Catherine de Valois

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Richard Mann does a fine job of narrating this story of Catherine,the daughter of a king,wife of a king and the mother of another king.A very interesting short book to listen to."I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com"

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What a beautiful story

When Catherine the daughter of Charles the six oF rance was promised to king Henry she had no idea it would be over the dead bodies of many of her countrymen. Keeping to her parents agreement and her duty as daughter to the king she married him despite her dislike of him and although they grew into a semblance of royal normality and even gave him an air, his death was nor a hardship neither a time for grief. She was left alone with a baby who was king. This is when she meets Owen a man from Wales who lost everything at the hands of her husband and his fathers tyranny just like her people had. Catherine andOwen become close then her in-laws get suspicious. This was such a great story it was so beautifully told it was just awesome as always Richard man did an outstanding job with the narration I love him.

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A striking woman who we can learn a lot from

Where does Catherine de Valois rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's definitely one of my favourites. I'd say it's definitely up there with Laurel's book on Boudicca. I love how I knew nothing about this striking women, but after listening to this audiobook, I feel like I actually knew her!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Catherine de Valois?

I think it's definitely how Laurel shows what an out-spoken woman Catherine was for the time. It's clear by all the mens reactions that this was unheard of, but it comes across really well. I love how effortlessly it comes across that this is a woman not to be trifled with - a royal woman with a spine!

Have you listened to any of Richard Mann’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, I've also listened to Boudicca: Britain's Queen of the Iceni. I loved his narration in that book, and I love it even more in this one! I love how effortlessly he can show emotions in his narration, it's different for every character; whether it's a woman, man or child. His voice changes perfectly to suit the tension levels.
One of my favourite parts of his narration was Mann's performance of Veni at the beginning and end of the book... the music is just so beautiful and moving. It's easy to get lost in it!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when the young Catherine stands up the the stranger-king of England. She doesn't know him, only of his reputation. It takes guts to do something like that and she does it without hesitation and without fear of consequences. I love how Laurel captures Catherine's character in this scene... Catherine has such a strong sense of morals and it really comes through when she's telling the king what's what. I'm surprised he didn't faint due to being spoken to like that! I found it quite refreshing.

Any additional comments?

I really like the way Rockefeller adds in the dates subtly in the narration. They don’t get in the way at all like they’ve been forced in, instead they flow really nicely and fit in perfectly. I think this is a really good idea, especially for kids, because it makes the book a little bit more educational for the young’uns. I think due to this you could even test them with a paper or something to make sure they’ve read it properly.
Story wise, I really appreciated the way the book comes across. With it being told like a story, and not knowing anything about Catherine, I really liked this because I could follow her history a lot better! I’m not being confused with a bunch of jargon, it’s explained simply and it’s entertaining at the same time.
Again, it’s a short book but it’s packed with facts and information. It’s the perfect length if you want to know about Catherine de Valois but don’t have a lot of time. I’d definitely recommend it.

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1 person found this helpful

Amazing story, and even more fantastic narration

This was a well-written, and very well researched book; great for children and adults alike who have an interest in history.

On top of that, Richard Mann's narration is fantastic; he really brings the characters to life. And the parts where he sings... WOW! I thought his narration was great, but his singing is beyond amazing.

Between the fantastic story the author has written, and the amazing job of the narrator, this was an exceptionally wonderful listening experience, and I would highly recommend it.

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1 person found this helpful

Ok but not much substance

Not an in-depth look at Catherine De Valois but ok as a brief introduction of her and her place in history

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