Les Rois maudits, tome 3 : Les Poisons de la couronne

by Maurice Druon (Auteur)

Paperback, 1973

Status

Available

Series

The Accursed Kings (3)

Genres

Publication

Le Livre de Poche (1973), Edition: Nouvelle, 320 pages

Description

'This was the original game of thrones' George R.R. Martin No man is impervious to the poisons of the crown... Having murdered his wife and exiled his mistress, King Louis X of France becomes besotted with Princess Clemence of Hungary and makes her his new Queen. However, though the matter of the succession should be assured, it is far from so, as Louis embarks on an ill-fated war against Flanders. Where his father, Philip IV, was strong, Louis is weak, and the ambitions of his proud, profligate barons threaten his power and the future of a kingdom once ruled by an Iron King.

User reviews

LibraryThing member CaroPi

This book continue the story that started with the curse of the last knight templar, and it this case it seems that the curse is becoming real. The crown of France seems to slowly felt... Great continuation of this amazing period in history.

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LibraryThing member Joanne53

The Templer's curse continues to haunt the Capets as their dynasty dies.

LibraryThing member Helenliz

This is lively history. Lots of action, lots of intrigue, lots of characters who flit in and out. I wish my knowledge of French history was a bit better, to be able to place some of the names the cropped up a little more readily. Focused on the reign on Louis X, one of France's less effectual

monarchs, it's a nail in the coffin of primogeniture, when the ineffectual older brother becomes king when the whole kingdom thinks that his younger brother would do a better job. There's lots going on in this, and it's a good listen. One of a series, I'd pick it up again.

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LibraryThing member john257hopper

This is the third book in the author's Accursed Kings series of novels set in the early 14th century during the period of crisis within the ruling Capetian dynasty when after the death of the Iron King, Philip IV, his three sons ruled for short periods, thus encouraging England's King Edward III to

claim the French throne through his mother, thereby precipitating the conflict known later as the Hundred Years War. The first of these sons, Louis X is the subject of this novel, and in particular his relationship with his second wife Clementia of Hungary. More plotting, scandal and family tensions abound, though the plot of this novel seems a little lighter than that of the first two books, It's a very good series and I will certainly continue reading it.

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LibraryThing member wishanem

The third book in the series which begins with "The Iron King."

I felt like this book suffered a little from being the middle of the series. The events which began in the previous books kept developing, and new elements were introduced, but very little was resolved. The man who is King in this book

is a particularly unlikeable character who spends a great deal of time whining, and that wore on me a bit.

The ending was also a bit more of a cliffhanger than the last two books, so while I look forward to reading the next volume I didn't like this one as much as its predecessors.

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