Overview

When Anne of Brittany's father dies in 1488, the eleven-year-old beauty becomes Duchess of Brittany, her country's ruler. For the next three years, the orphaned, unmarried young duchess is relentlessly pursued by suitors while Brittany is invaded by France, its larger, more powerful neighbor. With no other way out, at age fourteen she agrees to marry King Charles VIII of France, in order to save her country. Better to be a queen than a prisoner... Unexpectedly, a passionate relationship ensues. Yet Charles cannot shake the bad habits he has brought into their marriage, and Anne cannot help him in his darkest area of struggle. Together, they introduce the wonders of the Italian Renaissance to France, building one of Europe's most glorious 15th-century courts at their royal residence in Amboise, in the heart of the Loire Valley. But year after year they fail to achieve the most important aim they must accomplish in order to secure the future of their kingdom. As they desperately attempt to make their shared dream come true, an unexpected twist of fate irrevocably changes the fortunes of both Anne and Charles. Anne & Charles is Book One of the Anne of Brittany Series, the tale of the only woman in history to be twice-crowned queen of France. Publishers Weekly says ""comparable titles are Philippa Gregory's Plantagenet and Tudor Novels."" (Booklife, April 23, 2018)

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9780984790654

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Reviews

Gaston's blend of royalty, young love, and the French Renaissance is enchanting. --Publishers Weekly (April 2, 2018) A historically sharp and dramatically stirring love story. Gaston's (Sense of Touch: Love and Duty at Anne of Brittany's Court, 2016, etc.) research is admirably thorough--she artfully brings to life 15th-century Europe. Also, while the court politics of the day were knottily complex, she disentangles it all with laudable clarity. Gaston's writing is elegant and historically authentic but also accessible. She doesn't burden the reader with an endless train of linguistic anachronisms in order to achieve historical accuracy. Further, the romance between Anne and Charles is touchingly presented, one that traveled from suspicion and resentment through sober pragmatism to genuine love. --Kirkus Reviews (Dec. 18, 2017) A delightful read with sparkling dialogue, Gaston puts a human face on these captivating historical personalities from the French Renaissance. --Susan Abernethy, The Freelance History Writer (Nov. 16, 2017) A true story that reads like a fairytale, Anne and Charles is an evocative portrayal of Anne of Brittany, a feminist avant la lettre, who uses her intelligence and charm to protect the people of Brittany as their prudent ruler. This irresistible read will make you feel like you're one of Anne of Brittany's privileged ladies-in-waiting. A marvelous story about a marriage that would change the course of European history. --Hilde van den Bergh, Hemmahoshilde Blog (Nov. 16, 2017) Francophiles, feminists and fans of history and romance alike will delight in Anne and Charles. Gaston returns readers to a world poised to shed one skin, the confines of medieval duchies and kingdoms, and embrace another, one in which France would lead the rest of Western Europe through the Renaissance. This fictionalized account of how Anne of Brittany finds her way and her love amidst this world offers modern readers unexpected lessons on female power and the possibilities that await those who follow their heart. --Dominique Padurano, Ph.D., Professor of History, City University of New York, Crimson Coaching LLC (Nov. 30, 2017) An engrossing depiction of the meeting and marriage between Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII of France. As in her previous work, Sense of Touch, Gaston paints a colorful and interesting picture of court life in 15th century France. Anne and Charles excels in humanizing one of the most misunderstood of French kings--his love and admiration for his strong wife and his self-deprecating view of his limitations and weaknesses. This fictionalized account of their complementary relationship is well worth the read. --RT Review Source (Oct. 18, 2017) A romance for the ages, Ms. Gaston masterfully conveys the passion, heartbreak, and determination of this royal couple. With excellent flow, organization, and character development, the only detraction is how much of the fighting and political maneuvering happens off screen. Still, lovers of strong women, kings and queens, historical events, and sensual encounters will find themselves eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series. --Crowned Heart Award review, Sarah E Bradley, InD'Tale Magazine

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