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Summary: The story of a woman beyond her time
Review: The first time I read this book was almost ten years ago. Golons had the power to present us a little girl we love from the instant we read the first paragraph. A french girl with green eyes who would never thought her life would be so full of adventures, losses, revenges and love. But this book is only the begining of her saga and she learns at her poor father's castle within Monteloup Forest the first steps of her long life.It's is interesting to see how Anne and Serge Golon put so many truths in all the books! Angelique walks in a real scenery of France at Louis XIV time... one of the most powerful man in the world. She meets the real characteres, she talks to them, she battles against some... And that is what is really amazing... you don't even notice she is not real among the real ones. She is a living creature, powerful and fearless. She doesn't fear even the king-sun, the man who killed the only love of her life... her husband! It's a page-turner! Once you begin to read it you can't stop until you read the last word... of the last book! Read it and enjoy yourself!
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Summary: Angelique - queen of my teens
Review: I was 13 when I first read Angelique - marquise des anges, it was 10 years ago. I knew the movies from TV, but I always could see only the last ones and never knew, what the first parts had been about. When I saw the book in store, I thought: OK, I have to buy it and finally know the beginning. So I did it and fell in love with Angelique. Since then, I purchased every sequel of this fascinating novel. And after seeing all movies, I was lost for years. Most of my leisure time I lived in 17th century and was a great lady at the Court of Louis XIV. I was decided to see Paris and Versailles and when my dream came true and I visited France, I couldn't do anything but to more fall in love with this country. Angelique had a very big influence on my life - I started do study French (but still know only basic words and sentences) and was interested in everything connected with France. After readind the last book in the series - The Victory of Angelique, I was sad because of end. I re-read the whole serie many times and wanted it to continue. And it seems my another dream will come true - I found out Anne Golon was writting one or two more sequels! I am sorry of English readers not having the last three books, because they are worth it. Is there any way I could help them? PS: If you love Angelique, then you MUST read a book "Catherine" written by Juliette Benzoni, another great French writer. It is the only book better than Angelique.
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Summary: Read the series more than 10 times
Review: In my early teens I came across the Angelique-series in Germany. Fortunately, I was able to read the entire series, as it was published in German up until the very last book. The first books, until book 6 or so, I reread about 14 times over the course of approx. 10 years. It became my tradition to read the series at least once a year!
The final ending was a bit strange, but nevertheless a positive one. Does anyone need to know how it ended? Write me.
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Summary: Why are these books out of print?
Review: I've just discovered the Angelique series(reading Angelique in Barbery just this minute) and I cannot believe such a brilliant series is out of print in the USA! Angelique:The Marquise of Angels is the first book of this series, and is about the childhood and first marriage of one of literatures greatest heroines, Angelique. The copy I read was actually an old library copy of it, and it was titled Angelique and combined this book and Road to Versailles as one. The Angelique books are excellent historical fiction and both Golons(Anne and Serge) were born storytellers. The Marquise of Angels is my favorite book of the series so far. Its really brought to life a time period I knew very little about, 1600s France. This book has everything. Intrigue,suspense,romance,action,wonderful historical detail,great and memorable characters, the works. I also love how Golon brings to life historical figures. Theres so many memorable scenes in just this one book, my favorite scene is probably Angelique and the poison(I won't give it away!) Like another reviewer has said, it is definitly a very cool scene. I just can't understand why these books are out of print, they are quality fiction! Theres 63 reviews for this book on Amazon, alot of books that are in print don't get that many! And all of them are positive five star reviews too! I know they did put the first 2 books in print again a few years ago, as special large print editions but alot of people(myself included) don't like large print. If only they would put the whole series out again(regular print) and get the last three books translated, I'd be a happy camper...
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Summary: Wonderful literature!
Review: I have never been much of a reader, yet I find it hard to put this book down. Angelique is exciting at every turn of the page. I am trying to read it slowly because I know that the remaining books are very hard to find. I have searched several used book stores because the rest of the series are no longer in print. Please note publishers, that everyone who has written a review of these wonderful books give them 5 stars! I feel alive through a beauty named "Angelique" thanks to Sergeanne Golon, AKA Serge and Anne Golon, a wonderful husband and wife writing team of the 1950's and 60's. Please publish the rest of these wonderful books!
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Summary: Excellent Historical Fiction
Review: Although romance plays a major role, there is so much more to Angelique's story that to categorize the series as "Romance" does not do it justice. The series is historical fiction at its best. The authors, (husband and wife team of Serge and Ann)succeed in transporting the reader to seventeenth century France by vividly describing the backdrop of our heroine's life from a poverty stricken childhood in Monteloup to triumph at Versailles. Through our heroine, we are introduced to the institutions, intrigue, challenges and joys of the times, including the fabulous court of the Sun King and its many personages. A sincere thank you to the authors for the meticulous research that made this series of novels true classics, and for inspiring generations of young people to pursue further study of that colorful period.
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Summary: Angelique was a prototype feminist
Review: My father and I used to fight over who could read the latest Angelique book first when I was 14 and 15. My poor elder sister had to wait her turn after either of us were through. My father and I liked the series so much, we made sure we gave each other Angelique books as birthday dan x-mas presents. I'm Indonesian, and in the late 60s and early 70s imported books were hard to come by. Our family used to buy up indiscriminately any book we found in English. As it is, it's only after I opened Amazon.com that I've found out there were more than nine Angelique books in all. I've read the first seven over and over again, but have never seen "The Jesuit Trap" nor "Gold Beard's Downfall". "The Marquise of the Angels" is positively my most favourite book in all my reading life. Unfortunately, somebody borrowed my copy many, many years ago, and I've never found a replacement. I wrote to Pan Books, I rummage through second-hand book carts wherever I find them, all to no avail. The Angelique character, to my mind, is a proto-feminist. She never yielded to feminine stereotyping, and always did her 'own thing', regardless of society's disapproval. I do believe that her character made a huge impact on myself. The other outstanding book in the series is "Angelique and the Sultan" in which there are great passages comparing Islamic and western philosophy. In this age of misunderstanding in the west about Islam, I think reprinting this one particular book would be an enormous contribution to the discussion. There are other passages in "Angelique in Love" quoted by Joffrey de Peyrac which shows diligent research by Serge and Anne Golon on comparative religion, albeit still stilted towards western Christian argument. Nevertheless, seldom since have I come across such a good read which provides me with instant philosophical discourse and a crash course in French history all at the same time. I'm excited to discover that others have found the series as captivating for them as they were for me. I agree that a publisher would do well to have the series reprinted.
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Summary: The Best Series in the Universe
Review: I've read the series 4 times and am now on the fifth, only this time reading it to my husband out loud while we drive. He is as captivated as I and we now look forward to long trips (Hint: this is NOT just a read for gals). I first discovered Angelique in the library 30 years ago. She quite literally saved my life during a very troubled childhood. She remains my greatest role model to this day. Her spiritual growth during the span of the story is sublime, the historical background is fascinating, the scientific and philosophical details are brilliant and meticulously researched. The content was so ahead of it's time, written as it was in the 1950's - timeless. What can I say? These books have changed my life. They are as fresh and exciting with each re-reading as they were the first time. I'm going to take the plunge and learn French just so I can find out what happens after Book 9! Angelique and Joffrey Live!!
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Summary: Angelique: The Marquise of the Angels
Review: I agree with all of the previous reviewers Angelique: The Marquise of the Angels is a fantastic read, as is the whole series. I have read and re-read this book over the last 25 years and find it as fresh and entertaining as ever. A real highlight for me is the well crafted background of 17th Century France for teh extrordinary character of Angelique, but she is not so extraordinary to be unbelieveable or unsympathetic. I really consider this is a historical series to compare all others against and I would love to see the books reprinted again. I have most of the series (picked up from 2nd hand shops) but I dont have Angelique and the Sultan and it is very frustrating.
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Summary: Angelique: Magnificient Obsession
Review: I have all the books in Russian. In English I don't have the last 3. I read them many times. I have all 5 movies. They are my favorites. They are part of my life. Because of those books and the movies I am in love with France, 17 century, Louis XIV, and everything what has to do with that country. The books are the masterpieces that belong with Major Classical Literature. I BEG YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TRANSLATE THE LAST 3 BOOKS IN ENGLISH!!! And may be one day the last 2 books finally will be published in France and also will be translated in English.
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