Blood, Fire & Gold: The Story of Elizabeth I & Catherine de Medici

England’s Elizabeth I and France’s Catherine de’ Medici were powerful rulers during an era when women’s lives were often restricted to the domestic sphere. In this dual biography, historian Paranque (Elizabeth I of England Through Valois Eyes) explores the rise and reign of these two powerful Renaissance queens, including the ways in which their lives intersected through both diplomacy and conflict. Both wielded power in different ways—as queen regnant, Elizabeth was able to lead her country directly, while Catherine, wife of French king Henry II, was a strategic operator who was the power behind the French throne for decades, both as the wife of the reigning king and, later, as queen mother. Paranque makes extensive use of primary sources, including letters between the two queens, to illustrate their similarities and differences, as well as their ongoing rivalry. Narrator Anna Wilson-Jones’s crisply enunciated English accent is an excellent fit for the narrative, and she maintains a steady pace throughout the book, drawing listeners into the courtly intrigue and treachery.