The Valois Trilogy Series

First published in 1845, "Queen Margot" (AKA "Marguerite de Valois") is a historical novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas. "Queen Margot" is set in Paris in August 1572 during the reign of Charles IX. The story is based on real characters and events. The novel's protagonist is Marguerite de Valois, better known as Margot, daughter of the deceased Henry II and the infamous scheming Catholic power player Catherine de Medici. Catherine decides to make an overture of goodwill by offering up Margot in marriage to prominent Huguenot and King of Navarre, Henri de Bourbon, a marriage that was supposed to cement the hard-fought Peace of Saint-Germain. At the same time, Catherine schemes to bring about the notorious St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, assassinating many of the most wealthy and prominent Huguenots who were in the largely-Catholic city of Paris to escort the Protestant prince to his wedding… Although "Queen Margot"is based on real characters and events, certain aspects of the novel may be inconsistent with the historical record; historians have attributed this to artistic licence and the fact that Dumas might have been influenced by propaganda against certain characters, notably Catherine. Written in French, it was almost immediately translated into English, first anonymously, and soon after by David Bogue as "Marguerite de Valois: An Historical Romance". "Queen Margot" is the first book of The Valois Trilogy and followed by "Chicot the Jester" and "The Forty Five Guardsmen."

First published in 1845, "Chicot the Jester" (AKA "La Dame de Monsoreau") is a historical novel by French author Alexandre Dumas and the second volume of The Valois Trilogy, also composed by "Queen Margot" and "The Forty Five Guardsmen" in that order. "Chicot the Jester" tells the fantastic story of a nobleman jester who has the audacity to mock a king and the guile to disarm a venerable knight in a heated battle. Bristling with political plots, secret assignations, daring escapes, duels, surprising alliances and betrayals, Dumas orchestrates two plotlines to come together in a very scene-driven, absolutely over-the-top novel.  The title character isn’t a jester in the way we use the term today; instead Chicot is King Henri III’s advisor with the advantage of being able to speak truth to power. And that power is in jeopardy from within his family and without. Chicot must use all his wiles to keep Henri out of trouble and himself in the position of the real King of France. Against him is the powerful house of de Guise whose head is also the leader of the Catholic League; the King’s brother the Duc d’Angou and the leader of the Huguenot faction, King Henry of Navarre.  The other principal player is the brave Bussy, or the Comte de Bussy who is allied with the Duc d’Anjou. He upsets the King’s minions and while escaping their trap he encounters a strange lady in a strange house and thinks it all a dream until he meets the real lady and falls in love. Tragically she’s been tricked into marrying the scheming Comte Monsoreau, chief huntsman to the King and who will do anything to keep his wife away from any man who so much as looks at her. Monsoreau isn’t his only worry though; the Duc d’Anjou also wants the lovely Diana. Concerning one of Dumas’s most well-known and marvellously crafted characters, “Chicot the Jester” is a must-read for fans of Dumas’s seminal work, and is not to be missed by the discerning collector.

First published in 1847 and a sequel to “Chicot the Jester," Alexandre Dumas’s historical novel “The Forty Five Guardsmen” tells the story of Diane de Méridor’s quest for revenge upon Duc d’Anjou – for his heinous betrayal of Bussy d’Amboise.  Historically it commences with the execution of Salcède and the arrival of the Forty Five at Paris, and deals with the Guise intrigues, the campaign of Anjou in Flanders and his death; the events in the novel take place in 1584 and 85. A must-read for those who have enjoyed the previous books in this saga, “The Forty Five Guardsmen” is worthy of a place on any bookshelf, and is not to be missed by the discerning collector. The novel is the third volume of The Valois Trilogy, coming after "Queen Margot" and "Chicot the Jester" in that order.