Noel Gerson Book order

An extraordinary biography of seventeenth-century Europe's most enigmatic woman - Queen Kristina of Sweden. Will appeal to readers of Veronica Buckley, Antonia Fraser, Linda Porter and Tracy Borman. Queen Kristina of Sweden was one of the greatest intellectuals of her time. Daughter of the adulated King Gustavus Adolphus, she was a patron of scholars and authors, scientists and artists, spoke numerous languages fluently, delighted in debating theological questions, and was responsible for the cultural and educational advancement of her nation. Yet the capricious Queen also had a talent for causing scandal and trouble, and took particular delight in shocking her subjects. However, it was her decision to renounce her throne, her country, and her faith that stunned a populace still recovering from the Thirty Years' War. Drawing on contemporary accounts, including Kristina's own Memoirs and the diary of her principal lady in waiting, Noel B. Gerson presents an intriguing biography of one of the most flamboyant and controversial figures of seventeenth-century Europe. "A highly entertaining biography of the Swedish Queen whose abdication, conversion to Catholicism, and Crivolous schemes made her the subject of incessant gossip for generations" - Kirkus Reviews

An engrossing biography of the Native American heroine, Pocahontas. Will appeal to readers of Allan W. Eckert, James P.P. Horn and Nathaniel Philbrick. The only daughter of Powhatan, the great warrior and ruler of the Chickahominy Confederation, Pocahontas enjoyed a privileged upbringing. Yet she defied many of the customs of her tribe by accompanying her brothers on hunting expeditions, and could be as fiercely competitive as any brave. It was her remarkable ability to adapt to new ways of life and situations alien to her that so amazed all who knew her and secured her place in American history. Captured by English colonialists during hostilities in 1611 and removed to the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, she displayed an incredible resourcefulness, learning to read and write, converting to Christianity and marrying an Englishman, John Rolfe. She was the first member of her nation to cross the Atlantic Ocean, reaching England in 1616, where her charm, intelligence and wit made her the toast of London society, and she soon became a regular at the royal court of King James I and Queen Anne. Drawing on a range of contemporary accounts, Noel B. Gerson sifts fact from fiction to present the life of a remarkable woman who was able to make her way in three different worlds - her Native American homeland, the colonial settlement of Jamestown, and seventeenth-century England.

From ex-convict to the head of the first known private detective agency, François Eugène Vidocq was the father of modern criminology. Perfect for fans of Tom Clavin, Hallie Rubenhold and Catherine Arnold. Long before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was creating Sherlock or Agatha Christie was inventing the adventures of Poirot, the life and cases of Vidocq were inspiring Victor Hugo, Edgar Allen Poe and Honoré de Balzac to create some of the first detectives in fiction, but as is so often the case, the truth is more fascinating than fiction. Using disguises, decoys and criminal stool pigeons, experimenting with fingerprints, inventing invisible inks, conducting blood and ballistic testing, devising methods for keeping records on all known criminals and pioneering handwriting analysis, are but a few of the real-life master sleuth's innovations. Noel B. Gerson's fascinating biography uncovers the life of the man who earned the respect of Emperor Napoleon after recovering Empress Josephine's stolen emerald necklace, attempted to reform ex-convicts and who revolutionized criminal investigations as the world's first private detective. "introduce[s] the reader to a man who was a genuine pioneer and, in addition, one of the great adventurers of the century." The New York Times "Powerful" Kirkus Reviews

An engrossing biography of Gabrielle d'Estrées, mistress, confidante, and advisor of Henry IV of France who was instrumental in ending the French Wars of Religion. Ideal for readers of Desmond Seward, Ian Mortimer and Alison Weir. Gabrielle d'Estrées was just thirty-six hours shy of becoming Queen of France when she died in 1599, yet the story of her life is a dazzling and significant chapter in French history. Pampered and spoiled in her youth, at eighteen Gabrielle became mistress to King Henry IV of France and rose to command the respect of Popes and royalty, and to scale unequalled heights of diplomacy. One of Henry's closest confidantes and advisors, Gabrielle's influence helped achieve a reconciliation between the King and the Roman Catholic Church. She also played a key role in the delicate negotiations between Catholic and Huguenot leaders when Henry promulgated the Edict of Nantes in 1598. Drawing on contemporary memoirs and diaries, Noel B. Gerson paints a vivid picture of one of the most powerful and influential women of the sixteenth-century French court. Lady of France is a fascinating biography of a woman who became the first lady of France in everything but title.

A hair-raising biography of the hunter, scout, and adventurer, Kit Carson. Perfect for readers of Hampton Sides, Stephen Brennan and H. W. Brands. At seventeen Christopher "Kit" Carson left Kentucky and headed west. By the end of his life he had become a living legend, with dime novels exclaiming his accomplishments across the breadth of the country. But what was the truth behind these renowned stories and who was the real Kit Carson? Noel Gerson's fascinating biography uncovers the reality this extraordinary man, often proving more astounding than any of the novels. Kit Carson: Folk Hero and Man explores the tumultuous life of this man who was the archetypal frontiersman; travelling and trapping with famous mountain men like Jim Bridger, guiding John C. Fremont through the vast wilderness, and fighting against Confederate troops during the Civil War. Gerson also examines Carson's complex relations with the Native Americans tribes; acting honestly as a trader and agent and marrying a native woman, but also leading campaigns against them at various points in his life. "Quite a man, as this fast moving biography shows." Kirkus Reviews