Patricia S. (lucky7) reviewed on 2/7/2010

Goldstone gives us the historical facts pertaining to the remarkable marriage contracts and lives of four sisters. The Count and Countess of Provence have four daughters who become Queens in the 13th century. Marguerite marries Louis IX, becoming Queen of France; Eleanor marries Henry III becoming Queen of England; Sachia marries Richard, Earl of Cornwall, eventually becoming Queen of the Romans (Germany); and Beatrice marries Charles of Anjou to later become Queen of Sicily. Sections of the book are devoted to each with some overlap and it got quite confusing at times due to so many of the players having the same names...(there seems to be NO originality when naming infants in the middle ages). Personally I like my history a little less formal, more in the style of the Penman and Chadwick historical fiction novels. I would more recommend this to the staunch historian or someone interested in the surprisingly influential female roles of the royal courts of this time in Europe.

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