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The Last Queen
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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 )
'Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told.' (Publishers Weekly )
Product Description
Married at sixteen. A queen at twenty-five. Declared insane and locked up by the men she adored. Juana "la Loca" - the last true queen of Spain. Juana - daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella and sister to Catherine of Aragon - is a woman ruled by her passions. Her arranged marriage to Philip the Fair of Flanders begins as a fairytale romance when, despite never having met before their betrothal, they fall desperately in love. She was never meant to be more than his consort and mother to his heirs; but, after tragedy decimates her family, she finds herself heiress to the throne of Spain. Suddenly Juana is plunged into a ruthless battle of ambition and treachery, with the future of Spain and her own freedom at stake. Told in Juana's voice, THE LAST QUEEN is the enthralling and moving tale of a woman ahead of her time, who fought fiercely for her birthright in the face of an unimaginable betrayal. Juana's story is one of history's darkest secrets, brought vividly to life in this exhilarating novel.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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
Wonderful story, with, inevitably, a disappointing conclusion
I really enjoyed this novel. Juana comes across as a vibrant, tragic figure, betrayed by (almost) everyone. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Glilla Bear
The Last Queen
Oops, I reviewed a different book by mistake. This book though, is starting off very well, and I am already gripped by the characters.
Published 9 days ago by Mrs. G. C. T. Smith
Couldn't put it down!
This exceptionally well written book ,along with Gortner's 2 other Kindle books (The Tudor Secret and Catherine De Medici), have "rekindled" my interest in history and historical... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Hefin W. Aubrey
A powerful and haunting tale
I read The Last Queen some time ago, and although I meant to post a review of it, it slipped my mind. Prompted by the discovery that C.W. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ben Kane
Spanish perspective
Juana la Loca, the last queen of Spain, narrates her life story which is defined by her marriage to Philip (heir to the Hapsburg Empire) and it's implications/aftermath. Read more
Published 10 months ago by cholser
Riviting and informative
This queen - Juana - was a new one to me. I've not delved much into Spanish Royalty. I found the book riviting. It did indeed teach me about this period in the Spanish monarchy. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. L. E. Ford
A great jaunt through the Golden age of Spain
Really enjoyed this book-exciting and informative. I enjoyed discovering a bit more about Joanna and her story! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Bex19
good read
i really enjoyed this book it was fast paced one minute is was happy ,then she was angry .then she grieved for her sibling then her nephew i didn't know mush about the Spanish... Read more
Published 13 months ago by vicki
Easy read
The books gallops along. The author has used his extensive knowledge of Spain and history but his writing style lacks class and originality.
Published 13 months ago by button
Accurate or not, I loved it!
My knowledge of Juanna was limited really to her being the sister of Catherine - and some would say - mad, so I cannot comment on the historical accuracy. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ms. J. Musgrave
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