About the book: 2024 / A captivating story of a beautiful queen, a shocking murder, a papal trial - and a triumphant reign unparalleled in the Middle Ages. On March 15, 1348, twenty-two-year-old Joanna I, Queen of Naples, appeared before the Pope and his court in Avignon, accused of murdering her husband. Deciding to defend herself, Joanna achieved acquittal against all odds. Victorious, she returned to Naples and ruled one of Europe's most prestigious courts for the next three decades—until she herself was assassinated. Brave and decisive, Joanna was the only female monarch of her time with real power. She looked after the welfare of her subjects, reduced crime, built hospitals and churches, and encouraged the licensing of female doctors. Her brilliant court was visited by the most famous artists and writers of the time. But she was never able to completely get rid of the stain of being accused of murdering her husband, and she was constantly haunted by the upheavals of the time - wars, plague and betrayal, which ultimately led to her death. With skill, passion and impeccable attention to detail, Nancy Goldstone creates the image of one of the most remarkable women in history. The cover design uses a fragment of a lunette above the door of the chapel, Certosa di San Giacomo on the island of Capri, by Niccolò di Tommaso (late 60- 14th century): Queen of Naples praying to the Madonna and Child for an heir.