Set against the stunning backdrop of Renaissance France and peopled by the titans of European history, The Serpent and the Moon is a true story of love, war, intrigue, betrayal, and persecution. At its heart is one of the world’s great love stories: the life-long devotion of King Henri II of France to Diane de Poitiers, a beautiful aristocrat who was 18 years older than her lover.

As friend and lady-in-waiting to Henri’s mother, Queen Claude, Diane was present at Henri’s birth. It was Diane who lovingly embraced six-year-old Henri as he was sent as a hostage to a Spanish prison in exchange for his father, and on his release four years later it was Diane who eased the adolescent Henri out of his bitterness. As Henri matured, he modelled his life on the chivalric code, wore Diane’s famous colors of black and white, and vowed to protect the lady of his fantasies whose image had sustained him throughout his childhood imprisonment.

In the sixteenth century, scions of royal houses were political pawns to be exchanged in marriage by the rulers of Europe seeking to meet their own ambitions. At age fourteen, Henri d’Orleans was married to fourteen-year-old Catherine de’ Medici, an unattractive but extremely wealthy heiress who was to bring half of Italy to France as her dowry. When Catherine met Henri on their wedding day, she fell instantly in love, but Henri could see no one but the beautiful Diane de Poitiers.

However, it was not until she was widowed that Diane succumbed to the glamorous prince, increasing the jealous fury of his wife. Henri became dauphin and then king, all the while becoming more devoted to Diane, granting her almost royal honors including exalted titles, magnificent castles and the crown jewels. Diane and Henri ruled France as one. Diane set the standard for French art and design, styled herself as the virtuous Diana the Huntress, and opened the king’s eyes to art as she had to love.

Diane and Henri signed official documents with a joint signature, and their intertwined monograms appeared on everything from the king’s clothing to palace decorations. While their love was sincere and discrete, many at court were not sure of their true relationship. Catherine, however, was in no doubt. She took as her secret motto the words “Hate and Wait” and lived for the day Diane would die and she could win Henri’s love and rule by his side. Fate had another plan.

French Edition

"The Serpent and the Moon" is published by Lattés in Paris on 9th March 2005 under the title "La Lune et le Serpent".

Spanish Edition

"The Serpent and the Moon" is published by La Esfera de los Libros and entitled “Diana de Poitiers y Catalina de Médicis”.

HRH Princess Michael of Kent's Literary Agents

HRH Princess Michael is represented in the United States by:
Suzanne Gluck, head of the literary department at William Morris Agency – sgluck@wma.com

HRH Princess Michael is represented in the UK and the rest of Europe by:
Andrew Lownie of The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency – lownie@globalnet.co.uk