Book description
A rich portrait of a compelling, complex woman who emerged from a sheltered rural childhood into the fraught, often deadly world of the French royal court and Parisian high society--and who would come to rule them both. Married off at sixteen to a military officer she barely knew, Marie de Vignerot was intended to lead an ordinary aristocratic life, produce heirs, and quietly assist the men in her family rise to prominence. Instead, she became a widow at eighteen and rose to become the indispensable and highly visible right-hand of the most powerful figure in French politics--the ruthless Cardinal Richelieu. Richelieu was her uncle and, as he lay dying, the Cardinal broke with tradition and entrusted her, above his male heirs, with his vast fortune. She would go on to shape her country's political, religious, and cultural life as the unconventional and independent Duchesse d'Aiguillon in ways that reverberated across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Marie de Vignerot was respected, beloved, and feared by churchmen, statesmen, financiers, writers, artists, and even future canonized saints. Many would owe their careers and eventual historical legacies to her patronage and her enterprising labor and vision. Pope Alexander VII and even the Sun King, Louis XIV, would defer to her. She was one of the most intelligent, accomplished, and occasionally ruthless French leaders of the seventeenth century. Yet, as all too often happens to great women in history, she was all but forgotten by modern times. La Duchesse is the first fully researched modern biography of Vignerot, putting her onto center stage in the histories of France and the globalizing Catholic Church where she belongs. In these pages, we see Marie navigate scandalous accusations and intrigue to creatively and tenaciously champion the people and causes she cared about. We also see her engage with fascinating personalities such as Queen Marie de MΓ©dici and influence French imperial ambitions and the Fronde Civil War. Filled with adventure and daring, art and politics, La Duchesse establishes Vignerot as a figure without whom France's storied Golden Age cannot be fully understood.
Keystone
πΆββοΈπ Strolling through captivating narratives has never been easier β this app's intuitive controls make audiobook listening a delight. π§ποΈ Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing. Looping playback of a single track helps me focus and absorb complex content. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook.
Petite Beauty
The compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch sets ListenBook apart from the rest. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. I've never experienced such silky-smooth playback even with high-quality FLAC files. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. It's reliable, versatile, and a pleasure to use. Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences.
White Snare
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is fantastic. Effortless audiobook management β this app's usability is impressive.
Bambi Wings
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a testament to the app's commitment to audio quality.
Breezy Mustang
The sound quality is outstanding β it's like having a movie theater in my ears! Audiobook enjoyment has never been this convenient. This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and enjoyable. ππ ListenBook has transformed the way I engage with literature. It's like having a virtual bookshelf in my pocket. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features. I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy.
Golden Cougar
Say goodbye to monotony β this app's diverse format support and intuitive controls have turned my daily activities into thrilling audiobook adventures. π±π The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. I love the ability to change the background color. Itβs a nice touch.
Pusher
I love how this app makes even the most mundane tasks exciting with audio stories. With this app, reading is no longer a task β it's a delightful habit. Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature! The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
Cujo
I've never been this excited about my daily commute β thank you, audiobooks! Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. ππ§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand, transforming noisy environments into serene listening spaces. With its powerful audio downloading features, I can have my favorite audiobooks ready to go, anytime and anywhere.
Roadspike
ListenBook has become my ultimate audiobook companion. It enhances every listening session. No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone. Auto-rewind feature is a lifesaver. I never lose my place! ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Twin Blaze
With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. π This app's functionality is a masterpiece β it seamlessly integrates audiobooks into my daily routine. ππ¨ The customizable controls and playback options cater perfectly to different audiobook preferences.
Squatch
Audiobooks have become my constant companions during my daily activities. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now. The app is worth every penny. Itβs packed with features and works flawlessly. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
ShadowDancer
The ability to switch between different books effortlessly is a major plus. Audiobooks on this app have expanded my horizons and introduced me to new ideas. The statistics feature is a fantastic addition β knowing how much time I spend on audiobooks is eye-opening, and ListenBook makes tracking it a breeze. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has never been easier or more convenient. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
Stud
This app has made my downtime so much more productive and enjoyable. π Rekindling my literary flame β this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. ππ Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed. The app is perfect for multitaskers. I can listen while working out. A textbook example of great audiobook narration! The performer's diction was flawless, their pacing ideal, and their emotional range impressive. I never felt like I was being "read to" but rather like I was experiencing the story firsthand. The audio engineering was equally professional.
Swedish Pixie
ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Delicious
The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audio needs are met. Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a perfect match. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a boon for those who enjoy deep dives into lengthy narratives. ListenBookβs interface is clean and intuitive. Itβs a joy to use.
Miss Fix It
I can't believe how quickly I finish books now, all thanks to this app. π This app is a game-changer β its intuitive design and seamless functionality make listening to audiobooks a joy. ππ§ Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach.
NemesisX
With support for various formats, I can finally listen to my diverse audiobook collection. The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy.
Lumberyard
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. This app's library is a treasure trove β I'm always discovering new favorites. βοΈ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. ππ Apple Watch compatibility adds a new level of convenience to my audiobook enjoyment. It's seamless control at my wrist.
Aqua Monsoon
I never knew my daily walks could be so fulfilling β all thanks to this app. Book groups help me keep series together and navigate my collection more efficiently. A great feature! ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Scrapper
I've started reading more books than ever before, all thanks to this app. The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing various audio formats has turned my daily activities into enriching listening sessions. What a game-changer! ππ
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience