Decadenza di una famiglia, Matteo Strukul

I Medici, decadenza di una famiglia

Matteo Strukul

Storyline

Seventeenth-century Paris is the essence of vice and violence. Maria de' Medici, recently married to Henry IV of Bourbon, soon finds herself contending with the rapacious ambitions of Henriette d'Entragues. Henry himself has promised his favorite, in a written document, that he would marry her, and now that paper is the weapon with which she blackmails him. But it's not the only threat: another comes from a group of nobles conspiring to overthrow the throne. Sensing that her and the king's fates are becoming increasingly precarious, Maria decides to rely on Mathieu Laforge, a highly skilled spy and assassin capable of thwarting more than one plot. However, the queen does not yet know that her destiny will be marked by the constant struggle against those who seek the end of her reign. When Henry IV of Bourbon dies, a victim of yet another conspiracy, the unstoppable rise of a star of first magnitude in French politics looms on the horizon: Cardinal Richelieu. It will be he, after the king's death, who will acquire ever-greater power, betraying the one who had done more than anyone else to advance his fortune: Maria de' Medici.


Review

In this fourth and final chapter dedicated to the Medici dynasty, we are transported to 1597 when Maria de' Medici is promised in marriage to Henry IV of Bourbon. The story unfolds through her journey from Queen Consort of France, from 1600 to 1610, to becoming regent for her son, Louis XIII. At the Louvre, Maria must navigate the treacherous waters of the court, battling the fear of being ousted and surrounding herself with a select group of trusted spies.
With great skill, Matteo Strukul recreates the atmosphere of tension that enveloped France at the beginning of the 17th century. He paints a portrait of a strong and courageous woman forced to fight against the ambitions and power-hungry aristocracy to protect the throne during a time marked by religious conflicts. Maria de' Medici endures all this, coping with loneliness, the humiliation of Henry IV’s betrayals, and the indifference of her son, Louis XIII.
The novel focuses on pivotal moments in Maria’s life in Paris, such as the court's distrust towards her, the influence of Cardinal Richelieu, Louis XIII’s vulnerability, her imprisonments and exile, and her friendship with the Flemish painter Rubens. *Decadenza di una famiglia* is a historical work that remains faithful to the facts without forcing the reader to question every detail, trusting instead in the respect for the spirit of the era. The narrative flows quickly, and I found it engaging, skillfully blending compelling elements with the historical genre, creating a read that is accessible to all; and for my personal taste, I give this story 4 sunflowers.




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