I had a fascinating discussion with friends this morning about the role of the women behind the men who have governed this country through the ages -- more so here in France than probably anywhere else in the world -- and mention was made of a book that records just this phenomemon, called "Histoires de l'amour de l'histoire de France".
So, when I finally got back to Lalinde, the Thursday market stall holders were all in the process of packing up and leaving, and I quickly went to look for my favourite little book stall just past the boulangerie -- and there he was, the owner of the stall, busy packing books away. "Ah! et c'est lequel livre que tu cherche aujourd'hui, ma chere?" he greeted me with a big smile. (And which book is it that you are looking for today?)I asked him if, by any any chance, he has the 'History of love in the history of France', knowing that it is an old, old book and no longer in print and the chance of hearing of a book during a conversation and then finding that book in the weekly market of my little village, are very remote - if not impossible.
The book stall owner gave me a quizzical smile, raised one eyebrow in silent respect, put up his finger -- as one does when a light bulb goes on in your head, turned around, scratched through a box at his feet, and "Voila! First Edition, 1956, I have all three volumes for you! -- and by no chance either! " Could this happen anywhere else, I would like to know!
I am now in possession of three beautiful books on yellowing paper, bright yellow covers, black and white copper etching illustrations -- the stories of Mme de Chateaubriant (mistress of Francois I) Mme de Gramont and La Belle Fosseuse - Francoise de Montmorency (two of the mistresses of Henry of Navarre), Queen Margot (she who carried the hearts of all her dead lovers with her),La marquise de Verneuil (another mistress of Henry IV), all four of Charlemagne's concubines, Saint Louis - who went on the Crusade as his honeymoon -- in order to be with the woman he loved without the interference of his mother and others -- and the man who legalised prostitution in Paris, Queen Isabeau who had the Duke of Orleans killed when he lost his prowess as a lover - and who suggested to the Duke of Bedford that he should burn Jean d'Arc at the stake -- and Madame de Maintenon, mistress of Louis XIV, La Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV, and of course, Diane de Poitiers -- who was the governess of little Henri II as a boy and then became his mistress when he took the throne (and for whom he built the beautiful Chateau de Chenonceaux in the Loire Valley)-- not an easy task when you consider that he was married to Catherine de Medici, ---- and many more fascinating stories of women who had more power behind the bed curtains than one could imagine.
And that is what is so interesting -- to track the women who stood 
behind the men who ruled this great country and to read about the amazing influence they played on the big and important decisions that shaped the history of France. -- What a pity then that the books stop short of the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, of Mitterand, of Chirac and ..... well, that we do not have a more up to date account of the history of love in the making of the history of France. Perhaps one day soon the fourth and fifth volumes will appear on the book shop shelves. I do hope so -- I would far rather hold another of these beautiful tomes in my hands to read about the juicy bits of history than the messy print and sordid tales of the tabloids!...Click on Link:
