Courtesan

I absolutely loved this book! Diane Haeger takes you into the French court and it's like you're there.......lots of daily life details. The characters are well developed and likable. The love story is beautiful. You care about these people. I hated to see it end! Highly recommend it.

Beautifully written novel. I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it in the very beginning, and it has become one of my favorite books. Nice attention to detail and an irresistible love story. I couldn’t put it down but I didn’t want it to end.

I am an historical fiction fanatic and I loved this book. It kept me up way too late reading. The details of court life were particularly fascinating. And the ending did not disappoint. I highly recommend this book!

This book was wonderful. At times I had trouble putting it down. I would get this in hard back to have to read again and again!

In spite of the fact that this book was the first novel of the queen of sappy historical romance novels this is a pretty good book. Historically, it's not totally accurate, but hey, it is fiction. This is the story of a King of France, Henri, and his long time mistress, Diane. Now, when I say long time, I mean like almost 30 years long time. This kid was in love with this woman when she was governess. Did I mention the 16 year age difference? I had the misfortune to read a historical non-fiction book about their situation called "The Serpent and the Moon" which is written by a descendent of Diane, and of Henri's wife Catherine de Medici. I say misfortune because it was one boring book, but it did provide many historical facts. Such as, the relationship between Henry and Diane probably did not become sexual until he was almost twenty, not when he was 14 or 15 and she was 31 or 32, as in this book. That's the major problem with this novel actually; it glorifies a relationship that really just reminded me of the whole Mary Kay Laterno scandal. So that part of the novel was fairly icky and a little creepy. The one thing I really dislikes about this book (aside from the sap) was that the first 100 pages are totally devoted to Diane lusting after almost pubescent boys because her marriage was loveless. I mean, get some control lady! He's your daughter's age! It makes much more sense that the sexual aspect of their relationship developed later on. If you want a good argument for that read "The Serpent and the Moon" but don't say I didn't warn you. But other than that this is solid historical fiction that is, at times, quite mesmerizing. The relationships of those involved are often nowhere near as interesting as the politics and court life of the time, which is a welcome relief from the endless sappy speeches of Henri and Diane. Catherine is a fascinating, if always maligned character, and the backdrop of renaissance France is perfectly done. As a novel, this is definitely something I would read again. I really liked it for all its flaws, and it made me want to read more of Ms. Haeger's work, even though I didn't really like "The secret wife of King George IV" all that much. This is a far better, more developed novel with a setting and backdrop that is fascinating and puts you right in the thick of things. If you can cut through the minimal sap and the marginal pedophilia in this book you'll probably love it. Four point five stars.

I agree with the reviewer from Texas who stated that this was one of the best books she had ever read. That it is a first novel is remarkable: not only does Haeger have a depth of understanding of the period, rare in many authors of romance fiction, but she is truly able to make her characters come alive. "Courtesan" is the story of Diane de Poitiers and Henri II of France. Their romance began when Henri was a young prince and Diane the "older woman" beloved by Henri's father, King Francis I. It continued through Henri's marriage to the plain, and later infamous, Catherine de Medici, and was a scandal throughout France and beyond. The author skillfully recreated the world of 16th century France, especially the world of the royal court. All of the characters, both real and fictional, are presented with their flaws and virtues. While Diane is clearly the heroine of this fictional treatment, Haeger allows us to see the pain and humilation the love affair inflicted on Queen Catherine as well. I think the publisher did "Courtesan" a disservice by calling it an historical romance, as I think it would be more accurate to call it an historical novel. Many romance readers do not like stories that involve adultery, especially when there is no chance that the couple can wed. This book also does not contain scenes of explicit lovemaking which many romance readers require in their novels. By calling it a romance, the publisher, perhaps unknowingly, limited the readership to women, as few men pick up books clearly labeled as "romances." Every man whom I have talked into reading this book has been impressed by the scholarship shown by the author, and charmed by Diane. With the exception of "The Return," Ms Haeger's later books do not IMO show the same depth as this remarkable first novel. Ms Haeger's last two books, about Maria Fitzherbert and the woman loved by General William T. Sherman, are workman-like biographical novels, but they simply do not grip the reader in the same way as "Courtesan."

THE BOOK IS RICH IN CHARACTER ILLUSTRATION. YOU COME TO UNDERSTAND THE LIFE IN COURT AND VIEW HOW ONE WOMAN, OF NOBLE BIRTH, MAKES THE BEST OF A SITUATION TO ALLOW FOR HERSELF AND HER FAMILY. THOUGH AN EPIC, YOU FOLLOW THE CHANGES BY HAEGER'S VIVID PROSE AND HATE TO SEE THE END OF THE BOOK!!