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The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily Audiobook
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(3.02) - 338 listener ratings
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The riveting history of a beautiful queen, a shocking murder, a papal trial -- and a reign as triumphant as any in the Middle Ages.
On March 15, 1348, twenty-two-year-old Joanna I, Queen of Naples, stood trial for the murder of her husband before the Pope and his court in Avignon. Determined to defend herself, Joanna won her acquittal against overwhelming odds. Victorious, she returned to Naples and ruled over one of Europe's most prestigious courts for the next three decades -- until she herself was killed.
Courageous and determined, Joanna was the only female monarch in her time to rule in her own name. She was widely admired: dedicated to the welfare of her subjects, she reduced crime, built hospitals and churches, and encouraged the licensing of female physicians. A procession of the most important artists and writers of the time frequented her glittering court. But she never quite escaped the stain of her husband's death, and the turmoil of the times surrounded her -- war, plague, and treachery would ultimately be her undoing.
With skill, passion, and impeccable research and detail, Nancy Goldstone brings to life one of history's most remarkable women. The Lady Queen is a captivating portrait of medieval royalty in all its incandescent complexity.
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"Revisionist and sympathetic reconstruction of the life and reign of Joanna I of Naples, who managed to hold a kingdom (Provence, Naples and a half-assed claim to Jerusalem) together for the 40 years that encompassed the 100 Years War and its wandering mercenaries, the Babylonian Captivity and the Dueling Popes, the original outbreak of the Black Death, the Castilian Civil War, Aragonese ambitions in the the Mediterranean, aggressive Hungarians, flailing Byzantines and packs of ungrateful greedy cousins, three of whom she married (one of whom she was accused of assassinating, but her trusty flunkies probably took care of that without letting her in on the plan--Andrew plainly needed killing). In medieval history, this kind of career makes you an evil slut and your murder by said Hungarians a reasonable outcome."
— Margaret (4 out of 5 stars)
The Lady Queen Listener Reviews
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" Another great contribution to medieval popular history from Nancy Goldstone. The Lady Queen is chock-full of murdering, plotting, overthrowing, excommunicating, and ill-fated marrying (and that's just within one royal family), as Joanna I of Naples struggles with constant challenges to her reign. An interesting portrait of a little-known (by me, at least) female ruler in a fascinating era. I look forward to seeing what Goldstone tackles next. "
— Caroline, 2/6/2014 -
" I had never heard of (or at least remembered)Joanna I and learned quite about the papacy in Avignon. I think Joanna would make a great character for historical fiction, but this was pretty dry. I gave it three stars mostly because I am not especially interested in royalty. That is hardly the book's fault! "
— Lynne, 2/2/2014 -
" Very interesting life! I did not know much about Joanna I before I read this book, Goldstone does a very nice job of keeping what can be a dry read, considering the age of the source material, lively and informative. This queen was a very powerful medieval monarch and a fascinating woman. "
— Abigail, 1/3/2014 -
" I enjoyed this after getting through the first 100 pages. Up until then all the names and politics and history just made my head spin. I knew nothing about the Middle Ages, which complicated following the early parts of the book. By then end, though, I was engrossed. What an amazing story! I learned a lot, and it made me want even more to head off to Italy. I'd often heard about the corruption, power, and influence of the church and the pope in history, but never was it so well documented in anything I'd read. The influence of illness and intrigue on history was explained beautifully. "
— Julia, 12/28/2013 -
" Really enjoying this smart, crisply written historical account of the first female European monarch. "
— Emily, 12/23/2013 -
" Medieval life sounds fantastical and tumultuous, but stripped of the myths and fairy tale connotations, who would want to live it? "
— إديث, 11/23/2013 -
" This wasn't the best written historical novel, but the character of Joanna and the time period were fascinating. "
— Amyfibre, 11/17/2013 -
" Highly engaging biography of a much maligned queen. "
— Melisende, 11/21/2012 -
" This book interested me because in the times before the Renaissance female rulers were a rarity. I had read other books of these very violent times and was curious how a female could maintain power and hold her own in all the duplicity and intrigue. Very interesting. "
— Joan, 11/13/2012 -
" Very intriguing book. It does offer some insights into Lady Joanna, most that I didn't learn in grade school. Sadly, I read this book alongside another so I sped-read mostly. Still, a good book and I should reread this in 2011. "
— Usako, 5/31/2012 -
" Absolutely fascinating! I love reading historical accounts like that of The Lady Queen. I didn't know any of this background, and it was such a learning experience as well as an entertaining read. "
— Sara, 12/7/2011 -
" Very interesting life! I did not know much about Joanna I before I read this book, Goldstone does a very nice job of keeping what can be a dry read, considering the age of the source material, lively and informative. This queen was a very powerful medieval monarch and a fascinating woman. "
— Abigail, 2/2/2011 -
" Loved it! Its amazing the power that the Vatican had on politics not just spiritual matters. "
— Lisa, 9/5/2010 -
" This book interested me because in the times before the Renaissance female rulers were a rarity. I had read other books of these very violent times and was curious how a female could maintain power and hold her own in all the duplicity and intrigue. Very interesting. "
— Joan, 7/12/2010 -
" I did learn about a time period I knew very little about, the book was very dry and hard to read. "
— Frankie, 3/23/2010 -
" There were parts of this book I really enjoyed and parts that were draggy and slow. It was interesting learning about a time and location I didn't know much about. Worth at least one read through. "
— Kl, 2/14/2010 -
" Really enjoying this smart, crisply written historical account of the first female European monarch. "
— Emily, 1/10/2010
About Nancy Goldstone
Nancy Goldstone is the author of several books, including The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc; Four Queens: The Provençal Sisters Who Ruled Europe; and The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily. She has also coauthored five books with her husband, Lawrence Goldstone.
About Christine Lakin
Christine Lakin is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and acclaimed television actress, best known for her roles as Alicia “Al” Lambert on the hit family comedy Step by Step and as Joan of Arc on Showtime’s Reefer Madness.