Copyright © 2007 by Carolyn Meyer
All rights reserved. Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Harcourt Children’s Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, New York, 2007.
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to trade.permissions@hmhco.com or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Meyer, Carolyn, 1935–
Duchessina: a novel of Catherine de’ Medici/Carolyn Meyer,
p. cm.
Summary: While her tyrannical family is out of favor in Italy, young Catherine de’ Medici is raised in convents, then in 1533, when she is fourteen, her uncle, Pope Clement VII, arranges for her marriage to Prince Henri of France, who is destined to become king.
I. Catherine de Médicis, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of France, 1519–1589—Childhood and youth—Juvenile fiction. 2. Italy—History—16th century—Juvenile fiction. [I. Catherine de Médicis, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of France, 1519–1589—Childhood and youth—Fiction. 2. Kings, queens, rulers, etc.—Fiction. 3. Convents—Fiction. 4. Orphans—Fiction. 5. Clement VII, Pope, 1478–1534—Fiction. 6. Italy-History—16th century—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.M5685DUC 2007
[Fic]—dc22 2006028876
ISBN 978-0-15-205588-2 hardcover
ISBN 978-0-15-206620-8 paperback
eISBN 978-0-547-53903-4
v1.0216
Duchessina is a work of fiction based on historical figures and events. Some details have been altered to enhance the story.