+ N. Y. Times. 11: 721. N. 3. ’06. 190w.
“The story is full of action and dramatic situations.”
+ N. Y. Times. 11: 796. D. ’06. 140w.
Williams, Hugh Noel. Five fair sisters: an Italian episode at the court of Louis XIV. **$3.50. Putnam.
The five sisters of this historical biography are Laure, Olympe, Marie, Hortense, and Marianne Mancini, the nieces of Cardinal Mazarin. All were taken from Rome to France as children and made brilliant marriages. With the exception of Laure, they all lived long and had romantic careers. Had not Mazarin been so obstinate, Marie Mancini would have been consort of Louis XIV. of France. Olympe became the Comtesse de Soissons; Marianne, Duchesse de Bouillon, who was implicated in the poison trials of 1680; Hortense the Duchesse de Mazarin, fled from her jealous, bigoted husband, and became a reigning beauty at the Court of Charles II. of England.
“He does not affect to have made any additions to historical knowledge, and shows no great fondness for discussing problems or unravelling mysteries; but the facts are stated fairly, and, as a rule, fully enough for the general reader.”
+ Ath. 1906, 1: 787. Je. 30. 2050w.
Reviewed by Percy F. Bicknell.
Dial. 41: 386. D. 1, ’06. 180w.