Catherine de Montsalvy

first published: in France by Editions de Trévise 1963
first published: in Great Britain 1964 by William Heineman Ltd.

Facts & Trivia

French version 315 pages, chapters 13
English version 299 pages, chapters 13

English translation by Jocasta Goodwin
translated into more than twenty languages

for international book covers see our special sites

Chapter Synopses - Routes of Catherine

Film Adaption in 1968 Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour
Director Bernard Borderie
Music by Michel Magne

Television-Serie in 1986 Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour
Co-Production Antenne 2 - SFP
Director Marion Sarraut
Adaption Juliette Benzoni & Jean Chatenet
Music by Robert Viger

Ballad of Catherine 1965
Text: Juliette Benzoni
Singer: Bernard Stéphane

The daughter of a Paris goldsmith in the early fifteenth century, Catherine Legoix learnt about the horrors and violence of live in France during the Hundred Year's war. At thirteen she watched the sacking of the Dauphin's palace by a Burgundian mob, and saw her attempt to save the live of Michel de Montsalvy, a young supporter of the Prince's cause, fail dismally as the enraged Burgundians battered him to death outside her father's shop. They hanged her fatherim but Catherine escaped to become a woman of outstanding beauty. Violet eyes and a mane of golden hair won her the love of a duke; but they could not hold the one man whose love she needed above all.
Amidst the magnificence of the Burgundian Court, among the beggars in the market-place outside, Catherine pursues the course which Fate determinded for her against all the dictates of reason and common-sense. To her the privileges of a duke's mistress, a rich man's wife, are worthless: for Catherine...

One Love is Enough

....introducing the main characters in book 1...

Paris

Burgundy

Catherine Legiox
Gaucher Legoix
Jacquette Legoix
Loyse Legoix
Landry Pigasse

Michel de Montsalvy
Comte de Charolais
Thomas the Skinner
Marion
Black Sara
Barnaby of the Cockleshells

Mathieu Gautherin
Jacques de Roussay
Duke, Philippe of Burgundy
Arnaud de Montsalvy
Abou-al-Khayr

Garin de Brazey
Ermengarde de Châteauvillain
Jean Poton de Xaintrailles
Jean de Saint-Rémy
Jean de Luxembourg
Odette de Champdivers

Memorable Quotes

" The little golden-haired girl!...I noticed you earlier on when they were tying me up!"
Michel de Montsalvy to little Catherine Legoix Chapter One

" I was just thinking of my own countryside. I was thinking about it on the way to
Montfauson as well. I realized that I would never see it again and I think it was that
which distressed me most!"
Michel de Montsalvy to little Catherine Legoix Chapter One

" You will have fame, love and everything...but you will pay dearly for it all. And then...
how strange? You will meet an angel!"
Sara to Catherine Chapter Two

"I am not of noble birth, but neither am I low-born. I am not a servant. And just because
I have been arrested is no reason to treat me like one.
Catherine to Duke Philippe of Burgundy Chapter Three

"I would rather find out first who you are, but it would be churlish to make such a lovely
a lady repeat the same question twice. My name is Arnaud de Montsalvy, Lord of the
Châtaignerie in Auvergne and I am captain in the service of the Dauphin Charles."
Arnaud de Montsalvy to Catherine Chapter Three

"Forget that I saw your eyes change colour, and felt your body tremble und my hands?
Forget your beautiful body and the sweet taste of your lips? If I lived to a hundred that
would be asking too much of me, Catherine...
Arnaud de Montsalvy to Catherine Chapter Four

"One day, you will go down on your knees in front of me to beg my forgiveness for words,
Arnaud de Montsalvy, Seigneur de la Châtaignerie. But you will get neither pardon nor
mercy from me."
Catherine to Arnaud de Montsalvy Chapter Four

"I, Arnaud de Montsalvy, Seigneur de la Châtaignerie and Captain in the service of King
Charles VII, whom may God preserve, am come before you, Duke of Burgundy, to bring
you my gage of battle. As traitor and felon, I challenge you to single compat at whatever
time and place you may choose and with the weapons of your choice. But I demand that it
shall be a fight to death...
Arnaud de Montsalvy to Duke Philippe of Burgundy Chapter Ten

"I thank you, Milord Duke, but as far as I am concerned, my enemies are enemies and
foremost among them I place my King's enemies. I only drink with my friends.
Arnaud de Montsalvy to Duke Philippe of Burgundy Chapter Ten

"You again! Have you taken it into your head to rush to my bedside whenever I get
a little bruise or cut? If that's the case, my dear, you are going to have a busy time..."
Arnaud de Catherine to Catherine de Brazey Chapter Twelve

"I love you, I have always loved you since the moment I firs saw you.
Catherine de Brazey to Arnaud de Montsalvy Chapter Twelve

"Forgotten you? Never! I cursed you and hated you..or at least I tried to. But how
could I forget you? What man having once held Beauty in his arms could ever forget her
Arnaud de Montsalvy to Catherine Chapter Twelve

"Struth, messire, I deeply regret that you are so loyally attached to my cousin
Charles, for Ishould like to have made your fortune.!
Duke Philippe to Arnaud de Montsalvy Chapter Thirteen