1636: The Cardinal Virtues

Written by Eric Flint and Walter H. Hunt

Narrated by George Guidall

Book #19 in the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. After carving a free state for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia must contend with France's infamous Cardinal Richilieu, who is determined to keep his grip on power no matter what history says. France, 1636 . . . It has been twenty years since King Louis took ANa Maria Mauricia, daughter of Spain's King Philip III, as his wife, and their union has not yet produced an heir. Under the guidance of his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, a plan is developed to remedy that situation. Once she is with child, Queen Anne goes into seclusion to guard her health and protect her from those who would prefer that the child is never born-France's foreign enemies as well as schemers such as Monsieur Gaston d'Orleans, the King's younger brother and heir. When the Crown's opponents make their move, factions inside and outside France must choose sides and help determine the future and fate of the Kingdom. About 1636: The Devil's Opera: "Another engaging alternate history from a master of the genre."-Booklist ". . . an old-style police-procedural mystery, set in 17th century Germany. . . . the threads . . . spin together . . . to weave an addictively entertaining story. . . . a strong addition to a fun series."- Daily News of Galveston County About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series: "This alternate history series is . a landmark."-Booklist "[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians."-Booklist ".reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis."-Publishers Weekly

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490695037

Reviews for 1636

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Things are really developing in France -- the timeline has definitely diverged at this point with the "early" death of Richelieu and King Louis and the subsequent taking of the crown by Gaston.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another niche in the Grantville Saga is nicely filled by this visit to French History. Eric Flint is an excellent teller of stories and this one visits an intriguing political arena; France during the time of Monsieur, the Pretender to the Throne. Richelieu, was the consummate intriguer in this period and is well matched by the King's and Gaston's Medici mother. The fearsome Spanish Tercio is challenged by uptime weapons and troops trained by a former P>E. teacher and a women as well. Radio communications assist some strategies and complicate others.

[janientrelac · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I am a rabid fan of this series, so I read everything. This book was bad, dull, scattered, by the end I didn't care what happened to these people, even the baby, even the maybe dead Cardinal.Advice for rabid fans, get from your public library (don't pay for It) and skim it just enough to know what plots advancements have been made, who is now where.

[agingcow2345 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy the Grantville series but am not a rabid fan. This book is a complete ripoff not even worthy of one star. Even multivolume series are supposed to have some level of dramatic resolution at the end of each book. This one fails the test. It sets a scene, provides a few new characters and mostly moves the pieces around the geographic and dynastic board to set up the NEXT book. Even at $9.99 for the e-book a total ripoff and thus ONLY for people in TOTAL love with the series.