A perfect introduction to this overlooked and yet seminal French royal dynasty. I loved how short and easily accessible each chapter was and how they each dealt with their own king. It gave a really good overview of the family and dynastical struggles but also the individuals themselves.

House of Lilies

Family drama, rivalries, resentments, and bloody escapades gilding the social, religious, and power structures we all know and love from the medieval era. This brilliantly written history of the Capetians captures what it meant to be royal in medieval France and the tenuous grip of those who had power (but who actually had the power??). From crusades to cathedrals and alliances to wars and marriages to … ends of marriages… this book covers (in amazing detail and very fun asides) a broad, in-depth look at the Capetian dynasty in a fresh and exciting way. This is easily now among my favorite historical nonfiction books of all time and truly a triumph.

Thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for the eARC of this incredible book. It’s so worth the hype.

Ruling France from 987 to 1328, the Capetian dynasty left an indelible mark on history. This saga tells the human stories of how they rose to power, shaped culture and religion, and profoundly influenced society and politics. From the Crusades to Gothic architecture, the Capetians etched an enduring legacy on the world’s stage.

This engaging chronicle covers a critical era in French history, when power was consolidated in the central government. I enjoyed this informative and easy-to-read book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed this book. Mostly. It is an interesting read about the Capetian dynasty and its influence in the history of Europe, and how many of the cultural aspects that are so prevalent in today’s France have their origins during the time period (from 987 to 1328) in which the Capetians reigned, from courtly love to gothic architecture.
That premise was engaging enough for me to want to read the book asap. But at some point it started to feel a little bit slow and too focused on palatial intrigues that I don’t really care much about.
It is wonderfully written and deeply researched but I needed more of the cultural context and influences and less political manipulation.

Royal dynasties interest me. The older, the less attention in the general popular literature. In the case of France, it's no different.
Here I was extremely intrigued by the title House of Lilies and the book cover. I believe it will attract many readers.
In six sections, we get an overview from Hugo Capet to Charles IV and, in fact, to his successors, who were already the members of a different family.
I appreciated the clear family trees, making it easy to navigate the text. It was very readable to the point of making one lose awareness that one is not reading fiction.

The author has presented her expertise in a very accessible way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Basic Books for a free digital review copy. This is my honest review.

This was an interesting read encompassing 350 years of French monarchial history that was really accessible. I found the depth a little bit lacking for me, which I understand given the scope, but I did feel that each chapter (most of which focus on one king from the Capetian dynasty) tended to highlight one particular aspect of the reign as opposed to giving more detail about the overall history of the period. It was definitely a fun way to make my way through this period but it did leave the overall narrative feeling a bit disjointed and episodic rather than a cohesive through line. Overall, this was an enjoyable time.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Four stars for the following reasons:

* easy to read
* informative though not dull or dry
* covers the Capetian Dynasty well, including the women
* well researched
* additional notes, maps, family trees

Covering nearly over three centuries of French history and international politicking, Firnhaber-Baker does a remarkable job at presenting one of the pivotal dynasties in French history - the Capetians. This work has all the elements: religious fervor and upheaval, crusades,scandal, warfare, adultery, ambition, family drama, politicking - and on a magnificent grandiose scale.

Each monarch has their own dedicated chapter which covers off the pivotal moments of their reign, including each monarch's relationships with France's closest neighbours - England, Normandy, Flanders, Blois, Anjou, Valois - as France as we know it today, was still very much in its infancy and only really beginning to coalesce.

Recommended reading for those with an interest in French history and royal dynasties.