Just finished this one and enjoyed it very much C.W.
I thought it was a pacey page turner and I definitely preferred it over the last Philippa Gregory I read - not that it's a contest, but I just wanted you to know. I knew nothing about this area and part of history - apart from recognising Catherine of Aragon. It certainly led me to want to know more about the period and read the facts for myself and that's always a sign of engaging historical fiction. Useful to have the bibliography on the back. My mum's coming over for tea tomorrow and my DIL, so it'll be a toss up who gets it to read next in the family! I think you wrote female viewpoint very well. Are there an historical novels about Fernando and Isabella? Would you ever fancy writing a prequel? I found them almost as fascinating as Juana. Did her father call her 'Madrecita?' or was that author's licence?
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The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
- MLE (Emily Cotton)
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There's been some chit-chat over at goodreads about a trilogy Plaidy did on Ferdinand and Isabella. I don't know the specifics, but maybe someone else does?
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be
- cw gortner
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[quote=""EC2""]Just finished this one and enjoyed it very much C.W.
I thought it was a pacey page turner and I definitely preferred it over the last Philippa Gregory I read - not that it's a contest, but I just wanted you to know. I knew nothing about this area and part of history - apart from recognising Catherine of Aragon. It certainly led me to want to know more about the period and read the facts for myself and that's always a sign of engaging historical fiction. Useful to have the bibliography on the back. My mum's coming over for tea tomorrow and my DIL, so it'll be a toss up who gets it to read next in the family! I think you wrote female viewpoint very well. Are there an historical novels about Fernando and Isabella? Would you ever fancy writing a prequel? I found them almost as fascinating as Juana. Did her father call her 'Madrecita?' or was that author's licence?[/quote]
Hight praise, indeed, coming from you! It means a lot to me. Thank you! I'm delighted the bibliography proved useful; unfortunately, some of those books are hard to find. The only historical novels on Isabel and Ferdinand in English that I know of is the Plaidy trilogy, Schoovner's The Queen's Cross and Norah Loft's Crown of Aloes. There are a few in Spanish, but all are quite dated. I think they're due for a new look; actually I have a proposal for a book on Isabel of Castile with my agent, and a few chapters already done. I plunged into a prequel after finishing the first version of The Last Queen, years ago. Now, I'm hoping to write it after the current one I've started, though you never know: my editor might want one over the other.
Yes, Fernando did call Juana 'madrecita', much to Isabel's consternation.
I'm so glad you liked it! I was worried . . . I hope whoever gets it next enjoys it, too.
I thought it was a pacey page turner and I definitely preferred it over the last Philippa Gregory I read - not that it's a contest, but I just wanted you to know. I knew nothing about this area and part of history - apart from recognising Catherine of Aragon. It certainly led me to want to know more about the period and read the facts for myself and that's always a sign of engaging historical fiction. Useful to have the bibliography on the back. My mum's coming over for tea tomorrow and my DIL, so it'll be a toss up who gets it to read next in the family! I think you wrote female viewpoint very well. Are there an historical novels about Fernando and Isabella? Would you ever fancy writing a prequel? I found them almost as fascinating as Juana. Did her father call her 'Madrecita?' or was that author's licence?[/quote]
Hight praise, indeed, coming from you! It means a lot to me. Thank you! I'm delighted the bibliography proved useful; unfortunately, some of those books are hard to find. The only historical novels on Isabel and Ferdinand in English that I know of is the Plaidy trilogy, Schoovner's The Queen's Cross and Norah Loft's Crown of Aloes. There are a few in Spanish, but all are quite dated. I think they're due for a new look; actually I have a proposal for a book on Isabel of Castile with my agent, and a few chapters already done. I plunged into a prequel after finishing the first version of The Last Queen, years ago. Now, I'm hoping to write it after the current one I've started, though you never know: my editor might want one over the other.
Yes, Fernando did call Juana 'madrecita', much to Isabel's consternation.
I'm so glad you liked it! I was worried . . . I hope whoever gets it next enjoys it, too.
Last edited by cw gortner on Sun May 31st, 2009, 6:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
THE QUEEN'S VOW available on June 12, 2012!
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
- cw gortner
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Thank you, Carine! I hope you enjoy it
THE QUEEN'S VOW available on June 12, 2012!
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
- Carine
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Yesterday I was surfing the internet for Juana and what I didn't know was that in 2001 a movie has been made about her !
Click herefor info on IMDB
and here is a trailer of the film on YouTube
Click herefor info on IMDB
and here is a trailer of the film on YouTube
I picked up a copy of The Last Queen from my library last month and loved it!
It was definitely a page turner and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Prior to reading this novel, I too, knew little about Juana. The only child of Isabel and Ferdinand that I heard much about was Katherine of Aragon, so for me it was not only entertaining but educational!
Anyone who hasn't read it, should!
Andrea
It was definitely a page turner and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Prior to reading this novel, I too, knew little about Juana. The only child of Isabel and Ferdinand that I heard much about was Katherine of Aragon, so for me it was not only entertaining but educational!
Anyone who hasn't read it, should!
Andrea
- cw gortner
- Bibliophile
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Thank you, Andrea!!
THE QUEEN'S VOW available on June 12, 2012!
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com