All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Gortner is halfspanish by birth and spent his formative years in southern spain, where his lifelong fascination with history began. Gortner brings to life juana of castile, the third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain, who would become the last queen of spanish blood to inherit her. Gortner holds an mfa in writing, with an emphasis on historical studies, from the new college of california. W gortners the last queen about juana of castile, the third child of isabel of castile and ferdinand of aragon. Along the way, gortner takes the reader from the somber majesty of spain. This enthralling story, brilliantly told publishers weekly chronicles the tumultuous life of juana of castile, daughter of king ferdinand and queen isabel of spain, who battled vicious court intrigue and brutal family rivalries to secure her crown. Along the way, gortner takes the reader from the somber majesty of spain to the glitte.
Gortner has an uncanny ability to delve into the intense humanness of his characters. Gortner brings to life juana of castile, the third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain, who would become the last queen of spanish blood to inherit her countrys throne. Historical characters are drawn with depth and sensitivity, and juana is an engaging protagonist in the middle of a welltold and absorbing story. Margaret george, nyt bestselling author emotional and political tensions soar.
Gortner for a chat session about his historical novel the last queen, available in trade paperback on may 5, 2009. Marguerite gavin this enthralling story, brilliantly told publishers weekly chronicles the tumultuous life of juana of castile, daughter of king ferdinand and queen isabel of spain, who battled vicious court intrigue and brutal family rivalries to secure her crown. He divides his time between northern california and antigua. Gortner brings to life juana of castile, the third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain, who would. The last queen vividly brings to life one of historys lesser known monarchs, juana of castile. She was if nothing else an extraordinary figure for her time i love historical fiction but am not a fan of novels about the english throne and was delighted when i came across this novel which brings to life juana of castile, the third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain. Gortner brings to life juana of castile, the third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain, who would become the.
See more ideas about joanna of castile, historical characters, historical. Disturbing secrets and manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilli. Gortner challenges the myths about queen juana, unraveling the mystery surrounding her to reveal a brave, determined woman we can only now begin to fully understand. Disturbing secrets and manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told. Gortner 2006, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Daughter of isabel and ferdinand of spain, juana bears witness to the fall of granada and columbuss discoveries. Gortner 2009, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. She is a woman whose story was sadly forgotten for centuries. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the last queen. The novels have become international bestsellers across europe and in the united states where they were marin independent journal, the last queen, american booksellers association, and usa today bestsellers. Juana of castile is just thirteen when she witnesses the fall of moorish granada and uniting of the fractured kingdoms of spain under her warrior parents. The last queen king county library system overdrive. Juana is an impetuous child, independent, passionate, and compassionate. The queens vow was an international bestseller in poland.
There is very little known about juana, especially because she was not able to assume her rightful place as queen because of her husband, father, and son. Gortners the last queen is a roller coaster ride of emotion dramatizing juana of castiles adolescent years, her marriage to a man she doesnt know, and her return to her homeland. Juana daughter of ferdinand and isabella and sister to catherine of aragon is a woman ruled by her passions. Gortner suggests, to the pretense of insanitya pretense that baffled juana s enemies and led to triumph for her children. Her arranged marriage to philip the fair of flanders begins as a fairytale romance when, despite never having met before their betrothal. Leggi the vatican princess a novel of lucrezia borgia. Gortner suggests, to the pretense of insanitya pretense that baffled juanas enemies and led to triumph for her children and her. Daughter of isabel and ferdinand of spain, juana bears witness to the fall of granada and. Gortners novel the last queen is a marin independent journal bestseller and is currently being translated into eight languages. The last queen of argonne is a story of corruption, betrayal, repression of woman, and abuse of power. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the last queen.
Gortner is a historical novel which gives a fresh perspective on the life of the enigmatic queen juana of castile. W download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Gortner suggests, to the pretense of insanitya pretense that baffled juana s enemies and led to triumph for her children and. He holds an mfa in writing with an emphasis on renaissance studies from the new college of california. Gortner paints a captivating picture of early 16th century europe, and is able to draw his readers right into juanas story by creating a strong sense of time and place.
Sep 10, 2010 the last queen ebook written by c w gortner. He holds a mfa in writing with an emphasis on renaissance studies from the new college of california and has taught university seminars on the 16th century. The last queen is an outstanding achievement, superbly written. Jun 4, 2012 images of the historical characters and places in my novel, the last queen. Declared insane and locked up by the men she adored. The third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain, juana is born amid her parents ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing. Leggi the vatican princess a novel of lucrezia borgia di c.
Juana of spain, the subject of the last queen, deserves to be better known. The scope of the novel is ambitious and attempts to cover queen isabellas childhood, power struggles with her halfbrother, her romance with ferdinand, the crusades, her meeting with christopher columbus and on. Gortner skillfully weaves together the loose threads of fact and fiction into a rare and subtle tragedy. Gortners novels have been translated into more than twenty languages and been critically acclaimed across the globe. She was the daughter of king ferdinand and queen isabella.
Hunted by a shadowy foe in bloody marys court, brendan prescott plunges into londons treacherous underworld to unravel a dark conspiracy that could make elizabeth queen or send her to her death in c. Gortner brings to life juana of castile, the third child of queen isabel and king ferdinand of spain, who would become the last. The scope of the novel is ambitious and attempts to cover queen isabellas childhood, power struggles with her halfbrother, her romance with ferdinand, the crusades, her meeting with christopher columbus and on and on. Along the way, gortner takes the reader from the somber majesty of spain to the gli.