a narrative, not a novel, but it is as engrossing as any romance!! So rich in detail. My only complaint is a lack of detail
regarding Mary Stuart’s last years. But a fantastic book with so much insight into three queens of that era.

Fascinating and Well-told

This is a fantastic look into the lives, letters, relationships, and responsibilities of these historical figures. Very accurate and detailed, with just enough embellishment and speculation to humanize the women. Beautifully performed, though a little slowly paced.

Well written, well narrated

Excellently written! I found it absorbing from start to finish. Excellent narration as well. Highly recommend.