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The Last Queen
A vivid, historical romp centred around Juana 'La Loca', sister of Catherine of Aragon.
438 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2006
About the author
C.W. Gortner
17 books2,438 followersBestselling author C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing, with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies. Raised in Spain and half Spanish by birth, he currently lives in Northern California. His books have been translated in over 20 languages to date.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 808 reviews
September 16, 2015
I have come to the conclusion after reading this novel that to be a women born into royalty, up until present times, was a curse rather than a privilege. Women were used as pawns in a human chess match. I lost many hours of sleep reading hoping that something, anything, would go in Juana's favor (note: I forced myself not to use Google to see how it all would played out). Even the most stable of people would loose any semblance of sanity after the events she endured. Sane or not, in the end, she was still a woman, a daughter and a mother who deserved much more that what life gave her. I commend CWG on highlighting the woman behind the label. A very compelling novel.
September 5, 2016
The last Queen a Novel by C.W. Gortner tells the moving tale of Juana la Loca (the mad).
" 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. who would become the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country's throne. This is a gripping and moving tale and also an eyeopener at how women were used as pawns in the fight for power and crowns at the time.
I knew nothing of Juana of Castile and I enjoyed learning about the passion, politics and betrayals of this spirited queen which through this well written novel I am delighted to say I have learned so much.
This is a very gripping and well written novel and I did spent some time googling to find out what was fiction and what was truth about this story. But I am delighted to say that the author clears up any questions one might have on this matter at the end of the novel and quite clearly he has taken some liberties with the storyline but he has has explained these liberties quite satisfactorily in my opinion and has appeared to do excellent research on the story.
I listened to this as an audio book and while the narrator was adequate I felt she raced through the story as if there was a pack of Lions after her, I did try to slow down the narration but eventually I got used to it and it all worked out in the end.
This is certainly one of those books that transports you to the past and while doing so you learn something on the trip and that is what makes a historical fiction so enjoyable for me.
Lovers of Historical Fiction will really enjoy this well researched and interesting story.
" 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. who would become the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country's throne. This is a gripping and moving tale and also an eyeopener at how women were used as pawns in the fight for power and crowns at the time.
I knew nothing of Juana of Castile and I enjoyed learning about the passion, politics and betrayals of this spirited queen which through this well written novel I am delighted to say I have learned so much.
This is a very gripping and well written novel and I did spent some time googling to find out what was fiction and what was truth about this story. But I am delighted to say that the author clears up any questions one might have on this matter at the end of the novel and quite clearly he has taken some liberties with the storyline but he has has explained these liberties quite satisfactorily in my opinion and has appeared to do excellent research on the story.
I listened to this as an audio book and while the narrator was adequate I felt she raced through the story as if there was a pack of Lions after her, I did try to slow down the narration but eventually I got used to it and it all worked out in the end.
This is certainly one of those books that transports you to the past and while doing so you learn something on the trip and that is what makes a historical fiction so enjoyable for me.
Lovers of Historical Fiction will really enjoy this well researched and interesting story.
January 20, 2021
I have a new favourite historical fiction author. It just blew me away!
I knew very little of Juana, “the mad” queen of Spain (and sister of Catherine of Aragon) and this story sucked me in from the start! So well written, with the characters all coming to life and yet never soapy or melodramatic. It broke my heart what happened to her but what a strong, formidable woman! I loved this book!
I knew very little of Juana, “the mad” queen of Spain (and sister of Catherine of Aragon) and this story sucked me in from the start! So well written, with the characters all coming to life and yet never soapy or melodramatic. It broke my heart what happened to her but what a strong, formidable woman! I loved this book!
March 30, 2016
The only thing I knew about Isabella of Spain was that she financed Christopher Columbus’ voyage and her daughter, Catherine, was King Henry VIII’s wife. I did not know anything about another daughter, Juana, until I read this book. That being said, Gortner wrote a different and intriguing view of Juana. He gave her power, passion, and strength in this novel since her “madness” has often been disputed. I also enjoyed learning about the time period, the monarchies, the politics and the ruthlessness of the age. Personally, it was slow in the beginning but I'm glad I stayed with it because it did pick up. This story is not about her whole life but a snippet of it. Thanks to Wikipedia and other websites, I was able to find out more information about her.
May 1, 2020
3.75/5
Visi turim tokių malonumų, apie kuriuos intelektualiose (gerai, gerai, gal ir šiek tiek snobiškose) kompanijose nelabai pasigirtume. Kas Taylor Swift naują albumėlį pasileidžia, o tada pasileidžia ir plaukus, kas kur kas mieliau žiūri Netflixo vienkartines romantines komedijas, nei kad naują Almodovaro filmą. Mano malonumas toks, kurio šiaip nelabai gėdijuosi (nes šiaip truputį nesąmonė gėdytis to, kas neša džiaugsmą, taip?), bet apie kurį, kalbėdama apie savo meilę knygoms, dažniausiai turbūt neužsiminčiau. Todėl kai reikia pailsinti galvą, kai jaučiuosi truputį perdegusi, rankos pačios tiesiasi kostiuminių dramų knygų puslapiuose link. Dvaro intrigos, kovos dėl sosto, aistringos (ne)meilės, dramatiški 16a.dialogai, tragiški likimai... Taip, prašyčiau.
„Paskutinė karalienė“ – tariamai istorinis romanas, bet iš tiesų veikiau jau autoriaus spėliojimai, pertepti iš kažkieno laiškų ir pletkų surinkta medžiaga, pagardinti šiek tiek pritemptais ir tikriausiai neįvykusiais romanais ir neapykantomis, paremti iš tiesų egzistavusiais žmonėmis. Į tokias knygas, kaip tikriausiai ir nereikia net įspėti, verta žiūrėti atlaidžiai ir nesitikint užpildyti per istorijos pamokas pramiegotos informacijos paliktas žinių spragas. Apart gana aiškiai nupiešto tuometinės Europos valdančiųjų giminės medžio, tikriausiai Joanos Pamišėlės lūpomis pasakojamoje istorijoje tiesos nedaug, bet užtat kiek dramos – čia ir dramatiški sprendimai, ir per vienas kito galvas lipantys karūnos ištroškę ir nepilnavertiškumo komplekso kamuojantys vyrai, ir, aišku, stereotipiškai ispaniška aistra, kaitinanti kūnus ir užliejanti smegenis, prasiveržianti visokiomis nuspėjamai, tačiau vis tiek maloniai sueinančiomis dramomis, kurios šioje knygoje nesibaigia ir neleidžia atsikvėpti.
Skaitydama tokius romanus, vis ieškau to, kas mane taip sužavėjo Philippos Gregory „Karalienės seseryje“. Ir nors „Paskutinė karalienė“ neverta Anai Bolein net perlų vėrinio užsegti, bet viskas čia gana tvarkinga – vertimas už akių nekliūna, veikėjų daug ir atsikvėpti nėra kada, įsijauti į Joanos gyvenimą ir linki, kad jis nebūtų toks sudėtingas (nors jei nebūtų, tu čia pasičepsėdamas neskaitytum kaip griūva gyvenimai ir likimai, tai per daug gerietės vaidinti nesiimu). Knyga galėtų būti keliasdešimčia puslapių trumpesnė, bet autorius pasišovė aprėpti visą Joanos gyvenimą, o ir sakosi knygai medžiagą rinkęs šešerius metus, todėl apimtis paaiškinama, nors pabaigoje darosi kiek nuobodu. Vis dėlto, rekomenduočiau visiems, kurie tokie kaip aš – kartais nori lengvo skaitinio, bet istorijos apie realiai gyvenusius žmones yra truputį įdomesnės už įprastus cukruotus meilės romanus. Tai čia cukraus šiek tiek mažiau, labiau pritaikyta tokiems literatūrinės užuovėjos ir poilsio ieškantiems cinikams kaip aš.
Visi turim tokių malonumų, apie kuriuos intelektualiose (gerai, gerai, gal ir šiek tiek snobiškose) kompanijose nelabai pasigirtume. Kas Taylor Swift naują albumėlį pasileidžia, o tada pasileidžia ir plaukus, kas kur kas mieliau žiūri Netflixo vienkartines romantines komedijas, nei kad naują Almodovaro filmą. Mano malonumas toks, kurio šiaip nelabai gėdijuosi (nes šiaip truputį nesąmonė gėdytis to, kas neša džiaugsmą, taip?), bet apie kurį, kalbėdama apie savo meilę knygoms, dažniausiai turbūt neužsiminčiau. Todėl kai reikia pailsinti galvą, kai jaučiuosi truputį perdegusi, rankos pačios tiesiasi kostiuminių dramų knygų puslapiuose link. Dvaro intrigos, kovos dėl sosto, aistringos (ne)meilės, dramatiški 16a.dialogai, tragiški likimai... Taip, prašyčiau.
„Paskutinė karalienė“ – tariamai istorinis romanas, bet iš tiesų veikiau jau autoriaus spėliojimai, pertepti iš kažkieno laiškų ir pletkų surinkta medžiaga, pagardinti šiek tiek pritemptais ir tikriausiai neįvykusiais romanais ir neapykantomis, paremti iš tiesų egzistavusiais žmonėmis. Į tokias knygas, kaip tikriausiai ir nereikia net įspėti, verta žiūrėti atlaidžiai ir nesitikint užpildyti per istorijos pamokas pramiegotos informacijos paliktas žinių spragas. Apart gana aiškiai nupiešto tuometinės Europos valdančiųjų giminės medžio, tikriausiai Joanos Pamišėlės lūpomis pasakojamoje istorijoje tiesos nedaug, bet užtat kiek dramos – čia ir dramatiški sprendimai, ir per vienas kito galvas lipantys karūnos ištroškę ir nepilnavertiškumo komplekso kamuojantys vyrai, ir, aišku, stereotipiškai ispaniška aistra, kaitinanti kūnus ir užliejanti smegenis, prasiveržianti visokiomis nuspėjamai, tačiau vis tiek maloniai sueinančiomis dramomis, kurios šioje knygoje nesibaigia ir neleidžia atsikvėpti.
Skaitydama tokius romanus, vis ieškau to, kas mane taip sužavėjo Philippos Gregory „Karalienės seseryje“. Ir nors „Paskutinė karalienė“ neverta Anai Bolein net perlų vėrinio užsegti, bet viskas čia gana tvarkinga – vertimas už akių nekliūna, veikėjų daug ir atsikvėpti nėra kada, įsijauti į Joanos gyvenimą ir linki, kad jis nebūtų toks sudėtingas (nors jei nebūtų, tu čia pasičepsėdamas neskaitytum kaip griūva gyvenimai ir likimai, tai per daug gerietės vaidinti nesiimu). Knyga galėtų būti keliasdešimčia puslapių trumpesnė, bet autorius pasišovė aprėpti visą Joanos gyvenimą, o ir sakosi knygai medžiagą rinkęs šešerius metus, todėl apimtis paaiškinama, nors pabaigoje darosi kiek nuobodu. Vis dėlto, rekomenduočiau visiems, kurie tokie kaip aš – kartais nori lengvo skaitinio, bet istorijos apie realiai gyvenusius žmones yra truputį įdomesnės už įprastus cukruotus meilės romanus. Tai čia cukraus šiek tiek mažiau, labiau pritaikyta tokiems literatūrinės užuovėjos ir poilsio ieškantiems cinikams kaip aš.
August 29, 2008
I went back and forth on whether this was a two or three star rating for me. The beginning of the book is nicely written drawing the reader into the story as seen through the eyes of a very young Juana. The middle however started to become much too modernized for my personal taste. I felt like the author's writing was too forced and just didn't flow well. Some of the thoughts attributed to Juana were just too contrived and what I felt would have been unrealistic for a Queen of that time period.
At the end of the book I once again was engaged in the story as Juana was viciously manipulated by her husband, her mother's advisors and finally by her father. The tragic end was heartbreaking. I also enjoyed the author's commentary as to what was true regarding Juana and what he had created.
At the end of the book I once again was engaged in the story as Juana was viciously manipulated by her husband, her mother's advisors and finally by her father. The tragic end was heartbreaking. I also enjoyed the author's commentary as to what was true regarding Juana and what he had created.
July 3, 2011
One word: remarkable. This describes not only "Juana the Mad" herself, but also C.W. Gortner's novel. In all honesty, I find Gortner to be hit-or-miss but The Last Queen is certainly a hit.
In this novel, Gortner not only grasps Juana and her life's turmoils in a smooth and entertaining way, but he also dives deeper into the emotional pool and throws elements of both female and human naturistic struggles and psychological effects into the mix. Was Juana born crazy? Was she driven to that point by her un-loving and often sociopathic husband? Those are questions which are instantly up for debate, although it is obvious that Gortner is of the view that Juana was driven to her "maddness" by her male counterpart.
As a female, it is nearly impossible to not feel for Juana. Her various directions of thought flows which she can't seem to control (hating her husband one second and then traveling around the countryside with his casket the next) is painful and yet so relatable. Within the context of rich, historical research, The Last Queen will slap you in the face with pure amazingness.
The coincidence between Juana and her sister Katherine of Aragon? Both were strong females born to Isabel and Ferdinand and both were unmovable creatures whose love for husbands both passionate and cruel led to the hardest parts of their lives. This can lead to a whole new debate...
A terrific feature of Juana, written in a sparkling way. Absolutely remarkable.
In this novel, Gortner not only grasps Juana and her life's turmoils in a smooth and entertaining way, but he also dives deeper into the emotional pool and throws elements of both female and human naturistic struggles and psychological effects into the mix. Was Juana born crazy? Was she driven to that point by her un-loving and often sociopathic husband? Those are questions which are instantly up for debate, although it is obvious that Gortner is of the view that Juana was driven to her "maddness" by her male counterpart.
As a female, it is nearly impossible to not feel for Juana. Her various directions of thought flows which she can't seem to control (hating her husband one second and then traveling around the countryside with his casket the next) is painful and yet so relatable. Within the context of rich, historical research, The Last Queen will slap you in the face with pure amazingness.
The coincidence between Juana and her sister Katherine of Aragon? Both were strong females born to Isabel and Ferdinand and both were unmovable creatures whose love for husbands both passionate and cruel led to the hardest parts of their lives. This can lead to a whole new debate...
A terrific feature of Juana, written in a sparkling way. Absolutely remarkable.
October 14, 2011
C.W. Gortner has one of the more interesting literary platforms I've ever seen for a historical fiction writer, particularly a male one: he takes the maligned women of history and gives them a sympathetic makeover. Not to say he merely takes a historical villainess and paints her white - he seeks merely to uncover and understand. His subject here is Juana the Mad, the famous daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain who trailed all over the nation weeping dementedly behind her husband's coffin, and was later locked up for madness. Here we see that she might have had perfectly sane reasons for her actions. We see Juana as a young princess in the shadow of her famous parents, escaping to an unexpectedly passionate marriage, fighting the decline of that marriage, forced to watch as ambitious men try to seize her children, her freedom, and her power. The march of history juxtaposes mercilessly against Juana's courageous struggles; the poor girl just can't catch even a shred of luck, and your heart will break for her as one attempt after another to free herself ends in failure. Gortner's heroine is passionate, intelligent, sometimes misguided, always gallant - and very sane. A poignant, intelligent book that I devoured in one day.
June 16, 2009
AFTER READING: Wow, another 5 star book. F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! First let me mention that the status updates are wrong. There are 428 pages in this book! Now, I will try and summarize a teeny bit why I loved it, and let me say I am hooked, bait, line and sinker; I have to read more about the royal history. It is not fluff and swooning love affairs, and banquets and fancy clothing. At least not in this book. It is about what motivates people. All of us - both the common and the royal classes. Both today and yesterday. It is about family ties, mother/daughter relationships, the demands we place on those loved ones whom are strong versus those who are less so. It is about how men and women and how, although we are equal, perhaps do not see things the same way. Of course there are always exceptions. When one has lived in different countries, as I have, you recognize different cultural characteristics. Of course not all French are so and Belgians so, Americans so and Swedes so, but you do see some general tendencies. The same can be said about women versus men and how they look on life issues. And this book talks about Spanish versus Hapsburg cultural characteristics. I found this very relevant to life here in Belgium. I understand Belgians a teeny bit better because their history has molded who they are today. This book was terribly exciting. As it neared the end, I thought OK, now it is over and then in the second to the last chapter, wow you will be blown away! I write in my books. I wrote OMG dozens of times in just chapter 32, the second to the last chapter of the book. VERY EXCITING. This queen Juana is called Juana the Mad. You will truly understand why. One more thing, which is very important, the book ends with a clear explanation of what is fact and what is fiction. For me this is essential. This is a superb author. Thank you C W Gortner for doing this, and thank you for the map! And GooodReads, thank you for bring this book to my attention. It has opened up a whole new genre to me. I was worried that I might not appreciate the book b/c I am kind of distracted by our new puppy, Oscar. Not at all!
Can somebody recommend a good book about Charles V, Juana's son, head of the Holy Roman Empire? I am looking for undry nonfiction or moving but correct historical fiction.
BEFORE READING:Having read Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree by Tariq Ali a while ago, I wanted to learn more. In the book by Ali, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain threw out the Moors and sent Columbus to America. They had a daughter named Juana, and Gortner's book is about her. Catherine of Aragon, who was the first wife of the notorious Henry VIII, is Juana's sister. Juana and her husband Philip the Fair will raise their son ro become Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. Reading about royal European families is a totally new area for me! I hope I am not engulfed with petty descriptions of clothes and balls and all that stuff. Charles V played a significant role in Sarah Dinant's book entitled In the Company of the Courtesan, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am relying on Gortner's good writing skills in the hope that I will be spared fluff! Cross your fingers for me; too much fluff and I might throw out all attempts to tackle European royalty.
Can somebody recommend a good book about Charles V, Juana's son, head of the Holy Roman Empire? I am looking for undry nonfiction or moving but correct historical fiction.
BEFORE READING:Having read Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree by Tariq Ali a while ago, I wanted to learn more. In the book by Ali, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain threw out the Moors and sent Columbus to America. They had a daughter named Juana, and Gortner's book is about her. Catherine of Aragon, who was the first wife of the notorious Henry VIII, is Juana's sister. Juana and her husband Philip the Fair will raise their son ro become Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. Reading about royal European families is a totally new area for me! I hope I am not engulfed with petty descriptions of clothes and balls and all that stuff. Charles V played a significant role in Sarah Dinant's book entitled In the Company of the Courtesan, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am relying on Gortner's good writing skills in the hope that I will be spared fluff! Cross your fingers for me; too much fluff and I might throw out all attempts to tackle European royalty.
September 18, 2020
Exploring the tragic and highly engaging life of this little-known queen was incredibly enjoyable and refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Queen, as I believe any fan of historical fiction would. It is well-written, sharp, clear, and completely engrossing. You can find full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
May 8, 2020
I really liked The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by this author. However, this book is pretty descriptive and I struggled to connect with it.
If you're looking for more option to read about Juana of Castile, I recommend Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen.
If you're looking for more option to read about Juana of Castile, I recommend Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen.
August 21, 2008
I gave this book two stars because I personally only thought it was okay, but I can see why other people would like it. This book reenforced my belief that I do not really enjoy reading fiction. I like history, and I like to learn, so I enjoy historical fiction that sticks close to the facts and close to what a majority of historians would agree happened - pretty much non-fiction with dialogue. I do not enjoy historical fiction that sensationalizes history by making things up or that takes a small minority's view of what possibility might have happened. I do not like historical fiction that keeps me wondering what is true and what is false.
This book, about Juana La Loca (or Juana the Mad, Crazy, Insane - whatever you like), took the position that she was not really mentally ill after all. I find this very hard to believe. Her grandmother was mentally ill, and Juana had multiple descendents who were mentally ill. There was so much inbreeding within the royal houses of Europe (in order to keep the bloodlines "pure") that it's not surprising that mental illnesses and physical ailments developed. I was expecting a book that took a compassionate view of a woman's descent into madness, and instead it completely ignored it and pretended it didn't happen. I had looked forward to reading this book since about January, and I was very disappointed with it.
This book, about Juana La Loca (or Juana the Mad, Crazy, Insane - whatever you like), took the position that she was not really mentally ill after all. I find this very hard to believe. Her grandmother was mentally ill, and Juana had multiple descendents who were mentally ill. There was so much inbreeding within the royal houses of Europe (in order to keep the bloodlines "pure") that it's not surprising that mental illnesses and physical ailments developed. I was expecting a book that took a compassionate view of a woman's descent into madness, and instead it completely ignored it and pretended it didn't happen. I had looked forward to reading this book since about January, and I was very disappointed with it.
July 29, 2008
Book Synopsis:
Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country’s throne, has been for centuries and enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the berefet widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? In his stunning new novel, C.W. 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.
The third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, Juana is born amid her parents’ ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing witness to the fall of Granada and Columbus’s discoveries. At the age of sixteen, she is sent to wed Philip, the archduke of Flanders, as part of her parents’ strategy to strengthen Spain, just as her youngest sister, Catherine of Aragon, is sent to England to become the first wife of Henry VIII.
Juana finds unexpected love and passion with her handsome young husband, the sole heir to the Habsburg Empire. At first she is content with her children and her life in Flanders. But when tragedy strikes and she inherits the Spanish throne, Juana finds herself plunged into a battle for power against her husband that grows to involve the major monarchs of Europe. Besieged by foes on all sides, her intelligence and pride used as weapons against her, Juana vows to secure her crown and save Spain from ruin, even if it could cost her everything.
I admit it. I am a history snob. I don’t know what it is, but ever since I was young I found history boring and it was always my worst subject in school. But, I have been fortunate to have seen the error of my ways, and this book is a prime example.
To be totally honest, I have never heard of Juana of Castile. This book has truly compelled me to learn more. After being part of an arranged marriage, Juana is unsure what is to become of her life. Her mother, Isabel, Queen of Castile, and Father, Fernando, King of Aragon, have worked hard to make their two countries unite and will do anything to ensure that their people are safe. They have arranged the marriage as a way of securing power and freedom for their people.
Even though Juana is less than thrilled about marrying a complete stranger, she has the same tenacity that is characteristic of her mother and agrees for the good of the country. She is pleasantly surprised when she finally meets her husband, Philip, the Archduke of Flanders. Their marriage is riddled with love and passion that most newlyweds wish for and things seem to be going exceptionally well. Until Juana catches him in bed with another woman while pregnant with her first child. Philip is flabbergasted and apologizes profusely, but this is just the start of a life of betrayal that is to be Juana’s curse.
Growing up, I think a lot of little girls (mine included) dream of being a princess. When you read a book like this, you realize that being royalty is not so much of a blessing as a burden. Everything you do is scrutinized and you are expected to act and carry yourself in a certain way. But we see, time and time again, that Juana was courageous and wouldn’t change her beliefs for anyone. Even after tragedy strikes, Juana is prepared to take her rightful place as Queen, even if it means fighting those she is closest too. In the end it just wasn’t enough. In a shocking turn of events she ends up a prisoner and is never allowed to fulfill her rightful place as Queen.
Many historians have speculated that Juana was schizophrenic and that is what led to the imprisonment that she endures for most of her life. Mr. Gortner does and excellent job of portraying a vibrant woman whose sanity was stretched to its limits by the betrayal and cruelty that would likely break any “sane” person. I applaud his efforts to show us the other side of Juana la Loca and show that maybe she wasn’t insane after all, but simply a victim of circumstances.
About the author:
C.W. GORTNER’s fascination with history, in particular the Renaissance, is a lifetime pursuit. He holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California and has taught university seminars on the 16th century. In addition, he travels extensively to research his books. He has experienced life in a medieval Spanish castle and danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall; dug through library archives all over Europe; and tried to see and touch—or, at least, gaze at through impenetrable museum glass—as many artifacts of the era as he can find.
He has served on the board of the Women’s National Book Association/SF Chapter, an organization that promotes literacy, and he’s a regular contributor to the Historical Novels Review and Solander, publications of the Historical Novel Society. He is also a passionate advocate for animal rights and environmental issues.
Raised in Málaga, Spain, C.W. Gortner is half-Spanish by birth and fully bilingual. He currently lives in Northern California.
For more information, please visit www.cwgortner.com
A special thanks to Pump Up Your Book Promotion for hosting this awesome book!
Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country’s throne, has been for centuries and enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the berefet widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? In his stunning new novel, C.W. 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.
The third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, Juana is born amid her parents’ ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing witness to the fall of Granada and Columbus’s discoveries. At the age of sixteen, she is sent to wed Philip, the archduke of Flanders, as part of her parents’ strategy to strengthen Spain, just as her youngest sister, Catherine of Aragon, is sent to England to become the first wife of Henry VIII.
Juana finds unexpected love and passion with her handsome young husband, the sole heir to the Habsburg Empire. At first she is content with her children and her life in Flanders. But when tragedy strikes and she inherits the Spanish throne, Juana finds herself plunged into a battle for power against her husband that grows to involve the major monarchs of Europe. Besieged by foes on all sides, her intelligence and pride used as weapons against her, Juana vows to secure her crown and save Spain from ruin, even if it could cost her everything.
I admit it. I am a history snob. I don’t know what it is, but ever since I was young I found history boring and it was always my worst subject in school. But, I have been fortunate to have seen the error of my ways, and this book is a prime example.
To be totally honest, I have never heard of Juana of Castile. This book has truly compelled me to learn more. After being part of an arranged marriage, Juana is unsure what is to become of her life. Her mother, Isabel, Queen of Castile, and Father, Fernando, King of Aragon, have worked hard to make their two countries unite and will do anything to ensure that their people are safe. They have arranged the marriage as a way of securing power and freedom for their people.
Even though Juana is less than thrilled about marrying a complete stranger, she has the same tenacity that is characteristic of her mother and agrees for the good of the country. She is pleasantly surprised when she finally meets her husband, Philip, the Archduke of Flanders. Their marriage is riddled with love and passion that most newlyweds wish for and things seem to be going exceptionally well. Until Juana catches him in bed with another woman while pregnant with her first child. Philip is flabbergasted and apologizes profusely, but this is just the start of a life of betrayal that is to be Juana’s curse.
Growing up, I think a lot of little girls (mine included) dream of being a princess. When you read a book like this, you realize that being royalty is not so much of a blessing as a burden. Everything you do is scrutinized and you are expected to act and carry yourself in a certain way. But we see, time and time again, that Juana was courageous and wouldn’t change her beliefs for anyone. Even after tragedy strikes, Juana is prepared to take her rightful place as Queen, even if it means fighting those she is closest too. In the end it just wasn’t enough. In a shocking turn of events she ends up a prisoner and is never allowed to fulfill her rightful place as Queen.
Many historians have speculated that Juana was schizophrenic and that is what led to the imprisonment that she endures for most of her life. Mr. Gortner does and excellent job of portraying a vibrant woman whose sanity was stretched to its limits by the betrayal and cruelty that would likely break any “sane” person. I applaud his efforts to show us the other side of Juana la Loca and show that maybe she wasn’t insane after all, but simply a victim of circumstances.
About the author:
C.W. GORTNER’s fascination with history, in particular the Renaissance, is a lifetime pursuit. He holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California and has taught university seminars on the 16th century. In addition, he travels extensively to research his books. He has experienced life in a medieval Spanish castle and danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall; dug through library archives all over Europe; and tried to see and touch—or, at least, gaze at through impenetrable museum glass—as many artifacts of the era as he can find.
He has served on the board of the Women’s National Book Association/SF Chapter, an organization that promotes literacy, and he’s a regular contributor to the Historical Novels Review and Solander, publications of the Historical Novel Society. He is also a passionate advocate for animal rights and environmental issues.
Raised in Málaga, Spain, C.W. Gortner is half-Spanish by birth and fully bilingual. He currently lives in Northern California.
For more information, please visit www.cwgortner.com
A special thanks to Pump Up Your Book Promotion for hosting this awesome book!
August 8, 2016
I liked this. I think this is my first C.W. Gortner book and I look forward to reading more. I loved the history in this, especially about Spain. I found that part fascinating. I think this queen had a particularly sad life. Her life was such a fight with battle after battle. I found that I felt frustrated for her. And I liked the different take on this one, making her less of a mad woman, like other books I've read have portrayed her. This one seemed less like she was "crazy". The "Mad" label was just that...a label bestowed upon her in order for others to subdue her. I always like a different spin.
January 18, 2018
Review follows later 🌷🌷🌷
January 25, 2016
An interesting idea, but poorly executed. Juana comes over as much too modern, and the characters a rather two dimensional. The whole thing becomes tedious about a third of the way through.
May 19, 2009
Juana of Castile's life began amidst war, in between Spain's battle with the Moors, and her beginning would prove to be just as stormy as the rest of her life.
Born to the incomparable Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, Juana is the third child and second daughter. She is raised on the battlefield with arrows flying overhead and witnesses the fall of Granada in her youth.
When the matter of marriage to Philip of Hapsburg is raised, Juana is not happy at all to have to leave Spain and her family. However, being a good little Princess and understanding how important this is to the country she so loves, she acquiesces herself to the match. Bringing her new husband Philip to the true religion, Catholicism, is her ultimate goal.
With the death of her brother, Juan, the heir to the crown and her sister and nephew, Juana is now next in line. A fact that pleases Philip and his rat of an advisor, Besancon, to no end. The tenderness and love Juana and Philip found at the start of their marriage turns sour as the scheming for the throne begins in earnest and poor Juana is caught in the middle of another war - this time between her parents and her husband. Philip scheming for a way to be named heir and her parents adamantly refusing it. Years of this craziness rage on...power struggle after power struggle, drama after drama. Nothing is what it seems and the duplicity is rampant. (Sounds like a lot of Courts we've read of huh!)
Think all this sounds great? I haven't even covered the craziest part....her 46 year imprisonment by not only one but three family members - her husband, her father and her son! And we should also touch on the supposed insanity of Juana, after all she was known as "Mad Juana". C.W. handled this perfectly I felt. To me it's the same old male attitude that still exists today - if a woman stands up for herself, she's labeled a "bitch". A bunch of men who didn't want to be ruled by a another woman decides to just call her crazy and try to lock her up. The reader sees it for what it is - complete fabrication. Yeah, she was emotional, but goodness after you read what she went through who can blame her?! Not I, said Amy!
The Last Queen is the perfect historical fiction novel and I highly recommend it to amateurs and veterans alike. I actually think this would be a GREAT book for someone starting out in historical fiction. Juana is a remarkable woman, fearless and strong and I think it takes a likewise remarkable person to write her story - so thank you C.W., how you write women so well I'll never know, but please don't stop!!
Born to the incomparable Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, Juana is the third child and second daughter. She is raised on the battlefield with arrows flying overhead and witnesses the fall of Granada in her youth.
When the matter of marriage to Philip of Hapsburg is raised, Juana is not happy at all to have to leave Spain and her family. However, being a good little Princess and understanding how important this is to the country she so loves, she acquiesces herself to the match. Bringing her new husband Philip to the true religion, Catholicism, is her ultimate goal.
With the death of her brother, Juan, the heir to the crown and her sister and nephew, Juana is now next in line. A fact that pleases Philip and his rat of an advisor, Besancon, to no end. The tenderness and love Juana and Philip found at the start of their marriage turns sour as the scheming for the throne begins in earnest and poor Juana is caught in the middle of another war - this time between her parents and her husband. Philip scheming for a way to be named heir and her parents adamantly refusing it. Years of this craziness rage on...power struggle after power struggle, drama after drama. Nothing is what it seems and the duplicity is rampant. (Sounds like a lot of Courts we've read of huh!)
Think all this sounds great? I haven't even covered the craziest part....her 46 year imprisonment by not only one but three family members - her husband, her father and her son! And we should also touch on the supposed insanity of Juana, after all she was known as "Mad Juana". C.W. handled this perfectly I felt. To me it's the same old male attitude that still exists today - if a woman stands up for herself, she's labeled a "bitch". A bunch of men who didn't want to be ruled by a another woman decides to just call her crazy and try to lock her up. The reader sees it for what it is - complete fabrication. Yeah, she was emotional, but goodness after you read what she went through who can blame her?! Not I, said Amy!
The Last Queen is the perfect historical fiction novel and I highly recommend it to amateurs and veterans alike. I actually think this would be a GREAT book for someone starting out in historical fiction. Juana is a remarkable woman, fearless and strong and I think it takes a likewise remarkable person to write her story - so thank you C.W., how you write women so well I'll never know, but please don't stop!!
December 21, 2009
I would definitely recommend this book. Juana is one of history's more tragic figures and Christopher does justice to her sad and compelling story.
October 15, 2008
I loved this book and will now seek out other books by this author. He paints a wonderful picture of "Juana the Mad". Through reading it, I only could wonder was she really mad, or did her husband and father, and those she loved and trusted create the fallacy that she was mad in order to take the thrown that was rightfully hers after her sister and brother's passing?
This book was very eloquently written. The author makes, what could be very difficult to understand, comprehensible for even the most novice historian.
I was very very pleased by this book.
This book was very eloquently written. The author makes, what could be very difficult to understand, comprehensible for even the most novice historian.
I was very very pleased by this book.
December 22, 2008
I didn't even finish this one. I guess it is okay but the problem is that I have read so many of this tragic queen books. She's forced by the status of royalty into a marriage; he's awful and cheats on her (as if any royal woman didn't know this stuff went on back then). Power struggle. Yadda yadda. The writing is good, don't get me wrong, I just started to feel like I've read this historical book before.
May 30, 2024
I know from the very beginning what I was getting into when I started this book.I know Juana story but this book played so much with my feelings.
Her life was full of misfortune and despair.
Her marriage with Philip was an abusive one and her father,the one who was supposedly her savior betrayed her when she least expected.
And let's not talk about her son Charles V who treated her with such indifference that it still baffles me who you can do that to your own parent.
I believe that she was not mad and these were rumors spread by the man around her.
Maybe if she had not been surrounded on all sides by enemies she would have made a great queen.
Her life was full of misfortune and despair.
Her marriage with Philip was an abusive one and her father,the one who was supposedly her savior betrayed her when she least expected.
And let's not talk about her son Charles V who treated her with such indifference that it still baffles me who you can do that to your own parent.
I believe that she was not mad and these were rumors spread by the man around her.
Maybe if she had not been surrounded on all sides by enemies she would have made a great queen.
Read
October 15, 2008FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:
The 1492 conquest of Granada makes for high adventure and royal intrigue in this second sparkling historical from Gortner (The Secret Lion). Spanish Princess Juana, 13, watches as her parents, King Fernando and Queen Isabel, unite Spain, vanquish Moors and marry their children off to foreign kingdoms for favorable alliances: Princess Catalina becomes first wife to Henry VIII; Princess Juana, who narrates, is shipped off to marry Philip of Flanders, heir to the Hapsburg Empire. Although Juana balks at leaving Spain for the north and a husband she has never met, their instant chemistry soon turns to love. Years and children later, Juana unexpectedly becomes next in line to the Spanish crown and must carefully navigate every step of the journey from Flanders to Spain, fearful of alienating husband or parents or both. Emotional and political tensions soar as Juana's loyalties are tested to their limits. Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The 1492 conquest of Granada makes for high adventure and royal intrigue in this second sparkling historical from Gortner (The Secret Lion). Spanish Princess Juana, 13, watches as her parents, King Fernando and Queen Isabel, unite Spain, vanquish Moors and marry their children off to foreign kingdoms for favorable alliances: Princess Catalina becomes first wife to Henry VIII; Princess Juana, who narrates, is shipped off to marry Philip of Flanders, heir to the Hapsburg Empire. Although Juana balks at leaving Spain for the north and a husband she has never met, their instant chemistry soon turns to love. Years and children later, Juana unexpectedly becomes next in line to the Spanish crown and must carefully navigate every step of the journey from Flanders to Spain, fearful of alienating husband or parents or both. Emotional and political tensions soar as Juana's loyalties are tested to their limits. Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
February 11, 2020
Have had mixed luck connecting with Gortner's historical interpretations. Liked this enough for re-read. Maybe.
Juana's mama has taken her to the remote castle where Juana's grandmother exists, imprisoned by Isabel long ago. Here be quotes:
p41 - "Only my grandmother's head and upper torso were visible ... She looked so still, so insubstantial, I thought she must be dead. I forced myself to take a step closer. Something unheard, perhaps the brush of my fingers against the tester curtain or click of heel, awoke her. Eyes the hue of a frozen sea slowly opened, riveting me with their glassy stare. Her parched mouth moved, in a barely audible whisper: 'Eres mi alma.'
"You are my soul. ...
"Never had I beheld such unspeakable anguish. In my grandmother's eyes I saw the toll of an eternal night, of a solitude that had ravaged without succor or release. Forced to suffer isolation no mortal being should endure, she now begged with her eyes for mercy, a swift end to an existence that had ceased to hold any meaning.
...
"'Why, Mama?' I asked. 'Why did you do this to her?'"
Juana's mama has taken her to the remote castle where Juana's grandmother exists, imprisoned by Isabel long ago. Here be quotes:
p41 - "Only my grandmother's head and upper torso were visible ... She looked so still, so insubstantial, I thought she must be dead. I forced myself to take a step closer. Something unheard, perhaps the brush of my fingers against the tester curtain or click of heel, awoke her. Eyes the hue of a frozen sea slowly opened, riveting me with their glassy stare. Her parched mouth moved, in a barely audible whisper: 'Eres mi alma.'
"You are my soul. ...
"Never had I beheld such unspeakable anguish. In my grandmother's eyes I saw the toll of an eternal night, of a solitude that had ravaged without succor or release. Forced to suffer isolation no mortal being should endure, she now begged with her eyes for mercy, a swift end to an existence that had ceased to hold any meaning.
...
"'Why, Mama?' I asked. 'Why did you do this to her?'"
April 23, 2023
Un bon roman historique qui a su me captiver. L’histoire de Juana la loca est peu étudiée par les historiens et reste un personnage énigmatique. L’auteur choisit de nous la présenter comme une femme forte qui est tour à tour le point de ses parents puis de son mari puis des nobles castillans et enfin de son père.
Deux petites critiques cependant l’auteur parle de l’Espagne à l’époque on divisait les royaumes on parlait plus du royaume de Castille et du royaume d’Aragon. Ensuite je trouve que l’auteur a quelques peu fait una caricature de Fernando de Aragon. Il était beaucoup plus calculateur que le laisse paraître le livre et je suis persuadé qu’il a eu un rôle dans la mort de Philippe le bel.
En tout cas un roman plaisant qui m’a donné envie de me replonger dans la série isabel de rtve.
Deux petites critiques cependant l’auteur parle de l’Espagne à l’époque on divisait les royaumes on parlait plus du royaume de Castille et du royaume d’Aragon. Ensuite je trouve que l’auteur a quelques peu fait una caricature de Fernando de Aragon. Il était beaucoup plus calculateur que le laisse paraître le livre et je suis persuadé qu’il a eu un rôle dans la mort de Philippe le bel.
En tout cas un roman plaisant qui m’a donné envie de me replonger dans la série isabel de rtve.
March 18, 2011
History writes off the infamous Juana 'la loca' as the insane Queen of Castile. However, C.W. Gortner finally gives voice to this courageous woman and the possibilty that her madness was not inherited but a result of years of torment, abuse, isolation and the final cruel blows of betrayl by the men she loved and trusted.
Books such as this are a subtle reminder that ''His''tory can be a clever instrument to suppress the truth of the greedy and ambitious.
Books such as this are a subtle reminder that ''His''tory can be a clever instrument to suppress the truth of the greedy and ambitious.
June 11, 2012
I picked this book up because it was a bargain book. I never expected to love it and find a new author! Juana was a strong woman, ahead of her time. What she went through was disturbing. I know all about Tudor history and about her sister (Catharine of Aragon/Queen of England) but I knew nothing about Juana. I'm so glad C.W. Gortner brought her story to life! I can't wait to read his newest "The Confessions of Catherine de Medici."
September 8, 2008
Another great book by C.W. Gortner, which took him 7 years of research providing his personal point of view on Juana´s story.
November 22, 2015
You know, I'm going to watch the movie about Juana the Mad. It was far more entertaining than this PC Juana.
Read
February 19, 2009THE LAST QUEEN trade paperback, with a special reader group guide and author Q&A.
October 5, 2009
I had to say I loved this book. A lot. I liked how Juana stood out from the rest of her sisters and it was nice to see Catalina (afterwards becoming Catherine of Aragon) have a "cameo" appearence in the story. Juana is very headstrong, and despite what she goes through, she manages to be steadfast and it was as if nothing could break her. I admired Juana a lot in this book. I liked how the relationship between Juana and Philip started. It was lovely and reminded me a lot of the love between Catalina and Arthur in The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory. It was so sad to see it so short lived. When Philip shows his colors the reader realizes he's not such a great loving person after all. Perhaps because he did not have the right influences and not the most greatest of advisors, however it was sad to see his ambition get to his head. It was so surprising to see Juana so steady and steadfast and even stands up against Philip (although she's beaten back down to submission). I admire her bravery and courage to stand up to a court ruled by men, it seemed as if she was by herself the majority of the time.
The story flowed flawlessly and there were no bumps or stops to inturrupt the fluidity of this book. If you want something with lots of court intrigue and plotting this is something for you. There is a lot of plotting behind every character's back in this book and when it's realized, there's explosive confrontations filled with emotion and sometimes violence. I really liked the little tidbits of Spanish in this book (small phrases) it added more realism to the story and it enhanced the reader's ability to actually feel like they were right there in Medieval Spain.
I felt a lot of sympathy towards Juana. Although she's very strong, I knew she had her limits and she could only take so much. I realized then, it's not really that she's "crazy" moreso, because of the emotional, mental and sometimes physical abuse it's no wonder she went through a mental breakdown. Juana herself is a very emotional character. She's explosive and has a temper, she's filled with different feelings and is a very passionate person in this book. It's indeed a very sad story. Juana goes through one tragic event after another and she really has no one to trust. Amist the large court with very few people on her side, Juana is a very lonely character.
Overall a wonderful book for those always curious or interested in Juana la Loca. The author's note at the end also provides very good information as to what happens afterwards to Juana. It's a very sad tragic tale, and paints Juana in a very different light It's actually a refreshing look on Juana and sheds off the myth of a "madwoman" who was probably not really that crazy after all.
The story flowed flawlessly and there were no bumps or stops to inturrupt the fluidity of this book. If you want something with lots of court intrigue and plotting this is something for you. There is a lot of plotting behind every character's back in this book and when it's realized, there's explosive confrontations filled with emotion and sometimes violence. I really liked the little tidbits of Spanish in this book (small phrases) it added more realism to the story and it enhanced the reader's ability to actually feel like they were right there in Medieval Spain.
I felt a lot of sympathy towards Juana. Although she's very strong, I knew she had her limits and she could only take so much. I realized then, it's not really that she's "crazy" moreso, because of the emotional, mental and sometimes physical abuse it's no wonder she went through a mental breakdown. Juana herself is a very emotional character. She's explosive and has a temper, she's filled with different feelings and is a very passionate person in this book. It's indeed a very sad story. Juana goes through one tragic event after another and she really has no one to trust. Amist the large court with very few people on her side, Juana is a very lonely character.
Overall a wonderful book for those always curious or interested in Juana la Loca. The author's note at the end also provides very good information as to what happens afterwards to Juana. It's a very sad tragic tale, and paints Juana in a very different light It's actually a refreshing look on Juana and sheds off the myth of a "madwoman" who was probably not really that crazy after all.
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