Young Queens: Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power

Leah Redmond Chang’s richly textured triple biography traces the intertwined lives of Catherine de’ Medici, Elisabeth de Valois, and Mary, Queen of Scots. She portrays them not as static historical icons but as young women navigating perilous political landscapes. Chang’s research is meticulous, and her storytelling vivid, capturing the emotional stakes of court intrigue and dynastic ambition. By emphasizing their youth and vulnerability, she reframes their legacy in fresh, resonant ways. It’s an elegant, compassionate work that brings the Renaissance world to life through the eyes of the women at its centre.