First published: in France by Editons de Trévise 1973
First published: in Great Britain 1974 by William Heineman Ltd.

Facts & Trivia

French version 383 pages, chapter 14
English version 336 pages, chapters 14

English translation Anne Carter


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Chapter Synopses - Chapter by Chapter -
*under way*
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




A Snare for Catherine

 

Arnaud's part in them



...introducing the main characters in book 6...


 

Memorable Citations


"It was not wise of you to celebrate the baptism of your daughter Isabelle with such great festivities!
No doubt is was splendid to entertain the old Queen and the Constable but it gave some of us a chance
to estimate the wealth of your castle and its contents. Ah they are a fine sight, all those great tapestries
and silken sheets and huge dresses loaded with gold and silver plate! By my faith, I want my share!"
Bérault d'Apchier to Catherine de Montsalvy Chapter One

"Augustin says "a lord" - but his daughter thinks of Messire Arnaud. You've only to see how she looks at
him when he rides through the town. Like a cat at a cream pot! And when she makes her curtsy to him, it's a
wonder she doesn't fall flat on her face!"
Marie Rallard to Catherine de Montsalvy Chapter Two

"You must answer to me, now, Gervais. But do not deceive yourself. My conditions are the same as
Dame Catherine's. With this difference only, that I shall add to it absolution from your sins if your
repentence is sincere...before I hang you."
Abbot Bernard d'Olt Calmont to Gervais Malrat Chapter Four

"By St Quentin, St Omer and every other saint in Flanders, Catherine, you'll never change! Your imagination
is always running way ahead of your pretty nose, and just as freely as in the days when you dressed
up as a gypsy and dyed your hair black to mount an attack on that fat devil La Trémoille and lead him to his
ruin! You run on and on! But, good God, have I ever given you cause to doubt my friendship!"
Tristan l'Hermite to Catherine de Montsalvy Chapter Six

"What man worthy of the name could stand by with folded arms and look the other way when his
brother's murderer walked past? Not my husband, that I do know! The Montsalvy's have blood in
their veins, warm, red blood which they do not hesitate to spill generoulsy for king and country!"
Catherine de Montsalvy to Tristan l'Hermite Chapter Six

"So Madame de Montsalvy, you have come! I was scarcely expecting you and, to be quite honest
with you, I'm not at all glad to see you. I may say it's the first time."
Constable Arthur de Richemont to Catherine de Montsalvy Chapter Seven

"Arnaud always needs me, always! But no one ever thinks of asking whether I might need Arnaud!
I am his property, his rest and recreation, his mistress of his house and his chief vassal, his mistress
and his servant, and everynoe thinks it perfectly natural and fair and right that I should perform all
this unflinchingli!
Catherine de Montsalvy to Tristan l'Hermite Chapter Eight

"Do not thank me! I am not doing this for you, still less to save that troublesome husband of yours
who had better take care in future not to give men cause to talk of him except on the field of
battle - escpecially when I am king! For I  shall know how to control my nobles, I promise you!"
Le Dauphin, future King Louis XI to Catherine de Montsalvy Chapter Nine

"The Lady of Montsalvy has no business with new jewellery while her people are in want. I've
told you what ravages we have suffered this spring. It has been so bad that I was intending
to ask you to pay us our revenues in kind: in corn and seed, cloth, wool, hide, fodder and all
the other things we may be short of next winter"!
Catherine de Montsalvy to Jacques Coeur Chapter Ten

"He? Dead? Come, come! You don't believe a word of it and nor do I! When that man dies,
something is bound to happen - earthquake or flood, I don't know, but some extraordinary
event there must be to tell the world!"
Queen Yolande d'Anjou to Catherine de Montsalvy Chapter Eleven

"I make war Catherine, and this is what war is! All war is like this, however much it hurts
you to believe it. I'm doing no more than I've always done, what they all do, La Hire
Xaintrailles and all the rest you are so fond of."
Arnaud de Montsalvy to Catherine his wife Chapter Thirteen

"When you went away, Seigneur Comte, I was already Dame Catherine's page. I am so
still and I have followed her wherever she has gone to serve and aid her as best I could. But
you Messire - are you still the man she loved so deeply?"
Béranger de Roquemaurel to Arnaud de Montsalvy Chapter Thirteen

"I won't let him die! I won't! He can't! It must'nt end like this between us, in hatred and
anger! God cannot do that to me! He is mine - only mine! I've spent my whole life for him,
for love of him! It's not possible...! Save him! Oh please ...save him? I'm the one who is dying.!
Catherine de Montsalvy to Gauthier de Chazey Chapter Thirteen

"My love, I want so much to stay, to stay with you always - even in the grave! I wish I could
die too! But there are the children, our children - they need me, you see! I must go back to
them - to our home - for their sake! I must go away and leave you, my darling...."
Catherine de Montsalvy to her unconscious husband Arnaud de Montsalvy Chapter Fourteen











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