Vášně duše – Simone Raffaele (2020)

A historical novel about the complex relationships between René Descartes, Queen Christina, and Princess Elizabeth of the Palatinate in the form of letters, both real and fictional, exchanged by the protagonists with various individuals. Truth and fiction thus intertwine inseparably, offering readers a fresh perspective on the end of the great philosopher's life against the backdrop of events at the Swedish court. In September 1649, René Descartes departs for Stockholm at the invitation of Queen Christina, a woman philosopher. She wishes to add the great French philosopher as the pinnacle to her entourage of scholars. In Stockholm, experiencing one of the coldest and gloomiest autumns, Descartes meets with close friends: the French ambassador Chanut and his wife Émilie, along with other notable figures. However, he remains closed off in his house, isolated from everyone, waiting for the queen to summon him. He realizes that it was merely vanity that led him to this journey, and it seems that the queen has lost interest in him. Meanwhile, a suspicious atmosphere of gossip surrounds Descartes. His support comes from the correspondence he maintains with various people in Europe, primarily with Princess Elizabeth, who has sparked an extraordinary intellectual interest in him...