Publication
Anchor (2015), Edition: Reprint, 560 pages
Original publication date
2014-10-28
Collections
Awards
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Biography — 2014)
PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography (Longlist — 2015)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Nonfiction — 2014)
Description
Drawing on new scholarship, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Woman Behind the New Deal presents a biography of Isabella of Castile, the controversial Queen of Spain who sponsored Christopher Columbus' journey to the New World, established the Spanish Inquisition and became one of the most influential female rulers in history.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jaylia3
Since I knew Queen Isabella was the financier of Columbus, a force behind the Spanish Inquisition, and the mother of Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, I thought I would find this book about her interesting, but that was an underestimation because Isabella: The Warrior Queen turned out
Also woven into the narrative is information about: the lives and historical impacts of Isabella’s other children, the balance of power in Isabella’s relationship with her husband Ferdinand (according to this account she was the one who was “more equal”), and fairly extensive background histories of European royal families and their politics, Islam’s presence on the Iberian Peninsula, the evolving role of the papacy, and the nature and progress of the Ottoman Empire. Isabella was a much stronger monarch than I realized, but she’s humanized here and I ended up liking her which wasn’t something I expected.
Author Kirstin Downey has taken obvious care to be fair and respectful to all parties in Isabella’s story, and without doing a lot of undocumented speculation about her subjects’ inner feelings, her book is written in a vivid, engaging style that had me hooked from its opening chapter. I kept finding myself rushing back to its pages the way you do when reading a gripping novel.
I received an advanced review copy of this book. Review opinions are mine.
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to be a treasure trove of fascinating information and stories. About Columbus the book has more detail than I expected, also covering early European interactions with various groups of Native Americans. About the Inquisition the book gives religious context and history that was unfamiliar to me, and after reading about Catherine of Aragon’s early life I have a greater understanding of and appreciation for her as a woman of strength and principle. Also woven into the narrative is information about: the lives and historical impacts of Isabella’s other children, the balance of power in Isabella’s relationship with her husband Ferdinand (according to this account she was the one who was “more equal”), and fairly extensive background histories of European royal families and their politics, Islam’s presence on the Iberian Peninsula, the evolving role of the papacy, and the nature and progress of the Ottoman Empire. Isabella was a much stronger monarch than I realized, but she’s humanized here and I ended up liking her which wasn’t something I expected.
Author Kirstin Downey has taken obvious care to be fair and respectful to all parties in Isabella’s story, and without doing a lot of undocumented speculation about her subjects’ inner feelings, her book is written in a vivid, engaging style that had me hooked from its opening chapter. I kept finding myself rushing back to its pages the way you do when reading a gripping novel.
I received an advanced review copy of this book. Review opinions are mine.
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LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
Isabella of Castile is often remembered as the other half of Ferdinand and Isabella. Women in her day were not seen as much more than “producers of the heir.” While history did not, until recently ascribe much more to her than being her husband’s helpmate she was the driving force in the
Isabella was never really considered to be in line for the throne as she had several brothers but as happens the time came when the country needed a strong leader and she took advantage of the situation. She had the brains and she had the support so she made a run for the throne after Enrique’s death. Ferdinand was not with her so he lost his shot at claiming the succession -he spent a fair amount of time away from her both politically and physically. I don’t think he was nearly as intelligent as she was – but that is personal opinion from various books I’ve read but that is neither here nor there.
I found this book to be very easy to read and actually quite hard to put down which is unusual for me in reading a non fiction book. Ms. Downey is truly in love with her topic – at times though, I feel this can be to the detriment of presenting a full picture. Isabella was responsible for the inquisition and no amount of rationalizing is going to explain away the damage that body did in “God’s” name. Granted much damage has been done throughout history in the name of one religion or another and many people died for their faith but there was something particularly evil about the Inquisition and it can only be laid at her feet. She too, is also responsible for forcing the Jews to leave Spain when they had been living there for centuries – another incalculable evil done to the people of her country. All under the umbrella of “God.” I think a more balance approach to these topics was needed within the scope of the book – Isabella was a woman far ahead of her time in many ways but she was far from the super woman portrayed within the pages of this biography.
It is well researched and I learned much I had not known prior to my reading. It does an excellent job of capsuling the complicated history of the times without overwhelming the reader and turning away from Isabella as the main subject of the book. It is heavily footnoted and there is a section at the end describing the impact of her death and what happened after as Ferdinand tried to maintain what she had built and to pass it on to their son.
Isabella was responsible for turning Spain into the country that found the New World and started populating it – for better or worse – she financed the trip of Christopher Columbus and this trip was the beginning of the grand explorations of all of those that came after leading to the outward colonization of North and South America. She built Spain into a powerful, strong country and she is only getting her due. She is more than just the Inquisition and deserves to be remembered for her other achievements.
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marriage and the ruler of Castile. She came of age in a troubling time in the world and was reared with the Catholic church at the center of her life. She was also given an extraordinary education for a woman of her time. She was well read and spoke several languages.Isabella was never really considered to be in line for the throne as she had several brothers but as happens the time came when the country needed a strong leader and she took advantage of the situation. She had the brains and she had the support so she made a run for the throne after Enrique’s death. Ferdinand was not with her so he lost his shot at claiming the succession -he spent a fair amount of time away from her both politically and physically. I don’t think he was nearly as intelligent as she was – but that is personal opinion from various books I’ve read but that is neither here nor there.
I found this book to be very easy to read and actually quite hard to put down which is unusual for me in reading a non fiction book. Ms. Downey is truly in love with her topic – at times though, I feel this can be to the detriment of presenting a full picture. Isabella was responsible for the inquisition and no amount of rationalizing is going to explain away the damage that body did in “God’s” name. Granted much damage has been done throughout history in the name of one religion or another and many people died for their faith but there was something particularly evil about the Inquisition and it can only be laid at her feet. She too, is also responsible for forcing the Jews to leave Spain when they had been living there for centuries – another incalculable evil done to the people of her country. All under the umbrella of “God.” I think a more balance approach to these topics was needed within the scope of the book – Isabella was a woman far ahead of her time in many ways but she was far from the super woman portrayed within the pages of this biography.
It is well researched and I learned much I had not known prior to my reading. It does an excellent job of capsuling the complicated history of the times without overwhelming the reader and turning away from Isabella as the main subject of the book. It is heavily footnoted and there is a section at the end describing the impact of her death and what happened after as Ferdinand tried to maintain what she had built and to pass it on to their son.
Isabella was responsible for turning Spain into the country that found the New World and started populating it – for better or worse – she financed the trip of Christopher Columbus and this trip was the beginning of the grand explorations of all of those that came after leading to the outward colonization of North and South America. She built Spain into a powerful, strong country and she is only getting her due. She is more than just the Inquisition and deserves to be remembered for her other achievements.
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LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
I appreciated that this biography of Isabella of Spain took the time to detail not just Isabella's life, but to profile and delve into the figures who surrounded her and who she interacted with on the international stage. The result is a rich portrait of Isabella's era - a time of extremes and
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complex motivations and shifting political and religious forces. It also helps to place Isabella's motivations and actions in their wider societal and historical context. I really appreciated this approach and this will likely remain one of my favorite biographies of Isabella. Show Less
LibraryThing member BrendaRT20
Excellent history of Isabella from childhood to her legacy. Learned a lot about her history, what she did and Columbus.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0307742164 / 9780307742162
Physical description
544 p.; 5.15 inches
Pages
544