The Royal Succession (The Accursed Kings) (Book 4) Paperback – Illustrated, November 4, 2014

Maurice Druon is something close to an HF miracle. He attends not only to the detail of the period, but the minutiae as well. Who else would bother to dust off Clovic custom and explain the implausibility of trumped up Salic Law? Or rummage through 14th century Reims bursar records to determine the number of dishes to be used and livestock to be slaughtered during the three day coronation festivities that crowned Phillipe the Long? Many might have the patience, but few the talent to make it all so fantastically engaging. In this, the third of the Accursed Kings series, there is marvelous attention both power grabs and to pomp and circumstances Most importantly though Droun is a keen student of human motivation and psychology--specifically the greed and ambition that motivate the powerful.Indeed, in 14th century France even the highest born aren't high enough to suit their sense entitlement. Everyone seems to believe the world would be a much better place if they moved up a rung or two, and oh, yes....if their enemies were disposed of post haste by any means. All of the above are the ingredients that spice up this splendid story of Phillip the Fair's ill-fated offspring. Characters like the Comtesse d'Artois are delicious sociopaths. Minor characters in the story like pieces on a real life chess board were the least powerful are dross to protect a king's most valued pieces. And there are wonderful, delightful chapters that imagine the election of Pope John XXII (the pope who didn't believe in hell). Droun's brilliant narrative is surely what folks mean when they say fiction is more true than biography.If you are unfamiliar with the series, become acquainted as soon as possible. It's the best historical fiction since Robert Graves's I Claudius, and Claudius the God. This is HF that is both meaty and savory. Enjoy!

Good read, lots of interesting details. One complaint, apparently the nobility only had a list of three or four names available for themselves. Between that and all the inbreeding it got confusing at times. Not the authors fault of course. Makes you wonder why it took so long for the French revolution to occur. Even the "good" rulers were asses. As for the aristocracy, the guillotine was to good for them in my bleeding heart opinion.

In the past weeks I have read the first 4 books of this French series and am awaiting the 5th book now in the mail. This is an amazing presentation of the French Reign of the time just before the Hundred Years War...Early 1300s. The intro is by George RR Martin and it was his interest that brought it to my attention, His Game of Thrones books (Song of Ice and Fire ) are also a great read and full of a mythical realm of infinite believable detail whereas this book is more spare in detail no real attempt at atmosphere but even more convincing as this is actual history with its poisonings and murders all in the name of power seeking, The books are not long about 300 pages each and very accessible.

As an enthusiast of History, I like to sprinkle my readings with a taste of historical novel to condiment the flavor of the period, and the entire series is simply superb and highly recommended.As a curiosity, I noticed that in book IV, The Royal Succession, Maurice unwittingly, places Robert III of Artois in the middle of a corn field, which was impossible at the time, given the fact that Maize, domesticated in Méjico and native of the Americas, has not yet been introduced in Europe, awaiting for the Columbian Exchange that began in 1492

Like the series itself 3 stars for the issue with the physical book, but if I am paying over $13 for a book I would appreciate the binding to stay together. Am assuming the actual book is the same age as the year it came out....annoying as hell.........

Druon's series "The Accursed Kings" in well written and fun to read with a jaundiced view of the great and powerful during the period in which the series is set. It does take some liberties with possible hidden actions and incidents behind the documented history of the times portrayed but as far as I can tell from the perspective of a somewhat serious student of the period the series is, with the exception of one or two factual slips, quite accurate in following and effectively incorporating documented information."The Royal Succession" cover the period from the death of Louis X to the succession of his brother Philippe to the throne of France as Phillipe V. Phillipe was the one capable son of Philip IV and is an interesting figure in his own right. Other significant and well portrayed characters in the book include Mahut of Artois and her great enemy Robert of Artois as well as Cardinal Jacques Deuze the future Pope John XXII. The politics of the French Succession are at the core of the book when in 1316, King John I the Posthumous died and the female claimants to the succession were passed over in favor of Phillipe, the uncle of John I. This legally doubtful decision which was later described by French jurists as an appropriate enforcement of the long-defunct Salic law was to be a supreme example of the law of unintended consequences as it led to the succession of the Valois kings and the beginning of the Hundred Years War. The politics of the papal succession provide a counterpoint with the conclave that elected Pope John XXII.

What a great book! This whole series is awesome and this is another great one. Learning about the history of France is intriguing and makes me want to keep reading.

Have enjoyed all of The Accursed Kings books. This was no exception. Good read

The fourth book in a series of seven is no less exciting than the first three. I read the second half at one sitting. Recommended to those who love thrillers as well as historical novels, you won't be disappointed.

if you love history is a must to read all the books of the serie. I could not wait the rest in itaian and I read them the others not translated in english. I wil read again in italian when translated: really TOP.Chi ama la storia DEVE leggere tutti i libri della serie. Non potevo aspettare che li traducessero tutti in italiano e quelli non tradotti me li sono letti in inglese e me li rileggerò quando verranno tradotti in italiano. veramente TOP

This is another fine addition to The Accursed Kings series, picking up immediately where The Poisoned Crown (The Accursed Kings, Book 3) left off. The pace is a little slower than previous books focusing entirely on the political machinations surrounding the empty throne of France. Competing alliances are formed, murders are committed, plot threads that have been winding through the series so far take ingenious twists or are suddenly and surprisingly cut short. Truly (a translation of!) masterful writing.Throughout, as in the previous novels, Druon excels at tragic interjections, a knowing narrator of a history long gone whose tale travels further into hell. Seemingly-minor characters are weaved into history until you're not sure who was real and who was not. Utterly gripping stuff.Of course, if you've read the previous three, you don't need me to tell you this. You know this isn't standard pot-boiler fare. You've probably already read it, in which case I congratulate you on your excellent choice in reading material. If, by some bizarre circumstance, you haven't read the previous three novels, go read The Iron King (The Accursed Kings, Book 1).Be aware of course that there are still three unpublished novels in this re-release of the series. The publisher's schedule is as follows:She-Wolf - 10/04/14The Lily & the Lion - 25/09/14King Without a Kingdom - 8/01/15

This series is wonderful. A great , easy read but more importantly a great way to learn historical content. They should use these in history class in schools. I am at retired age and finally I am learning world history.