Juliette Benzoni vividly portrays an era teeming with intrigue. Her novelistic quality is underpinned by a wealth of documentary material. She revisits history with passion and a sense of romance.

 

 




What compelling reason drives the young widow of the Constable de Luynes to flee Paris one chilly evening in April 1622? What advice would she seek from the strange character she shelters in her château at Lésigny?

Breathtakingly beautiful, wealthy, intelligent, witty and ambitious, Marie de Rohan-Montbazon, Duchess of Luynes, is being pursued by the rancour of Louis XIII, whom she thought for a moment she had enslaved to her charm. She now had to find a way to protect herself as quickly as possible from a disgrace that would condemn her to what she feared most: obscurity. A convent or a prison? She loves the lavish life, the men, the intense joys of love, but also the power she will seek all her life, without worrying about those she leaves along the way.

So she uses all the resources of her seduction to regain her place with Queen Anne of Austria, whom she tries to drive into the arms of the Englishman Buckingham, in order to take revenge on the King. Now the Duchess of Chevreuse, she faces a formidable adversary in Cardinal Richelieu, who she knows desires her.

Under the silk of courtly words, the daggers are sharpened. It was a time of duels, conspiracies and ruthless repression, as well as the time of the Musketeers, whose corps had just been created. Marie will collect lovers, but perhaps she will love only one...


♣ Inscription in the Novel :

« Love is nothing if it is not madness, a senseless cause, defended and an adventure in evil... »

~ Thomas Mann ~


 
Love, power and betrayal... The ingredients that have made Juliette Benzoni such a success are more present than ever in her latest novel, which carries a banner: Marie des intrigues (to be followed by Marie des passions). We will learn all about Marie de Médicis and her relationship with the court of Louis XIII.

~ Mohammed Aïssaoui ~ (Le Figaro)





In the newspaper La Montagne :

Juliette Benzoni vividly portrays an era teeming with intrigue. Her novelistic quality is underpinned by a wealth of documentary material. She revisits history with passion and a sense of romance.

~ Robert Guinot ~ (La Montagne)




 

After escaping an assassination attempt, the all too seductive Marie, Duchess of Chevreuse, sensual and cunning, sees the end of her period of exile in Lorraine. She was finally allowed to return home to Dampierre, on condition that she never left. This did not prevent her from continuing to conspire with Queen Anne of Austria, who considered her to be her best friend.

Taking advantage of a political turnaround, she returned to the "Court of Louis XIII", stronger than ever since she had secured the tender support of the Keeper of the Seals, Châteauneuf.

Unable to resist her taste for intrigue, obsessed by a power that continues to elude her, she accumulates faults and lovers. A double game begins, as strange as it is dangerous, in which Marie will not be the strongest and will not be able to avoid the cruelest of wounds striking her. Will there be no cure?


♣ Summary by publisher France Loisirs :

After "Marie des intrigues", Juliette Benzoni, exploring her favourite historical period, here recounts the continuing adventures of a heroine who, through ambition and a taste for seduction, continues to play with fire, even if her adversaries are named Richelieu or Louis XIII.


♣ Quotes from the Novels :

She had everything: seduction, radiance, charm, beauty of course, but also a lively spirit and a joie de vivre that made her irresistible. Nonchalant, tender or mocking, her smile opened hearts, while her cascading laughter was capable of amusing the most frowning of dowagers.

Demolishing a reputation has always been a favourite pastime at court.

The air of disgrace is the hardest to breathe.




 

♣ Charles d'Albert, Duke of Luynes, Constable of France, 'favourite' of Louis XIII, late husband of Marie de Rohan

♣ Marie Aimée de Rohan,Duchess of Chevreuse - daughter of Hercule de Rohan, Duke of Montbazon and of Madeleine de Lenoncourt

♣ Claude de Lorraine - Duke of Chevreuse, Grand Chamberlain of France, her second husband.

♣ Anne d'Autriche - Queen of  France

♣ Louis XIII - King of France, her husband.

♣ Louise of Lorraine - the Princess of Conti, best friend of Marie.

♣ François de Bassompierre - Marshal of France (married secretly to Louise of Lorraine)

♣ Gaston d'Orléans - Monsieur, brother o the King

♣ Marie de Médicis - Queen mother - widow of Henri IV, godmother of Marie de Rohan

♣ Marie-Henriette de France - sister of King Louis XIII, future Queen of England

♣ Armand-Jean du Plessis - Cardinal Richelieu, French statesman

♣ Henri de Talleyrand Périgord, Count of Chalais, master of the king's wardrobe. 

♣ Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland - Member of the English Parliament - lover of Marie de Rohan

♣ George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham - English courtier and statesman

♣ Geoffroy de Laigues, Marquis - captain of Gaston d'Orléons' guards - Marie's last lover

♣ Gabriel de Motteville, Squire, Musketeer

♣ Herminie de Lénoncourt, Ladies Maid of Marie de Rohan, Duchess of Chevreuse

♣ Pierre de la Porte, portemanteau, en service de la Reine Anne d'Autriche

♣ Elen du Latz, Ladies maid of the duchesses of Chevreuse
 

♣  French Editions :



 
Éditions Plon [2004 - 2005]



 

Éditions V.D.B [2005 - large letters]

Édition of the Club France Loisirs [2006]
 

Édition Pocket [2006]




Édition Pocket [2012]




Édition Kindle Plon [2013]


♣ Foreign editions :

The story of Marie de Rohan, Duchess of Chevreuse has also been translated in the following countries : 

Portugal



Marie, a duquesa das Intrigas & Marie, a duquesa das paixões
Bertrand Editoria [2005]


Hungary

Marie I, Az intrikus & Marie II.A szenvedélyes
Editions Geopen [2006]


Russia

    

Мария - королева интриг & Страсти по Марии
Editions Eksmo [2015]
 

[ Creation © Hélène Rouillé ]
with a portrait of Marie de Rohan, gravure by James Stow - 1798


Extrait of « Marie des Intrigues » text © PLON

Introducing Marie de Rohan, the Duchess of Chevreuse

« "At the age of seventeen, Marie-Aimée de Rohan-Montbazon was married to the great friend of the young King Louis XIII, Charles d'Albert, Duke of Luynes, who was rich with all the gifts and offices obtained from royal recognition, the last of which, the sword of Constable, did not suit him at all because he was absolutely incapable of assuming the responsibilities. Among other graces, he had been allowed to marry the prettiest maiden in the kingdom, capable of making any man dream, be he king or pope! She had it all: seduction, radiance, charm, beauty of course, but also a lively spirit and joie de vivre that made her irresistible.

Nonchalant, tender or mocking, her smile opened hearts, while her cascading laughter was capable of amusing even the most supercilious of customs officers. What's more, Marie knew how to be an artist, using her soft, warm voice, the voice of a siren when it pleased her to sing. This was not uncommon.

She always dressed her bewitching body to perfection, adding to her elegance a regal allure even though she was not tall, and the enormous 'ruff' « meule de moulin »  that were in fashion at the time, offering their radiance of tasseled lace to the most ravishing face, only added to it. The young duchess had fine, aristocratic features, fresh, full lips, long, shifting ultramarine eyes beneath a tawny forehead, her hair done up high - because of the strawberries - and topped, for the moment, with an amusingly fashionable hat, the raised brim of which was adorned with a diamond clasp... »





portrait of Queen Anne of Austria and Marie-Aimée de Rohan, Duchess of Chevreuse
[ Creation © Hélène Rouillé ]


Chapter : « When Buckingham lost his head... » text © PLON

Marie was ecstatic. After her first meeting with the Englishman, Anne had called her to her room without witnesses.
Well, Madame," she exclaimed from the depths of her reverence, "wasn't I right? Isn't the Duke the most marvellous man in the world? Spontaneously, the Queen held out both her hands which she kissed. :

- Ah, my lamb, you were absolutely right. I've never met anyone who looks like him. Even in 'Amadis de Gaule'! No hero comes close.

- And yet he couldn't let his heart speak to such an audience. It's all yours, this heart that he opens wide before me, and you should hear him when he speaks.

- Your Majesty! This man is consumed by a passion like no other! !

- As much as that?" said Anne, whose face flushed. Isn't that a bit... excessive? ?

- « Not when it comes to you, Madame. You're more beautiful than ever! Especially since this afternoon! You're glowing... proof that you're not really insensitive to sincere, passionate love..»
 

Do not miss the new articles with photos available on the page devoted to "A dangerous friendship".
See also my updated page "A Dangerous Friendship" about the director Alain Tasma and the cast.