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The Dark Queens
The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World | Shelley Puhak
14 posts | 5 read | 14 to read
A well-researched and well-told epic history. The Dark Queens brings these courageous, flawed, and ruthless rulers and their distant times back to life.--Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times-bestselling author of Hidden Figures The remarkable, little-known story of two trailblazing women in the Early Middle Ages who wielded immense power, only to be vilified for daring to rule. Brunhild was a foreign princess, raised to be married off for the sake of alliance-building. Her sister-in-law Fredegund started out as a lowly palace slave. And yet-in sixth-century Merovingian France, where women were excluded from noble succession and royal politics was a blood sport-these two iron-willed strategists reigned over vast realms, changing the face of Europe. The two queens commanded armies and negotiated with kings and popes. They formed coalitions and broke them, mothered children and lost them. They fought a decades-long civil war-against each other. With ingenuity and skill, they battled to stay alive in the game of statecraft, and in the process laid the foundations of what would one day be Charlemagne's empire. Yet after the queens' deaths-one gentle, the other horrific-their stories were rewritten, their names consigned to slander and legend. In The Dark Queens, award-winning writer Shelley Puhak sets the record straight. She resurrects two very real women in all their complexity, painting a richly detailed portrait of an unfamiliar time and striking at the roots of some of our culture's stubbornest myths about female power. The Dark Queens offers proof that the relationships between women can transform the world.
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lil1inblue
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1. The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak (tagged) This was one of the best nonfiction histories I have ever read. It reads like fiction, is excellently researched, and the history is wild. I cannot recommend this one enough.
2. Any of Joan Didion's nonfiction. I love her writing so very much.
3. South to America by Imani Perry - Excellent writing, thoughtful, informative.

#tlt #threelistthursday

dabbe Never heard of #'s 1 and 3; on the TBR. I've never read Joan Didion either; though I did love her bro-in-law Dominick Dunne. Thanks for sharing! 💚💙💚 9mo
lil1inblue @dabbe I'll have to check out Dominick Dunne! My first Didion read was The White Album in college. It blew my mind. 9mo
dabbe @lil1inblue I need to check it out. I've heard about what a beautiful writer she is; now I need to see it for myself! 9mo
18 likes3 comments
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mdemanatee
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I‘m a libro.fm user and audible exclusives are incredibly annoying but luckily I was offered a free trial in time for this book club book. Listening while cooking up some dinner.

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KristiAhlers
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This was a fascinating read! The amount of information this author included in this book was well researched and delivered in a very entertaining way. This is really focused on a part of history the is oftentimes overlooked and I learned a few things I was unaware of which I think is important. #nonfictionread

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deirdrebeecher
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This book is about two Early Medieval Queens whose lives read like a fantasy novel. I was very impressed by how this writer pulled together the facts of their lives and the context in such an accessible way. It is an excellent entry point into the Merovingians and a glimpse into how Roman Europe turned into Medieval Europe. A strong pick for anyone who doesn't normally read history but would like to get into it.

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Amie
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Pickpick

Nonfiction about Queen Brunhild and Queen Fredegund who ruled parts of what is now France in the early middle ages.

I don't know much about this time period, so this was interesting to me. There are lots of similarly spelled names which could be hard to keep track of.

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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

Lived this nonfiction book about two powerful Merovingian (early Frankish) queens who outlived their husbands, ruled as regents for their sons, and oversaw a civil war lasting decades. Like so many women who've made a mark on history, their stories were sidelined and all but erased by those that came after them. But Puhak resurrects their story as iy took place at the dawn of the Medieval Ages, just after the fall of Rome.

BooksNBowls This sounds sooo interesting! I normally don‘t read nonfiction but I might be into this! 3y
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rachelsbrittain
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Reading about medieval queens and warring Franks while this precious boy sleeps. Being an aunt is the best!

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rachelsbrittain
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1. The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak -- I know, just one book; who am I?

2. Hydrangeas and sunflowers

3. Not much. Gonna try to get ahead on work and maybe go to the plant store, because you can never have too many plants of books right?

#WeekendReads

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rachelsbrittain
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Another rainy day which is not what I was hoping for afters days of storms, but I am loving this nonfiction biography of two rival Merovingian queens.

Ruthiella Love those big dogs who think they are lap dogs! 😂❤️🐶 3y
rachelsbrittain @Ruthiella she is 60lbs of pure lap dog 😂 3y
SheReadsAndWrites Such a sweet baby! ❤️ I have a 150 lb Great Dane who does the same thing. 😂 3y
rachelsbrittain @SheReadsAndWrites awww giant babies are my favorite 😍 3y
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rachelsbrittain
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"When Princess Brunhild was led into the great hall, the assembled men jockeying for a glimpse of her, craning their necks or standing on tiptoe."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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booksbrewsandbooze
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Just attended an awesome book talk! Books: The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak and The Bright Ages by David M. Perry and Matthew Gabriele #booksbrewsandbooze #thedarkqueens #shelleypuhak #thebrightages #davidmperry #matthewgabriele #medievalages

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cdreincarnate
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Pickpick

This book is so good and I learned so much. Everyone should read it!

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melissanorr
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Forgot to post this when I finished it. A really interesting book about 2 forgotten medieval queens in what is now France. History buffs will definitely enjoy this one.

Librarybelle I heard the author speak recently, and I am so anxious to read this! 3y
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Mitch
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I mentioned to my local bookseller that my reading goal this year all goes he‘s around finding things out and learning more about history. She found this brilliantly sounding book for me - sixth century France, two queens at war with one another that “ dispels some of the stubbornest myths about female power” Yes please, I‘m here for all that and more. This is why to love to shop local!

melissanorr Ha, I'm currently reading that! 3y
iread2much Oooo, looks fantastic! 3y
69 likes3 stack adds2 comments