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Birth of a Bookworm
By Michel Tremblay, Sheila Fischman. 1994
In Birth of a Bookworm, Michel Tremblay takes the reader on a tour of the books that have had a…
formative influence on the birth and early development of his creative imagination; the physical and emotional world of his childhood is celebrated as the fertile ground on which his new, vivid way of seeing and imagining is built.Five Gentlemen of Japan
By Frank Gibney. 1953
A newspaperman, an ex-Navy vice-admiral, a steel worker, a farmer, and the 124th Emperor of Japan himself--these are the fascinating…
heroes of Gibney's brilliant book about modern Japan. Strongly individual, every one of them, the five yet share the common inheritance of Japan's precocious but unstable past.Through their lives and attitudes, Gibney gives us an invaluable analysis of this new sovereign nation so suddenly thrown into the world's power conflicts. He helps us understand the historical and social forces which make Japan what she is today--the old contracts and loyalties from which each of the Five Gentlemen is struggling to break away from his country. Their courageous efforts to weld a new Japan from the remains of the old society, and to come to terms with the present, are as exciting as it is important.Measure of the Rule
By Robert Barr, Douglas Lochhead, Louise K. Mackendrick. 1973
Robert Barr has been almost completely overlooked by critics and anthologists of Canadian literature, in part because, although he was…
educated in Canada, he spent most of his life in the United States and England. However, since most of his serious novels are either set in Canada or have some Canadian connection, Barr deserves attention. The Measure of the Rule, originally published in 1907, is the nearest he came to writing an autobiographical novel. It concerns the Toronto Normal School and the experiences there in the 1870s of a young man who undoubtedly is Barr himself. In this novel, Barr is exorcising unhappy memories and is ironic, even bitter, about the school's quality of education, the rigid discipline observed by its staff and their indifference to their students, and the sexual segregation practiced. A number of men under whom Barr actually studied are vividly caricatured. As a realistic study of Ontario's only central teacher-training institution in the late nineteenth century, The Measure of the Rule will appeal both to those interested in Canadian fiction of that period and to those more concerned with the evolution of the system of education established by Egerton Ryerson. Also included with this reprint of the novel is an essay originally published in 1899 and entitled 'Literature in Canada.' In this essay, Barr elaborated upon his opinions of the school system and its quality of education.Amazing Educators - A Short eBook
By Charles Margerison. 2011
Progress and education go hand in hand. This unique collection from The Amazing People Club explores the lives of four…
influential educators who recognized the importance of sharing knowledge to improve people's life and acted on it. Meet Maria Montessori whose revolutionary educational method has inspired public and private schools throughout the world. While many have heard of Montessori schools, most don't know about her pivotal work in India or the fact she was the first woman to qualify as a doctor in Italy. Explore the life of another amazing woman who dedicated her life to educating people. Inspired by her own teacher, Helen Keller became the first deaf and blind person to earn her degree. She traveled the world to educate people on politics and women's rights. You'll also meet Aristotle, who was taught by Plato and in turn taught Alexander the Great. Without doubt, he is one of the most important figures in Western philosophy. Finally you'll come "face to face" with the lesser-known, but no less amazing, Dr. Reg Revans. His is one of the great management thinkers and pioneered Action Learning, a process we can all use in our lives. Each story comes to life through BioViews®. These are short biographical narratives, similar to interviews. They provide an easy way of learning about amazing people who made major contributions and changed our world.The Vampire of Ropraz
By Jacques Chessex, Donald Wilson. 1973
"Silky prose in this harrowing account of crime and punishment."--Kirkus Reviews "Using spare, effective prose, Chessex brilliantly renders both the…
inhospitable winter landscape of the mountains and the harshness of a society that makes monsters of its victims.'--London Review of Books"A superb novel, hard as a winter in these landscapes of dark forests, where an atmosphere of prejudice and violence envelops the reader."--L'Express"It's beautiful; it's pure, like a blue sky over a black forest. Giono without garlic and olives."--Le Point"Far from just telling us a simple story Chessex has had the intelligence to integrate a dose of poetry, of the aesthetics of sin, and of the metaphysics of the monster."--LireJacques Chessex, winner of the prestigious Goncourt prize, takes a true story and weaves it into a lyrical tale of fear and cruelty.1903, Ropraz, a small village near the Jura Mountains of Switzerland. On a howling December day, a lone walker discovers a recently opened tomb, the body of a young woman violated, her left hand cut off, genitals mutilated, and heart carved out. There is horror in the nearby villages: the return of atavistic superstitions and mutual suspicions. Then two more bodies are violated. A suspect must be found. Favez, a stableboy with bloodshot eyes, is arrested and placed in psychiatric care. He escapes, enlists in the Foreign Legion as the First World War begins, and is sent into battle in the trenches of the Somme.Jacques Chessex, born in 1934, won the Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary prize for his novel A Father's Love. He is considered one of Switzerland's greatest living authors. He lives in Ropraz.Para acabar con Eddy Bellegueule
By Édouard Louis. 2015
Una rebelión contra el mundo, contra su familia y contra la sociedad. «Excepcional.»Livres Hebdo Salí corriendo de repente. Sólo me…
dio tiempo a oír a mi madre, que decía Pero ¿qué hace ese idiota? No quería estar con ellos, me negaba a compartir con ellos ese momento. Yo estaba ya lejos, había dejado de pertenecer a su mundo, la carta lo decía. Salí al campo y estuve andando gran parte de la noche: el ambiente fresco del norte, los caminos de tierra, el olor de la colza, muy intenso en esa época del año. Dediqué toda la noche a elaborar mi nueva vida, lejos de allí. «La verdad es que la rebelión contra mis padres, contra la pobreza, contra mi clase social, su racismo, su violencia, sus atavismos, fue algo secundario. Porque, antes de que me alzara contra el mundo de mi infancia, el mundo de mi infancia se había alzado contra mí. Para mi familia y los demás, me había convertido en una fuente de vergüenza, incluso de repulsión. No tuve otra opción que la huida. Este libro es un intento de comprenderla.»Édouard Louis La crítica ha dicho...«Un lenguaje contenido y a la vez brutal, sin victimismos ni exaltaciones líricas [...]. A su escritura clásica, el autor opone la lengua de su entorno, que mezcla jerga local y sintaxis rota. Efectivamente, la violencia social se ejerce con el lenguaje.»Les Inrockuptibles «Magnífico [...]. Es el anuncio de una liberación y de un renacimiento a través de las palabras para escapar de la fatalidad del determinismo social.»Le Point «Tejer un texto uniendo dos registros lingüísticos tan opuestos es más que una proeza. El éxito literario es innegable.»Le Nouvel Observateur «Una narración asombrosa, a causa de la historia personal del autor, pero también de su talento.»Madame Figaro «Excepcional. Un cóctel de Zola y Dickens. Dura, a veces casi insoportable, pero también tragicómica, en cierta medida distante, pero en absoluto maniquea.»Livres Hebdo «Es el grito de cólera de un joven que expresa su asco frente al mito tenaz que convierte al proletariado en una bestia valiente, de buen corazón y amante de la vida.»Catherine Simon, Le Monde des Livres «La escritura de Édouard Louis, con su obstinación en hablar de la vergüenza, demuestra que su libro, que cae como un mazo sobre personas concretas, revela un escándalo universal de primera magnitud.»Jean Birnbaum, Le Monde des LivresLa hermana de Freud
By Goce Smilevski. 2010
Fue Sigmund Freud culpable de la muerte de su hermana en un campo de concentración? En 1938 Sigmund Freud consigue…
un salvoconducto para huir del régimen nazi y la posibilidad de llevar consigo a algunas personas de su entorno. Escribe una lista de dieciséis nombres, entre ellos están su perro, su cuñada, sus criadas y su médico, pero no sus hermanas. Una de ellas, Adolphine, es la protagonista de esta asombrosa novela sobre la familia Freud, el esplendor artístico y cultural de Viena a comienzos de siglo, y la controvertida época que le tocó en suerte. La crítica ha dicho:«Obra profunda, inteligente, audazmente imaginativa... Ningún admirador del maestro vienés saldrá indemne.»Alberto Manguel, Babelia «Un joven heredero de Günter Grass y José Saramago con un importante mensaje para el futuro del viejo continente.»The Forward «Me ha conmovido... Resulta muy difícil de olvidar y es probable que sea tan polémica como aclamada.»Joyce Carol Oates «Una joya... Emocionante, provocadora e inolvidable.»Publishers Weekly «Adolphine Freud explora las creencias de su hermano con una sensibilidad hacia las debilidades humanas que a menudo falta en las obras de Sigmund... Un estudio agudo del amor y la muerte, el sexo y la traición...»BooklistMadero, el otro
By Ignacio Solares. 1999
La dimensión íntima y espiritual del revolucionario En esta novela, Ignacio Solares reconstruye la vida de Francisco I. Madero, el…
hombre que se opuso a la dictadura de Porfirio Díaz y proclamó la no reelección, iniciando la revolución mexicana. Para ello, elige una veta poco explorada: las creencias místicas y religiosas del personaje histórico, sus sueños y sus inclinaciones al espiritismo; su constante comunicación con las almas que lo predestinaban a ocupar un lugar de líder y mártir frente a su patria. La narración comienza con la muerte de Madero en la Decena Trágica y, desde ahí, se interna en los episodios claves que lo llevaron hasta ese momento crítico: sus debilidades ante el usurpador Victoriano Huerta, su interés por mediar intereses irreconciliables, las dudas que lo apartaron de sus aliados, como Zapata, y favorecieron a sus enemigos, a los que se empeñaba en perdonar, pese a las advertencias de todos... Solares se adentra al mundo emocional y psicológico del llamado "apóstol" con gran exactitud, ya que tuvo acceso a los apuntes personales de Madero. Por ello logra caracterizar al personaje con fidelidad, mediante un estilo certero, verosímil y una fascinante reconstrucción de hechos que conmocionaron la vida del país.Inquebrantable
By Laura Hillenbrand. 2011
Retrato de la extraordinaria historia de Louie Zamperini, un atleta olímpico que se convirtió en aviador de la Segunda Guerra…
Mundial, en náufrago y en prisionero japonés. Inquebrantable fue adaptada en 2014 por Angelina Jolie, película que tuvo 3 nominaciones a los premios Oscar y fue incluida por el American Film Institute en el Top 10 de las mejores películas del año. Una historia de supervivencia, valor y resistencia durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Louie Zamperini, niño problemático, atleta olímpico, aviador durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, náufrago en el Pacífico Sur, prisionero de los japoneses... un superviviente. Junio, 1943. Louie Zamperini, bombardero de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y atleta olímpico, se encuentra tendido sobre una pequeña balsa a la deriva en la inmensidad del océano Pacífico. Junto a él yacen otros dos compañeros. Sus cuerpos están abrasados por el sol y un grupo de tiburones los acecha cada minuto. Llevan 27 días sin rumbo y hace mucho que perdieron la esperanza de ser rescatados. Un sonido metálico los alerta... es un avión -pueden ver su destello a lo lejos-, Zamperini arroja dos bengalas. Los náufragos se desesperan, pero de pronto lo ven reaparecer. La tripulación los ha visto. El avión empieza a descender y los hombres se percatan con espanto de que se trata de un bombardero japonés y de que ellos son su objetivo. No hay salida. Así comienza Inquebrantable, una de las historias reales más impactantes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Laura Hillenbrand, autora de Seabiscuit, articula con la destreza de las grandes novelistas la vida de un hombre extraordinario que tuvo una infancia complicada, que descubrió que poseía un increíble don para correr que lo llevó a participar en los Juegos Olímpicos de Berlín y que se convirtió en aviador durante la guerra, una experiencia dramática que lo puso al límite envarias ocasiones. Una obra imprescindible cuya lectura atrapa desde las primeras páginas, una historia de supervivencia, valor y resistencia que no dejará indiferente a nadie. Una odisea contemporánea.La novela de Perón
By Tomás Eloy Martínez. 2005
El 20 de junio de 1973, el General Juan Domingo Perón regresa a Argentina tras dieciocho años de exilio. Le…
acompañan su esposa, José López Rega, oscuro intrigante surgido de la nada, y un numeroso séquito. En Madrid deja años de desprecio del régimen de Franco y el recuerdo de una triunfal Eva Perón cuyo cadáver momificado descansa en su propia casa. Con él lleva unas memorias inacabadas con las que quiere dejar una visión napoleónica de sí mismo. Más de dos millones de personas, la mayor multitud jamás congregada, le esperan en el aeropuerto. Mientras, sus seguidores luchan encarnizadamente por apoderarse del símbolo que aún representa el anciano General. Tomás Eloy Martínez, Premio Alfaguara 2002, resume en esta novela llena de acción y personajes la historia argentina del último siglo a través de la biografía de un hombre que encarnó la esperanza de su pueblo, al mismo tiempo que indaga en las múltiples caras que presenta la verdad y el poder que tiene la ficción para crear puentes entre todas ellas.They called her the She-Wolf From Provence. She'd shape the destiny of England ...Fans of Alison Weir, Anne O'Brien and…
Philippa Gregory, will devour this compelling new novel, starring one of English history's most fierce and courageous forgotten heroines!'Powerful, gripping and beautifully told' - Kate Furnivall, author of The Liberation'A feast for the senses and highly recommended' - Deborah Swift, author of Pleasing Mr Pepys'Well-researched . . . Fascinating' - Joanna CourtneyREADERS LOVE THE SILKEN ROSE!***** 'Stunning start to a new series of She-Wolf Queens'***** 'Spectacular . . . I will recommend this first part of her new trilogy to everyone'***** 'Fabulous . . . A lovely, highly researched tale'***** 'Exceptionally well-written . . . From the first page I was totally caught up in the story'1236. Ailenor of Provence, cultured and intelligent, is only thirteen when she meets her new husband, Henry III of England. A foreign and friendless princess in a strange land she is determined to please him. And she knows that when the times comes she must provide an heir, to secure the throne against those who would snatch it away. Rosalind, a commoner skilled in the arts of needlework and embroidery, catches the young queen's attention and a friendship blossoms. But she is unprepared for the dangerous ramifications of winning the queen's favour ... As closeness, and soon love, develops between Ailenor and Henry, so too does her influence on her husband and her power at court. As France and Wales provide constant threat, and England's barons increasingly resent her influence, Ailenor must learn to be ruthless. Who should she encourage her husband to favour? Who can she trust? Caught in a web of treachery and deceit, her choices will define the fate of England. To protect her close friends, and her beloved children, Ailenor, the She-Wolf from Provence, would do, and endure, anything ... AND DISCOVER THE DAMASK ROSE: THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL MCGRATHCOMING APRIL 2021: AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!A Lady Undone: A Mad Passions Novella 2.5 (Mad Passions)
By Maire Claremont. 2014
In this dazzling novella from the award-winning author of The Dark Lady and Lady In Red, comes a story of…
fatal plots, seductive spies, and irresistible passions... Perfect for fans of Sherry Thomas, Lisa Kleypas and Stephanie Laurens.Duchess Clare Ederly is lucky to be alive. Having outlived her violent, abusive husband, she decides to put her significant inheritance to good use helping other battered women by opening a refuge for those seeking to escape. But not everyone is pleased with her work. Someone wants to see her sanctuary torn down - at any cost. Her only hope of protecting her home and tenants is a former spy, whose skill at tracking deadly men is matched only by his dangerous charm...The Earl of Wyndham has done his part for Queen and country; he has had his fill of plotting and politics and simply wants to retire to the pleasant life of his club. But Duchess Clare's razor-sharp wit and fierce determination awaken new purpose and admiration in him. To protect her, he will once again delve into the treacherous world of espionage. To win her love, he will do almost anything...For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.The Dark Lady: Mad Passions Book 1 (Mad Passions)
By Maire Claremont. 2013
The first thrilling and passionate novel of mad passions and scandalous secrets for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth…
Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lord Ian Blake has returned from India a broken man. Years ago, he pledged to Lady Eva Carin - his childhood companion and first love - that he would bring her husband back alive. His failure haunts him. But even his jaded soul can't anticipate the shocking sight of beautiful, independent Eva confined to a madhouse. Locked in an asylum, forgotten by society, Eva is adrift in both body and mind. For Ian to break her free, they must cross a powerful enemy - and prove her sanity to England's unforgiving aristocracy. But the biggest danger of all may come when the secrets of Eva's tragic past are finally unlocked...For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.When My Ship Comes In: An emotional family saga for fans of Call the Midwife
By Sue Wilsher. 2016
The BRAND NEW wartime saga from the much-loved author of THE TILBURY POPPIES. Perfect for fans of Annie Murray and…
Donna DouglasWill she sacrifice her dreams to care for her family?Essex, 1959.Keep the family together, that's what her old mum always said. Put up and shut up. And that's what everyone else did around there.Flo earns her money as a scrubber, cleaning the cruise ships and dreaming of a day when she might sail away from her life in the Dwellings, the squalid tenements of Tilbury docks. Then the Blundell family are evicted from their home.Fred, Flo's husband, finds work at Monday's, a utopian factory town. Suddenly, it seems like everything is on the up for Flo Blundell and her children. Even Jeanie, Flo's sulking teenage daughter, seems to be thawing a little in her shiny new surroundings. But when Fred starts drinking again, he jeopardises the family's chance to escape poverty for good.Flo is faced with a terrible decision. Must she fight to keep her family together? Or could she strive for the life of her dreams - the kind of life she could have when her ship comes in?A heart-warming story of love, loss and friendship, set against the backdrop of post-war EnglandREAL READERS love Sue Wilsher's novels:'Emotional, sweeping and unputdownable!''A superbly good read''A powerful, gripping saga''A beautiful read. I hope there will be many more novels to follow this one'The compelling first book in the beloved classic series from 'one of the nation's favourite saga author' (Lancashire Post) in…
the grand tradition of Katie Flynn, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox.Jennie's heartwarming and heartrending sagas are richly praised!'Jennie Felton knows how to tell a cracking story and keep the reader gripped... if you enjoy reading books in the style of Catherine Cookson then this one is for you' Books With Wine and Chocolate'Another superbly woven and character-rich story from a saga author who writes from the heart' Peterborough Telegraph'Packed full of Jennie's signature strong heroines, this book will keep you guessing' MNR JournalShattered by tragedy, can the Donovan family find happiness again?When terrible tragedy strikes at the local colliery, the residents of Fairley Terrace's ten houses suffer more than one loss and, for Maggie Donovan at number six, the world turns upside down. Turning for comfort to the one man she can trust, she finds a sudden and undeniable passion instead. But any future with Josh Withers seems a betrayal of her past, and Maggie realises the only way to survive is to conceal a very dark secret of her own...*Includes a preview of the next book in the series and bonus material from the author.*Don't miss Jennie's the rest Families of Fairley Terrace series, which begins with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continues with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter, Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs, Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret.Plus look out for Jennie's page-turning standalones - The Stolen Child, A Mother's Sacrifice and The Smuggler's Girl - coming soon!Lady In Red: Mad Passions Book 2 (Mad Passions)
By Maire Claremont. 2013
A richly romantic and enthralling novel of beauty, passion and scandalous secrets from the acclaimed author of The Dark Lady.…
Perfect for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lady Mary Darrel should be the envy of London. Instead, all society believes her dead. For Mary holds a secret so dangerous, her father chose to keep her locked away...and have a grave made for her near her mother's. Driven to the edge of desperation, Mary manages to escape the asylum, only to find that her fate yet again rests in the hands of a man...Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, longs for some way to escape the torment of his father's crimes. In Mary's warrior spirit and haunted gaze - which so mirrors his own - he finally sees his path to redemption. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even as she seeks revenge. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save them from their demons?For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.Lady In Red: Mad Passions Book 2 (Mad Passions)
By Maire Claremont. 2013
A richly romantic and enthralling novel of beauty, passion and scandalous secrets from the acclaimed author of The Dark Lady.…
Perfect for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lady Mary Darrel should be the envy of London. Instead, all society believes her dead. For Mary holds a secret so dangerous, her father chose to keep her locked away...and have a grave made for her near her mother's. Driven to the edge of desperation, Mary manages to escape the asylum, only to find that her fate yet again rests in the hands of a man...Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, longs for some way to escape the torment of his father's crimes. In Mary's warrior spirit and haunted gaze - which so mirrors his own - he finally sees his path to redemption. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even as she seeks revenge. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save them from their demons?For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.La resistencia
By Julián Fuks. 2018
Revisión originalísima de la filiación de los hijos de los 70, esta vez contada por el menor de una familia…
de psicoanalistas reconocidos exiliados en Brasil cuyo hermano mayor ha sido adoptado poco antes de escapar del país. "Repito que mi hermano es hijo y una interrogación me salta siempre a los labios: ¿hijo de quién?" El hijo menor de una pareja de psicoanalistas exiliados en San Pablo se pregunta por el origen de su hermano mayor. Adoptado antes de escapar de la dictadura argentina, el enigma filiatorio del primogénito encarna con la historia política y da nuevos sentidos al tema de la identidad, que aquí es a la vez íntima y social. Y en su particular textura narrativa -que cruza el portugués y el español, el estilo lírico con el ensayo y la autobiografía- se expresa también la marca profunda de la cultural psi y su persistente voluntad de verdad. En esta novela -elogiada de modo unánime por la crítica y distinguida con los premios Jabuti en Brasil y Saramago en Portugal- Fuks aborda con extrema delicadeza la sensible cuestión del amor entre los miembros de una familia desde una óptica no explorada por los hijos de la llamada generación del 70. Los padres conocen muy bien las teorías sobre hijos adoptados y biológicos. Sin embargo, la vida es diferente de lo que explica la bibliografía especializada. Le cabe entonces al escritor revisar ese pasado violento y dar nuevo sentido a la trama familiar. El resultado es una prosa al mismo tiempo lírica y ensayística que combina una extrema sensibilidad con una revisión lúcida y sin concesiones de la historia reciente argentina con la libertad de quien ha nacido en otro país....If You Grew Up with Abraham Lincoln
By Ann Mcgovern. 2006
Reina Renuente: María Rosa Tudor, la hermana menor del infame rey Enrique VIII
By Geraldine Evans, Maria Emilia Ruiz. 2004
Reina Renuente: María Rosa Tudor, la hermana menor del infame rey Enrique VIII Es una historia Tudor, NO sobre una…
de las esposas, sino sobre María Rosa, la bella hermana menor de Enrique VIII. UNA NOVELA HISTÓRICA TUDOR ¡No habla sobre ninguna de las seis esposas! Enrique tenía muchos otros parientes, de los cuales la mayoría, debido a su efímera dinastía y a su trémulo derecho a la corona, el siempre inseguro Enrique había ejecutado durante su reinado para asegurar su trono. ¿Puedes imaginarte cómo sería ser la hermana menor del infame rey inglés Enrique VIII? Recuerda que éste fue el rey que tuvo seis consortes, dos de ellas decapitadas. Y aunque la adolescente María Rosa era su hermana favortita (hasta llamó a su famoso barco por ella), sus cambiantes alianzas y su despiadado deseo de hacer las cosas a su manera, lo llevaron a presionar a la joven y bonita María a un odioso matrimonio de estado con el senil y enfermo rey Luis XII de Francia. Pero, una renuente María Rosa, tan decidida como Enrique y apasionadamente enamorada por primera vez del campeón de las justas, Charles Brandon, no se rindió tan fácilmente. Antes de aceptar la unión, después de una incansable campaña de su querido hermano para que diera el sí, María Rosa obtuvo una promesa de Enrique. Una promesa que ella estaba determinada a que él cumpliera. En la corte francesa, María Rosa es acechada por el astuto y encantador pero pervertido Francisco, el heredero al trono de Luis, que incluso a la joven edad de veinte, es un experto seductor. En medio de horribles abrazos conyugales y de las persistentes e indeseadas atenciones de Francisco, María se encuentra en una desesperada e infeliz situación. Pero luego, su enfermo esposo muere, y el lujurioso Francisco asciende al trono francés y al poder absoluto. María Rosa pensó que su situación PREVIA a la muerte de su esposo era díficil, pero luego escucha