Thursday, May 13, 2010

Catherine de Medici's Gift + NOSTRADAMUS Giveaway!!!


 The C.W. Gortner Event continues here at EBJ with my creative post on Catherine de Medici:
No Choice, But The Better of Two Evils...
Catherine de Medici believed she had a ‘gift’...Oh, but not the kind you and I would delight in receiving.  Her gift came upon her suddenly (not in the excitedly surprised- kind of way though).  It made her ill, wobbly, anxious and often feverish...You could say that rather than joy, her gift delivered tragic results.
From a very young age, Catherine could ‘see’ things in her future.  These sudden visions would bring about fever and convulsions, and mostly fear. Catherine gradually had no choice but to accept that there was nothing she could do about her ‘Gift’ except use it as a forewarning of future devastation.
In embracing that which she had no control over, Catherine sought further help through others who shared variations of the ‘gift’.  She relied on apothecaries and seers for clearer predictions, cures and ‘precautionary concoctions’ that could either help, or destroy; depending on the need.  As such, when we 
The Confessions of Catherine de Medici: A Novel 
we are presented with two of Catherine’s most important seers.
 The two men were of very opposing minds and methods ever:  Cosimo, the evil and NOSTRADAMUS, the pure.  Both of these men helped Catherine in different ways.  Cosimo brewed potions for childbearing, attractions, pain and poisoning...On the other hand, Nostradamus cured, restored and predicted royal ascensions, downfalls and tragedies.  Up until their death, both of these seers remained true to the root and nature of their abilities. (If you read Gortner's book, you’ll understand what I mean by this).
At the time, (strategically convenient), Catherine did not see this dabbling as heretic or as contrary to her Catholic beliefs.  In fact, she believed that everything she searched for in terms of predictions and cures was for the ultimate good of France, her people and her family. To her this was a necessary evil that bore no other choice.
Ultimately, you can say that Catherine was a true Machiavellian at heart (In fact, The Prince, by Machiavelli was her very favourite book).  It’s probably no coincidence that Machiavelli’s main motto was no less than: The End justifies the Means. (How very Catherine indeed;)
NOTE: This post ties in with   Heather's Creative Post on Nostradamus, at The Maiden’s Court, Please check it out to find out more about Nostradamus. You will love it!
Now...for this grand C.W. Gortner Event...Heather of The Maiden's Court and I have a  
Fantastic Giveaway!!!
 We are giving away 1 Hard cover of : 
 
RULES TO ENTER:
1-You MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF BOTH: Enchanted by Josephine and The Maiden’s Court.
2- Leave a comment HERE  AND at MAIDEN’S COURT
3- For an extra 5 points Tweet, FB, or put this on your sidebar (come back here with link;)
Canada- US only.  Winner announced May 17th.


26 comments:

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

A super, wow, giveaway, I would love to win and read these books.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow both sites by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

Do you maybe mean May 22nd? Or are you looking into the past...heh

I would certainly enjoy reading about Nostradamus
Thank you.

I follow both blogs.
kaiminani at gmail dot com

BurtonReview said...

Cool giveaway, Lucy! (no need to enter me)
My husband is very interested in nostradamus and the quatrains and all that stuff. We watch the documentaries on the History channel all the time. He also believes the beginning of the end is 12/21/10

Roberta said...

Hello Ms. Lucy...yes I'm a follower of both of your blogs now and I've left a comment for Heather to let her know that I found her blog via you :D Nostradamus has always facinated me and I don't usually get scared unless the news starts printing things...lol It's like ghost stories...I can only watch in the daylight...I'm such a baby :D Thanks for the opportunity to win this book...if I win I promise to not read it before bedtime...lol
Have a great night, fondly, Roberta

Rachel said...

Thanks for the giveaway!!

Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

Bearded Lady said...

Great post! I am on team Nostradamus. Although Cosimo could cast a mean horoscope. oh I am torn. I guess I will just have to read the book. I especially like Nostradamus beauty recipes. The man knew how to get your pearly whites sparkling.

Mystica said...

I follow both blogs.

Am reading a book by Leonie Frieda and realized what a big part astrology played in Catherine de Medici's life

Arleigh said...

I've always been interested in Nostradamus... my parents own a book from the 1930's on him that I perused growing up and I (along with tons of others) rushed to Borders on 9/11 because it's said that he predicted the towers would fall. I read a bit on his prophecies while reading The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. It's interesting stuff! (you don't need to enter me...)

Amy said...

Great giveaway! Thanks so much. I'd love to read more about Nostradamus. Please enter me. :-) I follow both blogs.

tiger_fan_1997(at)yahoo(dot)com

Elisa said...

Later down the years Marie de Medici, wife of Henri IV, also consulted horoscopes and the like. Not unlike her famous relative!

Anonymous said...

I am a Follower both here and at Maiden' Court.
I did comment on the May 11 Maiden's Court post about Nostradamus.

It is interesting that Catherine relied on two such different men. It is becoming more and more necessary for me to read Gortner's book. He covers such an interesting time in history with such a diverse "cast of characters."

Thanks for an interesting post.

librarypat AT comcast DOT net

Aimee said...

I follow both blogs & commented at The Maiden's Court.
I've read a lot about Nostradamus. He's certainly one of the most fascinating "occult" figures in history, & I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the chance.
+5 tweet http://twitter.com/pixie13sweeps/status/14058085604

Lizzie said...

Great post Lucy I forgot about her favorite book it explains a lot about her and her philosophies. No need to enter me but cool giveaway too.

Allie ~ Hist-Fic Chick said...

Cool post, Lucy. I delighted in reading in Confessions that Catherine's favorite book was The Prince. I didn't know that it had been written for Lorenzo Il Magnifico!

viagra generic said...

Thank you! I didn't know they picked up on it until I saw your comment.

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