Joan of Naples, part of Alexandre Dumas's Celebrated Crimes, chronicles the dramatic life of Joanna I, Queen of Naples. Crowned young, Joan's reign is overshadowed by scandal when her first husband, Prince Andrew of Hungary, is brutally murdered—many suspecting her complicity. Surrounded by scheming nobles, papal intrigue, and vengeful relatives, she marries repeatedly in pursuit of power and security. Yet betrayal stalks her: deserted by allies and having disinherited her adopted heir, Charles of Durazzo, she finally faces invasion and imprisonment. Dumas blends history and legend, portraying a queen whose beauty and ambition could not save her from a tragic, violent fate.
