Author Biography | Interview | Books by this Author | Read-Alikes
C. W. Gortner, half-Spanish by birth, holds an M.F.A. in writing, with an emphasis on historical studies, from the New College of California and has taught university courses on women of power in the Renaissance. He was raised in Málaga, Spain, and now lives in California.
C.W. Gortner's website
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In two separate interviews (video and text) C.W. Gortner talks about his novel, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, in which he explores the real person behind the lurid accusations and hyperbole that have painted her as the evil queen who poisoned her enemies and orchestrated a massacre.
A video interview with C.W. Gortner about his 2010 historical novel, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
A conversation with C. W. Gortner about his novel, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
Anyone with an interest in famous women of history will have heard
of Catherine de Medici: She's the evil queen who allegedly poisoned
her enemies and orchestrated a massacre. Or so the legend says. Of
Italian birth, Catherine was the last scion of her legitimate Medici
blood; she dominated France in the latter half of the sixteenth century,
a contemporary of Elizabeth I of England and mother-in-law to Mary,
Queen of Scots. Left a widow with small children and confronted by
one of the most savage conflicts of her time, she fought to save France
and her bloodline from destruction.
Why did you decide to write about her?
Initially, I was attracted to Catherine because of her legend. I figured
...
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