Daughters of Spain

by Jean Plaidy

Book Overview

With Spain now united, Ferdinand looked to his daughters to further his ambitions. All too often, Isabella found herself torn between his brilliant plans and her love for her children. During the last... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0330242245
• ISBN13: 9780330242240
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Pan Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Triumphant Then Tragic Story of the House of Spain!

This is the first book I've read by Jean Plaidy and I was pleasantly surprised! Plaidy's writing style, her keen knowledge of history, and her ability to really develop the characters into living, thinking human beings made for a terrific read, --- even though the story, for the most part, is a sad one.After spending decades uniting and bring peace to Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella finally have the time and wherewithal to concentrate on establishing a lasting dynasty. Ferdinand knows that this can only be achieved by marrying their five children off into the royal houses of Europe. Through his sheer will and his political prowess, Ferdinand has the House of Spain poised to become Europe's greatest dynasty. Isabella, however, is torn and hates to see her children sent off from her, missing so much of their growing up fighting for her crown. She knows Ferdinand's ambitions are sound but she finds herself torn between her duty as Queen and her love as a mother. Of all the characters, she generates the most sympathy.The first marriage arranged had already been a tragic one. Princess Isabel had married the King of Portugal only to have him die a short time later. When his cousin, the new King, offered to marry her so she could keep her position as Queen, she refused and returned to Spain. Getting her back to Lisbon was one of Ferdinand's principal goals. Her stubborness to not marry a man she did not love caused friction between them throught the first third of the book.Meanwhile, Crown Prince Juan, first heir to a united Spain, has been set up to marry Margaret of Flanders. Once again, Ferdinand sets up an genuine love match only to have it end in tragedy. Juan dies of a fever and Margaret gives birth to a stillborn son.Next comes Juana's turn at the alter. She marries Philip the Handsome, Margaret's brother and heir to the Hapsburg crown. Philip, a philanderer and political snake, uses the near obsessive love Juana has for him to secure the crown of Castile for himself. Meanwhile, Juana slips more and more into insanity.Finally, Isabel agrees to return to Portugal and marry the King, only to be tormented by what she believes is a curse on the family for their expelling the Jews. She dies after giving birth to Miguel, the heir to both Spain and Portugal. He, too, dies after only months of life. Maria, then, is sent to Portugal where she meets a similar fate to that of her sister.Catalina, the baby of the family, and through whose eyes most of the story is told, is then sent to England where she becomes the ill-fated Catharine of Aragon, the first of Henry VIII's many wives.This book is full of excellent imagery, dynamic plot twists, powerful dialogue and true emotion not often seen in historical novels. If you can find it, buy it. You won't be disappointed!