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The Last Queen (Paperback)

by C.W. Gortner (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 350 pages
  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Paperbacks (16 Oct 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0340962941
  • ISBN-13: 978-0340962947
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.2 x 3.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 58,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'Compelling... a riveting blend of passion, power and betrayal.' (Inside Soap )

'Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told.' (Publishers Weekly )


Product Description

A vivid, historical romp centred around Juana 'La Loca', sister of Catherine of Aragon.
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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
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4.3 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting and eloquent portrait of a Spanish queen, 1 Aug 2006
By Paula L. Fener - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Last Queen: A Novel of Juana La Loca (Paperback)
I've been waiting for two years for this book, ever since the author announced it on his website. For his second novel, C.W. Gortner turns his masterful pen to Renaissance Spain - a diverse and complex land recently united by the Catholic monarchs, Isabel and Fernando. This tale of Spain, which is unfortunately not explored nearly as much as it should be by historical fiction novelists, comes to vivid life through the eyes of Juana la Loca, arguably the most beautiful and certainly the most enigmatic of the Catholic monarchs' four daughters. Known to history as the Mad Queen and the older sister of Katherine of Aragon (Henry VIII's first wife) Juana has often been neglected as a figure in her own right. This novel restores her to her proper place - and what a dramatic place it is! Through vivid prose and an intense feeling for emotional characterization, Juana tells us her story - from her arranged and ultimately tormenting marriage to the Hapsburg Emperor's son Philip to their lethal struggle for the throne of Spain, which Juana inherits through tragedy. Incredible characters like Queen Isabel, wily Fernando of Aragon, as well Henry VII of England and Louis of France, make memorable appearances; Isabel in particular is a compelling combination of steel and sacrifice. But it is the courageous, amazingly young, and very human Juana who dominates the story, and the secrets she reveals are startling and unexpected. A sumptuous feast for the senses, this novel exemplifies the best of historical fiction - accurate and yet daring in its approach, respectful of the facts but focused on the human elements; you are captured by Juana's story until the very end, when you find yourself both awestruck and haunted by this queen who truly has been forgotten by most of the world until now.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Passionate and uncompromising historical fiction, 3 Aug 2006
By Linda Dolan (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Last Queen: A Novel of Juana La Loca (Paperback)
From the opening line: "Midnight has become my favorite hour," you know you are in the hands of a master storyteller, one who has turned the tables on popular history to present an erudite and compassionate view of one of history's most difficult personages.

Known as the Mad Queen, in her own words Juana of Castile tells the story of her life, and what a life it is - filled with passion, intrigue, and terrifying betrayal. To my relief, I found Juana to be neither self-pitying nor morbid. In her candor and wit, Juana demonstrates a singular humanity that highlights the ruthlessness of her 16th century world. She is a brave and decisive woman, far removed from the "victim" that she has so often been portrayed. Readers who known about her from films like "Mad Love" will be intrigued by Gortner's deft handling of her mental state, and surprised by her own secret admissions.

This is a refreshingly vivid and well crafted example of historical fiction that does not compromise, from a writer who obviously cares both for his subject and for the intelligence of his readers.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A well-written story - let down by inaccuracy, 28 April 2009
By juliana (NE Scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Last Queen (Hardcover)
Juana of Castile, the Queen of Spain who never ruled, is a fascinating subject for a novel - a life full of intrigue and drama. The second daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, sister of Henry V111's queen Katharine of Aragon, she is married at sixteen to the Archduke Philip, heir to the Emperor Maximilian. Reluctant to leave home, she falls in love with her husband at first sight. But the marriage turns stormy as Juana is torn between conflicting emotions and political demands. She finds herself in the middle of a bitter power struggle between her husband and father - a struggle in which she can only be the loser.

Unlike her parents and sister, the real Juana wrote very few letters, and her personality therefore remains an enigma - perfect material for a novelist.

Does Mr. Gortner pull it off? Well, in part yes. He writes well, with a gift for conjuring up the sights and sounds of Renaissance Europe. His characters are lively and the story grips as it moves along at a fast pace. The twists and turns of the political machinations which surround Juana are well described, as is Juana's increasing bewilderment and sense of isolation.

But he plays fast and loose with the facts from the very beginning. His description of the surrender of Granada bears little relationship to the true story and his account of the conquest of Naples is even less accurate. Some characters - most notably the Emperor Maximilian - bear virtually no resemblance to their real life counterparts. Most crucially, he turns Juana into a helpless victim by underplaying or omitting some of her more bizarre behaviours. He also overplays the sexism angle - it was Juana's personality, not her sex, which convinced her family that she was unable to rule. Even her mother and sister considered her incapable and unstable. The novel's 'afterword', apparently factual, is riddled with inaccuracies.

Does this matter? Well, yes. In a novel where all the characters are real people, the novelist must of course invent dialogue and interpret events, but must surely base this on events that really happened. Mr. Gortner fails in this regard. A pity, because this book has many good qualities.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read marred by some irritating writing glitches.
I greatly enjoyed this historical novel by C. W. Gortner. It was a truly gripping read, marred only by a few very misguided Americanisms. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Orna O. Reilly

4.0 out of 5 stars THE LAST QUEEN OF SPAIN...
This is an excellent work of historical fiction of a Queen about whom very little is known, Juana, the second oldest daughter of the King and Queen of Spain, Queen Isabella and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lawyeraau

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction About a Different Queen - A Nice Change
Historical fiction readers are inundated with novels about Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. If they do a little digging, they might be able to find something on Mary Queen of Scots... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Graceann Macleod

4.0 out of 5 stars The Last Queen
The start was a bit shaky - a few Americanisms thrown in there (Why 'visit with'??! It's a daft, redundant sort of expression! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. D. J. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Duties of a Spanish Princess.
As well as being an excellent read, this book is very informative.
Knowing practically nothing about Juana, other than she was the sister of Katherine of Aragon, I now have... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. C. J. Mcquade

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFULL
I cannot rember the last time that i enjoyed a book so much, its wonderfull, we all know the story of Catherine of Aragon, and only a few bits about her older sister, Juana,this... Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. R. Cull

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