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    Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris
    Unavailable
    Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris
    Unavailable
    Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris
    Audiobook8 hours

    Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris

    Written by Eric Jager

    Narrated by Rene Auberjonois

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    A riveting true story of murder and detection in 15th-century Paris, by one of the most brilliant medievalists of his generation.

    On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer--and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

    A rich portrait of a distant world, BLOOD ROYAL is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateFeb 25, 2014
    ISBN9781478951742
    Unavailable
    Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris

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    Reviews for Blood Royal

    4/5

    142 ratings21 reviews

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    • 5/5
      A stunning narrative of royal intrigue, vanity and brutality. It is a good detective story too, but a better history lesson.

      The prose is delivered with unflinching realism, and just enough scholarly reflection to remind us that all this really happened.

      Warning: there are scenes that will be seared into your memory. And if you prefer to keep Henry V as the noble author of the ‘band of brothers’ speech-then read Shakespeare instead.

      There is a hero to the story. But it isn’t one of the egocentric royals. They were too busy killing peasants and one another to achieve true nobility.

      As a bonus, medieval Paris is made a vivid member of the cast of characters.
    • 3/5
      Good story and a most unusual angle. I thoroughly enjoyed the whodunnit approach and the wider view of the implications of the crime on French and European history.
    • 4/5
      Very engrossing and well written. However, It is not actually a murder mystery, as the cover description and beginning of the book led me to expect. As an exploration of human nature, description of the persistent unfairness of life, and exposition of history it is very good. It is even "true crime," but "detection" is a stretch.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      great history telling learned so much thank you enjoyed so much

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Pluses: incredible detail borne of impossibly thorough research, well written and an awesome construction of what medieval life was like
      Drawbacks: the "mystery" is resolved yet the book goes on for sometime afterward... which for me was fine as I love detail; however I can see how others might zone out...

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Blood Royal is that most rare thing, a medieval history full of personality and color. It's not often we get to hear the quoted words of a medieval peasant from the early 1400s, or minute by minute action scenes playing out in detail. Unlike Name of the Rose the author didn't make it up, the events were written down by a criminal investigator at the time, and recreated in this wonderful book. And unlike Martin Guerre about 150 years later, this crime had much larger importance and helps to put the complex Hundred Years' War in a little more context. Not just politically, but the mood of the age, how people acted and reacted. Hope to read this again sometime as it makes for a great portal to the late Middle Ages.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This was a surprisingly interesting book! Very rich with detailed historical facts, and very well written. I learned a lot about Paris in a time long before most anything else I’ve ever read before. I love learning about things like that. If you enjoy mysteries, histories and true crime, this will be right up your alley.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Agree with some other reviewers. Historical detail was very interesting....for a while. Then the plot, which was solved way too quickly, dragged on and on and on needlessly. Felt like I had to listen to the end because of the time invested so far.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I don't typically read historical books, fiction or nonfiction, but I greatly enjoyed this one. The investigation was done so much like a modern day criminal investigation that it surprised me! Very engaging and the narrator was fun to listen to, correctly pronouncing all the words I'm sure would confound me in the print edition.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A wonderful window into medieval Europe. The tale is full of intrigue and plots. A fast paced whodunnit delivered in a compelling work of history that has an extraordinary array of characters.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Short plot muddled in too much detail. So if you like detail, then consider it a 5 star book. ?
    • 5/5
      This was an interesting and engaging look at medieval Paris.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Brilliant historical non-fiction that is entertaining to the last page. Great writing, excellent research and totally awesome narration and audio production. I highly recommend this audiobook.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Very engrossing and well written. However, It is not actually a murder mystery, as the cover description and beginning of the book led me to expect. As an exploration of human nature, description of the persistent unfairness of life, and exposition of history it is very good. It is even "true crime," but "detection" is a stretch.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This book manages to be both accessible to all readers and to explore an incredibly turbulent period of history through a compelling narrative. Eric Jagger explores the murder of Louis of Orleans and its repercussions on fifteenth-century France. Louis was the younger brother of King Charles VI of France, and due to the king's unstable sanity, Louis often ruled France in his brother's place. His power and his own personal actions earned Louis a substantial number of enemies, but his brutal murder on the streets of Paris nevertheless shocked the populace. Jagger details the witness depositions, revealing countless details of ordinary medieval life alongside the surprisingly modern detective methods. Yet, the revelation of the mastermind behind the murder and the ensuing repercussions reveal much about very fifteenth century notions of nobility, warfare, and justice.
    • 4/5
      3.5 Very interesting reading about the chalet that was used to house prisoners, four diff33nt levels, going from okay conditions to much worse, and the prisoners had to pay for the privilege even those in the worst l3evel, which was basically a hole into which they were lowered. Guillaume, had almost unlimited power since he was the chief law enforcement officer, and it he who solves the crime of the murder of Louis of Orleans. Solved it in a very short period of time.Much of this is fascinating reading, the techniques used, the politics of the 1400's and the madness of the king. It is a mystery, historical, political and social commentary, written clearly and concisely. It includes lengthy notes and sources and pictures of the past and even a pr4esent picture of where the crime was committed. A good read for those interested in history and true crime.
    • 4/5
      This was a very readable, well researched book about the murder of Louis, the Duke of Orleans, its investigation and its repercussions. Louis was a man of privilege and lived as one entitled to have his whims satisfied. His brother, King Charles, suffered from bouts of insanity and, during these bouts, Louis reigned in his place, as the dauphin was yet too young to rule. Louis was viciously murdered in the streets of Paris and Guillaume de Tignonville, the chief law enforcement officer, and his men meticulously investigated and solved the crime. This only resulted in further complications in the power struggle of France's ruling class and set the stage for war and further intrigue. The book was not entirely an examination of the great skill with which de Tignonville investigated and solved the crime. It was more a book about the murder and its effect on France. The first half of of the book was about the events leading up to the crime, providing a background for the reader, and then about the crime and its investigation. The second half was about the far reaching repercussions of the murder, with very little mention of de Tignonville and his investigation. It was more about the power play for the control of France. I have not been compensated in any way (other than being given a copy of this book to review) and my opinion on the book is entirely my own.
    • 4/5
      In the 1660s, a scroll was discovered at an old chateau in the French Pyrenees. It was the original report documenting the investigation of an assassination 250 years earlier. In November 1407, Louis of Orleans was attacked in the streets of Paris and hacked to death by a band of masked assailants. Not only did the crime shock the country but it caused wide spread panic. Louis was the brother of King Charles VI who suffered recurring and often long-lasting bouts of madness and, during these periods, Louis took his brother’s place in the running of the country. Thus, it was important to quickly discover who was responsible. Guillaume de Tignonville, the city’s Provost was charged with the investigation. As author Eric Jager points out, Guillaume was not only “Knight, diplomat, man of letters, and man of law, he was also very likely one of history’s first detectives”. Despite the acceptance of torture as an acceptable tool to get convictions, Guillaume seems to have eschewed its use and, instead, used what seem like more modern techniques including witness depositions and retracing the steps of the assassins. Jager deals not only with the investigation but the far-reaching implications of the assassination. Not only did Louis’ death lead to Civil War within France but it prolonged The One Hundred Years War between France and England. This is a tale full of familial hatred, insanity, betrayal, and murder. That it is a true tale makes it that much more compelling.Jager draws a fascinating portrait of France in the 15th c. Not only do we get to see the Aristocracy but many of the regular citizenry who took part in the investigation, giving us a small but rare glimpse at a part of history often hidden from us. Unlike modern true crime books, not all questions are or could be answered since much has been lost to time. Jager is an historian and professor and, as such, he is less concerned with the sensationalism of the crime (although he certainly describes it in great detail) than with its aftermath and its repercussions which would be felt for decades and would have a profound effect on France as a whole. Some may find this of less interest than the crime. However, for anyone with an interest in history, especially in the small events which cause huge quakes, Blood Royal makes for a compelling read. Best of all, Jager has the ability to turn what could so easily have become a dry dissertation of facts into a tale as interesting as any modern true crime or fiction tale.
    • 4/5
      bookshelves: published-2014, true-grime, nonfiction, history, winter-20132014, france, e-book, net-galley, parisRead from February 10 to 17, 2014ARC received with thanks from Net Galley and Little, Brown and Company in exchange for an honest review.Description: A riveting true story of murder and detection in 15th-century Paris, by one of the most brilliant medievalists of his generation.On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer--and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.A rich portrait of a distant world, BLOOD ROYAL is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.Dedication: For Peg, as alwaysOpening quote: The detective as knight-errant must nonetheless sally forth, though he knows that his native chivalry ... is as hopeless as it is incongruous. David Lehman 'The Perfect Murder'Opening: In the 1660s, an unusual parchment scroll was discovered at an old château in the French Pyrenees. Thirty foot long and filled with small, neat script, the scroll had been lost for two and a half centuries. It was the original police report on a high-level assassination whose violent repurcussions has almost destroyed FranceLouis I, Duke of OrléansGuillaume de TignonvillePage 18: Guillaume had also befriended Christine de Pizan, a rare woman in a male-dominated world of letters, supporting her defence of women in a famous literary quarrel over 'The Romance of the Rose' and even helping her with legal advice.The Gallows of MontfauconPlace du ChâteletDelacroix - Louis d'Orleans showing his mistressBal des ArdentsPierrefondsHôtel BarbetteRue Vieille du Temple' Less than a year apart in age, the two cousins could not of been more unalike. Louis was slender and fair, with a round pleasant face, while John was short and ugly, with a great square head, heavy brows, and a beaklike nose.' (Page 124)Tour Jean Sans Peur, Paris. Tour Jean Sans Peur (John the Fearless) was the ironic name for the Duke of BurgundyDELICIOUS!As Andrew points out: 'So, I love long chancery-hand medieval manuscripts and you should too', this is a wonderful read and just so prescient of modern detective and forensic procedures. The build up had me searching for images, as witnessed above, and from the crime onwards it was bums on seats in admiration, and terrified awe of, Guillaume de Tignonville.Modern day take on the King's illness: Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way a person acts, thinks, and sees the world. People with schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality, often a significant loss of contact with reality. They may see or hear things that don’t exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them, or feel like they’re being constantly watched. With such a blurred line between the real and the imaginary, schizophrenia makes it difficult—even frightening—to negotiate the activities of daily life. In response, people with schizophrenia may withdraw from the outside world or act out in confusion and fear. Source HELPGUIDE.ORGOn the back of this great read I have ordered The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval FranceCrossposted:WordpressBooklikesLeafMarkLibrarythingaNobii
    • 4/5
      In the 1660s, a magnificent scroll was discovered. At thirty feet long and dated to 1407, it contained the original investigations of the provost of Paris, a Monsieur Guillaume de Tigonville. He was tasked with an unenviable crime to solve: the death of Louis of Orleans. The death of a noble man was already enough stress to deal with, but Louis was a famous relative: his brother was the King of France. Charles VI, sometimes labeled the Beloved and other times called the Mad, periodically left the country under Louis’s rule when he wasn’t feeling well. And now the surrogate monarch had been murdered. Eric Jager’s Blood Royal sifts through the historical records to bring us a tale of treason, aristocratic intrigue, and medieval forensic techniques.Tigonville’s investigation of the matter (which I won’t spoil here) is the first part of this book. He deposes many interesting (and many rather mundane) folks to get to the truth of the matter. The details provided in the scroll are both riveting and numerous. Once Tigonville’s involvement ends, the book takes on a more academic flavor, describing the machinations of the various dukes of France after Louis’s death. Jager’s research is thorough and exciting and does its best to balance the salacious with the simple. I really this history of both Paris and police work in the 15th century. If it weren’t a real historical document, you’d swear this was a work of fiction. A pleasant and engaging read.
    • 4/5
      This is a riveting account of the brutal assassination of Louis of Orleans in 1407, the subsequent investigation of the crime and its far reaching consequences. The fortuitous existence of a large scroll relating the details of the investigation made it possible for Jager to create a compelling narrative that reconstructs the crime in such a way that it reads like a modern detective novel. The investigator—Guillaume de Tignonville—was charged by the four lords of France to determine the culprits and bring them to justice. Guillaume adopted an approach that involved interviews, crime scene reconstruction and deduction from the facts that was unheard of at the time and was ultimately successful. Jeger does an excellent job of describing the process, possible motives for the crime and the environment in medieval Paris, including the unstable monarchy overseen by a king who was often incapacitated by bouts of madness. Unfortunately, the responsible person was one of the Dukes of France and thus was in a position to escape punishment. In fact, he was able to remove Tignonville from his office as provost. This was accompanied by a wonderful description of the bizarre practice of atonement that was possible at the time--“amende honorable”. However, following that, Tignonville all but disappears from the narrative. Thereafter, the book suffers from a loss of its personal and social flavor. Instead it morphs into a scholarly, but more mundane recounting of the battles and political chicanery associated with the rivalry between the houses of Burgundy and Orleans. Most of this is well explored historical terrain and detracts from what is otherwise a very riveting tale. Fortunately, the much more compelling early part of the narrative on the crime constitutes the major portion of the book and thus makes it well worth the time to read.