Martyrs and Murderers by Stuart Carroll

The Guise Family and the Making of Europe
368 pages, Paperback
Condition: LIKE NEW: This book is almost as new, with no damage nor defects. There no markings, inscriptions or signatures of any kind, pages are clean and vibrant. 

Power, Piety, and Plot: The Sensational Saga of the House of Guise
Hailed by The Economist as both "entertaining" and "nuanced," Martyrs and Murderers plunges into the tumultuous lives of three generations of treacherous, bloodthirsty power-brokers: the House of Guise. In sixteenth-century France, this family stood as one of the richest and most powerful, playing a pivotal, often devastating, role in the history of Europe.

Architects of Chaos
Staunch opponents of the Reformation, the Guise relentlessly fueled religious bigotry across France. Their ambition knew no bounds: they orchestrated the overthrow of a king, ruled Scotland for nearly two decades through Mary Queen of Scots, and meticulously plotted to invade England and depose Elizabeth I. Their insatiable quest for power culminated in unleashing the brutal Wars of Religion, a conflict that ultimately saw them succumb in a counter-revolution, transforming them into martyrs for the Catholic cause.

The history of the Guise family is not only sensational but unequivocally true. While aspects of their story, such as their pivotal role in the infamous Massacre of Saint Bartholomew, which claimed the lives of 4,000 Protestants, are familiar, the sheer breadth of their influence has remained untold—until now.

In this groundbreaking account, Stuart Carroll meticulously disentangles the legends surrounding this cultivated, charismatic, and profoundly violent dynasty. He challenges traditional assumptions about one of Europe's most turbulent eras, offering an unprecedented look into the dark heart of power and faith in the 16th century.