I got tired of the same thing, different mistress, locale, etc., but it was repetitive.

Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. I will return when I can be less acerbic. ( )

Interesting, I liked Sex With the Queen better. ( )

Interesting and rather well organized look at royal mistresses (note: only women -- I found it interesting that Isabella II and Catherine II weren't included). In some spots, it did seem a bit repetitive, and in other spots, trying to keep track of players that have multiple names could become confusing. It also, as a practical matter, tends to boil down to Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Henri IV, with cameos by Edward VII, Edward VIII, Ludwig I and Franz-Joseph I. On the other hand, what is there is quite entertaining, and makes for a good read. ( )

I enjoyed reading this book on a subject not often discussed. It is interesting to read it from the modern viewpoint and look back on a time with an entirely different set of expectations for leaders of nations.

A monarch's queen was nothing more than a royal broodmare; her only purpose in the King's court was to produce royal heirs. His mistress fulfilled all other roles in their relationship, and it is a much harder job to keep a man entertained, sexually fulfilled and emotionally secure than to be a procreational device. You just have to give those mistresses a lot of credit for doing what they did.

The style of the book was just fine for me.....if I had wanted to read in-depth biographies of all these women, I certainly could have, but this book was more for comparison and analysis of royal mistresses throughout history, and succeeds as such.

It also says a lot about women who were ambitious enough to seize power through the limited means available to them throughout much of history, especially in places like France where Salic Law prevented any female descendant of a monarch from ruling in her own right. Not saying that these women were wise or benevolent (Madame de Maintenon influencing Louis XIV to revoke the Edict of Nantes is a sad and bloody example of religious intolerance), but it is illuminating in historical circumstances.

I must admit I did have my favorites.....Nell Gwynn was a trip! I adored Madame de Pompadour for her overwhelming interests in architecture and the applied arts. I like Camilla Parker-Bowles as well, I think she has been unreasonably demonized for her affair with Prince Charles by all the "Princess Di groupies". I was never a fan of Princess Diana; she just never understood the role in life that she agreed to......my god, romance is for the unwashed masses (and usually most of us find it to be very disappointing) she should have appreciated her opportunities for what they were instead of thinking she could have it all. Her story is a cautionary tale......if you are a princess, act like a princess or die like white trash.......what an obvious choice, unfortunately for her she didn't get that memo in time.

Overall, a good book with lots of interesting information. ( )