Three Queens by Rebecca Connolly

 

Are you in a May flower season where you live?  Flowers are blooming in Northeast Wisconsin, but it is still very chilly.

Three extraordinary women formed a friendship in the late 18^th century:  Abigail Adams of the United States, Queen Charlotte of England, and Marie Antoinette of France.  With limited power and many problems both personnel and on the world stage, how will these ladies navigate life and support one another?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a book that is meant to be read slowly and savored.

·       Each chapter starts with quotes from fiction letters to each other. The POV of each chapter alternatives between the three ladies.

·       Abigail Adam was the wife of future president John Adams who before he was president served as the ambassador to France and England.  She misses home and feels like a fish out of water at times.

·       Marie Antoinette is a scapegoat in France as the country descends into revolution.

·       Queen Charlotte deals with a problematic oldest son, her husband’s descent into madness, and the loss of her children.

·       These three women were in high positions but didn’t have much power to change their own fates.  They were able to find the strength to make what changes they would with what they had.

·       Great research with a bibliography at the end.

·       There are good discussion questions for book clubs at the end of the book.

·       The afterword explains what happened to Abigail and Charlotte after Marie Antoinette’s death.

Favorite Quotes:

“What was left for her after accomplishing those things?  She had influence but no power.  She had position but no authority.  She had plenty of finery but no lasting significance.”

“Their friendship lived and breathed in a way that human life did not.  It surpassed mortal bonds and physical distance.  It remained unharmed by wars, but loss, but fear, or by hate.”

Three Queens by Rebecca Connolly is a beautifully written historical fiction novel about three extraordinary women in history.

Book Source:  Thank-you @author.rebecca.connolly @shadowmountainpub @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour.  Thank-you!