Isabella of France (1295 – 22 August 1358) was Queen of England and the daughter of Philip IV of France. Sometimes called the "She-Wolf of France", she was a key figure in the rebellion which deposed her husband, Edward II of England, in favor of their eldest son Edward III. This event, as well as Isabella's affair with Roger Mortimer and Edward II's relationships with Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger, have prompted Isabella's portrayal multiple times in literature and visual media.
Theatre and poetry
Edward II (c. 1592), play by Christopher Marlowe
Mortimer His Fall (1641), an unfinished play by Ben Jonson
The Bard (1757), poem by Thomas Gray
L'assedio di Calais (The Siege of Calais) (1836), opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti
The Life of Edward II of England (1923), play by Bertolt Brecht based on Marlowe's play
Edward II (1995), ballet in two acts based on Marlowe's play, directed by David Bintley with music by John McCabe
Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings), a French historical novel series by Maurice Druon, in particular:
Le Roi de fer (The Iron King) (1955)
La Louve de France (The She-Wolf of France) (1959)
Le Lys et le lion (The Lily and the Lion) (1960)
Isabel the Fair (1957) by Margaret Campbell Barnes
Harlot Queen (1970) by Hilda Lewis
Lord of Misrule (1972) by Eve Trevaskis
The Queen and Mortimer (1974) by Brenda Honeyman
The King's Minions (1974) by Brenda Honeyman (prequel to The Queen and Mortimer)
She-Wolf (1975) by Pamela Bennetts
Where Nobles Tread (1975) by Janet Kilbourne
King's Wake (1977) by Eve Trevaskis
Brittle Glory (1977) by Jean Evans
A Love So Bold (1978) historical romance by Annelise Kamada
The Follies of the King (1980) by Jean Plaidy (Book 8 in the Plantagenet series)
The Gascon (1984) by John Colin Penford
Isabella, the She-Wolf (1985) by Maureen Peters
Gaveston (1992) by Chris Hunt
Letter from Poitou (2004) by Michael Eardley
The Traitor's Wife: A Novel of the Reign of Edward II (2005) by Susan Higginbotham
Mathilde of Westminster, an historical mystery series by Paul C. Doherty:
The Cup of Ghosts (2005)
The Poison Maiden (2007)
The Darkening Glass (2009)
Queen of Shadows (2006) by Edith Felber
Knights Templar Mysteries, a series by Michael Jecks, in particular:
The Templar, the Queen and Her Lover (2007)
The Oath (2010)
King’s Gold (2011)
The Ruling Passion (2008) by David Pownall
The King's Mistress (2010) by Emma Campion
Isabella: Braveheart of France (2013) by Colin Falconer
Television, film and radio
Edward II (1970), BBC TV adaptation of Marlowe's play directed by Richard Marquand and Tony Robertson; Isabella is portrayed by Diane Fletcher
Les Rois maudits (1972), French miniseries adaptation of the Druon novels directed by Claude Barma; Isabella is portrayed by Geneviève Casile
Edward II (1982), French TV film adaptation Marlowe's play directed by Bernard Sobel; Isabella is portrayed by Hélène Vincent
Edward II (1991), film based on Marlowe's play and directed by Derek Jarman; Isabella is portrayed by Tilda Swinton
Braveheart (1995), film directed by Mel Gibson; Isabella is portrayed by Sophie Marceau
Les Rois maudits (2005), French miniseries adaptation of the Druon novels directed by Josée Dayan; Isabella is portrayed by Julie Gayet
The Ruling Passion (2008), audio presentation of Pownall's novel in 10 episodes of the BBC Radio 4 programme Book at Bedtime, read by David Horovitz
World Without End (2012), miniseries directed by Michael Caton-Jones; Isabella is portrayed by Aure Atika (the miniseries is based on the 2007 Ken Follett novel of the same name in which Isabella does not appear)
Knightfall (2016), television series about the Knights Templar; Isabella is portrayed by Sabrina Bartlett.
Cultural depictions of Isabella of France Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
