The truth is stranger (and better) than fiction.

 I'm currently reading Geoffrey Treasure's Mazarin: The Crisis of Absolutism.  Giulio Mazarini started in his native Italy and through connections, worked his way up to lay cardinal.  He ends up as the famed Cardinal Richelieu's successor, first minister of France, protector and godfather of Louis XIV, and close confidant of Anne of Austria, Louis' mother and queen regent. 

Of course, there is extensive discussion of the rumor of Mazarin's exact relationship with Anne -- just confidants, united for Louis' protection?  Or something more?  Louis XIV himself indicated something more, given how much he adored Mazarin and extended him courtesies (such as riding out to meet him personally) that normally were reserved for other royals.  Some go as far to suggest that Mazarin and Anne even got married in secret.  There's no real evidence and no recorded "walk of shame" for either, but Treasure, despite citing this evidence, tells the tale of Anne and Mazarin as if it was a marriage in perilous times.  No overt lovey dovey crap, but he certainly illustrates the desperation while parted as well as the kind opinions each held of the other, not to mention the great schemes the pair cooked up together. 

My previous readings of Eye of the Lynx (a book on the Lincean Academy of Italy), The Assassination of Henry IV (establishment of absolutism in France), and Music in the Service of the King (French court music history, delightful read, horribly rare book) all tie neatly back to this and to the interesting connections between France and Italy during the 1600s.  Given that I have done research on Louis XV and even later, Napoleon (a Corsican who neatly hedged between Italian and French), it's pretty epic when the names and places are read as a great, overarching tale, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy or Terry Pratchett's Discworld. 

And I think this is why I tend to cope with history better than some -- I read it as if it's a novel.  You get to book's end, and then you say, "and this all really happened."  Minus the lack of room for fan fiction in most cases, most of it is outrageously brilliant -- the defenestration of Prague, Abelard and Heloise, Eleanor of Aquitaine,  Houdini -- more than just their popular images suggest.  What we generally know and see on TV (save for the Hitl-- History Channel and its kin) are the "fan fiction" or parody interpretations. 

Random spouting as I cruise through the book.  Back to the grind!