- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (18 Jun 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0333630424
- ISBN-13: 978-0333630426
- Product Dimensions: 22.3 x 14.6 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,464,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
'...up-to-date and sound.' - Geoffrey Parker, Ohio State University, Journal of Ecclesiastical History
Product Description
Four hundred years after his death, Philip II remains one of the most controversial figures in history, admired and reviled in equal measure. He is a figure of global importance, the first ruler on whose territories the sun never set. He led Europe in its defence against the seemingly irresistable power of the Ottoman Empire and many of the nations of Western Europe were forged in part by their responses to his ambitions - Portugal was conquered and most of Italy was controlled by him, while the Low Countries, England and France fought long and bitter wars against him. Philip proclaimed himself the leader of Catholic Europe but quarrelled incessantly with the popes of the Counter-Reformation. In consolidating his monarchy in Spain, Philip used the arts as a political tool; Titian and Palestrina did some of their greatest work for him.
This new study traces the development of Philip II and of a kingship that lay at the heart of European political, religious and cultural evolution. It looks in detail at the ministers who worked with this most demanding of kings and at the government that evolved during his reign. It deals also with the pressures of a tortured private life and explores the paradox of a man who as a young ruler was deeply prudent but who became extraordinarily aggressive in his old age and who by his successes and failures - both of them on an epic scale - re-shaped the world in which he lived.
This new study traces the development of Philip II and of a kingship that lay at the heart of European political, religious and cultural evolution. It looks in detail at the ministers who worked with this most demanding of kings and at the government that evolved during his reign. It deals also with the pressures of a tortured private life and explores the paradox of a man who as a young ruler was deeply prudent but who became extraordinarily aggressive in his old age and who by his successes and failures - both of them on an epic scale - re-shaped the world in which he lived.
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First Sentence
Philip II of Spain was born on 21 May 1527 in Valladolid, the first child of the emperor Charles V and his wife Isabella. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Philip II of Spain was born on 21 May 1527 in Valladolid, the first child of the emperor Charles V and his wife Isabella. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
A very easy-to-read book, well written, comprehensive, well researched. It does not challenge other biographies of the Prudent King, like those classic ones by G. Parker and H. Kamen, on any significant points, but/and is a nice choice if you are a casual reader, or a student. Well structured and vividly written, with what the Greeks call "a sensitivity towards the subject", and a sensitivity towards the reader, I might add, this is a very nice biography in all.
Format:Paperback
Having chosen Philip II for my A level Coursework subject, I have found this book to be of invaluable use in helping me attain a concise perception of Philip II. Its set out in an easy to access manner which is truly helpful when you have to analyse such a wide range of material. I would recommend this book to anyone with a general interest in Spanish History or even history as a whole.
Philip II is a man of many contradictions, who has been represented by historians in so many ways, from the "Black Legend" to the most just of Kings!!!!
A great read!!!!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
a worthy read
29 Jun 2005
Format:Paperback
A very easy-to-read book, well written, comprehensive, well researched. It does not challenge other biographies of the Prudent King, like those classic ones by G. Parker and H. Kamen, on any significant point, but/and is a nice choice if you are a casual reader, or a student. Well structured and vividly written, with what the Greeks call "a sensitivity towards the subject", and a sensitivity towards the reader, I might add, this is a nice biography in all.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great Biography
21 Feb 2007
Format:Paperback
Very good and interesting biography on Philip II. It was very easy to read and will written. Becoming the most powerful person in Europe at the time. The amount of land and countries he ruled over is impressive.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Don't bother to read the review, just buy the book !!
9 Aug 2002
Format:Paperback
For anyone with an interest in Philip II of Spain or the convulsive times Europe was going through in his age, this is an absolute must. The author's mastery of the subject is obvious and his writing is never heavy or boring. The book is superb, simple, clear,discretly erudite. Mr. Williams writes to please and interest the reader, not to impress the world with his knowledge. His book should be compulsory reading for French historians, most of whom are pompous bores.
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