Book Review: Isabella Unashamed by Helen R. Davis and Carolina Casas

Isabella Unashamed: An Alternative History by Helen R. Davis and Carolina Casas
ARC, e-Book, 147 pages
Editorial Caliope
September 7, 2017
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Alternate Historical Fiction

Source: Received for tour with HFVBT

Isabella of Castile is known as Europe's first great queen. Renowned for her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon and birthing of modern day Spain, Isabella is also known as the queen who launched the Inquisition, completed the Reconquista and expelled the Jews from her nation. Not long after her triumph in 1492, her dynasty came apart and unraveled, and it was whispered by many that the Trastamara line was cursed.

But, What if Isabella had been wiser and not expelled the Jews, some of the very people who ironically helped put her on the throne of Castile? What if Isabella had had more foresight and had her successor be Catalina, who, although the youngest, was the most like her and the wisest of her children? How would the power balance of 15th and 16th century Europe shifted if Catalina had been the powerful queen regnant of Spain and not one of the 'merry wives' of Windsor?

A joint effort, Isabella Unashamed is written by two authors from very different cultural backgrounds who have nonetheless joined together to create a haunting portrait of Spain's most famous queen, as well as a glimpse of what might have been had Isabella been wiser.

I can count on one hand how many alternative fiction novels I have read. I am extremely selective when it comes to this subgenre of historical fiction because I find them to be more believable when small, but important changes occur rather than sweeping historical changes. I was drawn to Isabella Unashamed because of just these reasons. The changes to the historical timeline include Isabella’s choice to not expel the Jews and to not leave the dynasty in the hands of her daughter Juana (la loca), but instead chose Catalina. I feel that the choices here made complete sense to these historical characters. The rationale that is used for the decisions Isabella makes could have absolutely been considerations that she would have contemplated. My favorite change was watching Catalina grow into a future Spanish queen rather than a fated English queen. It wasn’t a huge leap to have to make to get on board with this new, revised timeline. For those reasons, I really appreciated this piece within the genre.

I did have some struggles with this novel. The writing felt dense and heavy. When this is combined with how the majority of the events that occur are sad/complex/or less than positive, it slowed down the narrative and it took me longer to read this novel that the page length would suggest. There were not any lighter notes to lift the narrative. I also feel that there was an expectation that the reader is already familiar with the actual history as it occurred, which I can sort of understand as why would a reader be interested in the alternative if they don’t know what actually occurred. That being said, I am familiar with the actual history and I found myself being lost in the context sometimes.

I did enjoy this novel and I still look at this genre in the same light in which I did before, I think it just needed a little tightening up of the narrative.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• A Chick Who Reads

Buy the Book: Amazon

Also by Helen R. Davis:

Evita: My Argentina

Cleopatra Unconquered

The Most Happy

This is Carolina Casas’ debut novel.

Find Helen R. Davis: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Find Carolina Casas: Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway!

As part of the blog tour there is a tour-wide giveaway of an eBook of Isabella Unashamed! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.  If you have questions, please contact the tour coordinator.  Good luck!

Giveaway Rules

• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
• Only one entry per household.
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Isabella Unashamed

Follow the Tour!

On the HFVBT website or on Twitter: #IsabellaUnashamedBlogTour

Monday, November 27
Kick Off at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, November 28
Feature at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Wednesday, November 29
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Feature at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, November 30
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Friday, December 1
Review at The Maiden’s Court
Interview at Author Dianne Ascroft’s Blog

Saturday, December 2
Feature at WS Momma Readers Nook

Monday, December 4
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Tuesday, December 5
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Feature at The Hungry Bookworm

Wednesday, December 6
Feature at Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang!

Thursday, December 7
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Copyright © 2017 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Isabel the Queen by Peggy K. Liss

Isabel the Queen: Life and Times by Peggy K. Liss

e-Book, 496 pages
University of Pennsylvania Press
December 1, 2004
★★★★☆

Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography

Source: Personal purchase for my Masters class

Queen Isabel of Castile is perhaps best known for her patronage of Christopher Columbus and for the religious zeal that led to the Spanish Inquisition, the waging of holy war, and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims across the Iberian peninsula. In this sweeping biography, newly revised and annotated to coincide with the five-hundredth anniversary of Isabel's death, Peggy K. Liss draws upon a rich array of sources to untangle the facts, legends, and fiercely held opinions about this influential queen and her decisive role in the tumultuous politics of early modern Spain.

"Isabel the Queen" reveals a monarch who was a woman of ruthless determination and strong religious beliefs, a devoted wife and mother, and a formidable leader. As Liss shows, Isabel's piety and political ambition motivated her throughout her life, from her earliest struggles to claim her crown to her secret marriage to King Fernando of Aragon, a union that brought success in civil war, consolidated Christian hegemony over the Iberian peninsula, and set the stage for Spain to become a world empire."

My knowledge of Isabel, Queen of Castile, has been limited to what you learn about her involvement in the “discovery” of the Americas and the Inquisition and the fictional interpretation of her life in The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner. I endeavored to read this book as an assignment from class and selected it from the class syllabus, but I was very pleased to find out that this book was referenced as one of Gortner’s sources in his novel.

Isabel the Queen brings the reader into the world of Isabel by introducing the rule and times of her father, Juan, and half-brother, Enrique. The author includes this information as a means of establishing what Isabel had as her professional examples and to show the differences when Isabel became the Queen. I think that this worked well, but I did get a little tired reading statements like, “and it proved a costly mistake whose lessons would not be lost on Isabel” (Kindle loc. 757). The author makes it VERY clear with these kinds of statements to draw the divisions between Isabel and her brother especially.

This book was chock full of information on not just Isabel as a person, but also the world of Spain and Europe around her. It was very dense and not a book that you finish in a short period of time, believe me, it will take you awhile to read it all; this is certainly more of a research book than a fun reading book. However, you will come away from it with a new knowledge and appreciation of the time.

Any discussion of Isabel inevitably wades in the water of controversy with the portrayal of the Columbus expedition as well as the handling of the Spanish Inquisition and persecution of the Jews and Muslims. Liss doesn’t shy away from these controversial subject and does lay out the information, both positive and negative, but she doesn’t take a firm stance in either direction. As the book was originally published around the 500^th anniversary of Columbus’ expedition and then was republished around the 500^th anniversary of the death of Isabel it makes sense that she treads carefully around these subjects in order to take advantage of these dates.

I came away from this book with a much more concrete sense of who Isabel was as a person and as a Queen. I would recommend this book, but just know it might be a little denser than you are looking for.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• The Freelance History Writer Notes and Reviews

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia


**Read an Excerpt**

Also by Peggy Liss:

Atlantic Empires

Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Madame Picasso by Anne Girard + Giveaway

Madame Picasso by Anne Girard
ARC, Kindle e-book 432 pages
Harlequin MIRA
August 26, 2014
★★★★ ½☆

Genre: Historical/Art Fiction

Source: Received for review as part of HFVBT tour

“The mesmerizing and untold story of Eva Gouel, the unforgettable woman who stole the heart of the greatest artist of our time.

When Eva Gouel moves to Paris from the countryside, she is full of ambition and dreams of stardom. Though young and inexperienced, she manages to find work as a costumer at the famous Moulin Rouge, and it is here that she first catches the attention of Pablo Picasso, a rising star in the art world.

A brilliant but eccentric artist, Picasso sets his sights on Eva, and Eva can't help but be drawn into his web. But what starts as a torrid affair soon evolves into what will become the first great love of Picasso's life.

With sparkling insight and passion, Madame Picasso introduces us to a dazzling heroine, taking us from the salon of Gertrude Stein to the glamorous Moulin Rouge and inside the studio and heart of one of the most enigmatic and iconic artists of the twentieth century.”

I love reading art fiction – whether it is about bringing a work of art to life or showing us the lives of artists in a novel setting. Anne Girard brings us the life of Pablo Picasso as seen through the eyes of one of his mistresses, Eva Gouel. At the same time, we are treated to learning about this little known woman in his life, Belle Epoch Paris, and the little group of artists that came together at that time.

This was not my first introduction to this group of artists – I have seen this little band in a couple of films – but I thought that Girard did an excellent job of representing these characters. The actresses at the Moulin Rouge were entertaining and enjoyable, while I found myself disliking pretty much all of the women moving within the art circle – maybe with exception of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. The rivalries and tensions between the different groups (artists and the actresses) were palpable and great fodder for fiction.

Anne Girard crafted characters that you could totally love and feel for. I can honestly say that I cried as the end of the novel arrived. It has been a little while since a novel has made me cry. It was a great way to end the novel, even if I found it to be a tear-jerker.

This is the first novel being published under the name of Anne Girard, however she has published many novels under the name Diane Haeger. You can visit Girard’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

You can also watch the book trailer below.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• My Good Bookshelf
• Historical-Fiction.com

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

You can follow along with the rest of the tour by visiting the HFVBT site or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #MadamePicassoBlogTour.

I also have a giveaway that I can offer to my blog readers courtesy of the HFVBT tour!

It is open to those residing in the US and is for 1 paperback copy of Madame Picasso.  The last day to enter is September 20th.  Entries are made through the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Copyright © 2014 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift

A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift
Paperback, 544 pages
Pan
October 24, 2013 (UK Release)
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from review from publisher

“London 1609…

Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace.

Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relative but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary – determined to claim back from him the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Under the searing Spanish sun, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery which finally unlocks the true meaning of family . . .”

This book took me a little longer to finish than I might have liked – It look me a lot time to get into the story. I really wasn’t into it until about two-thirds of the way through. I think what just didn’t work for me were the characters - I didn’t really like any of the characters through most of the novel. I think Elspet is supposed to be the sympathetic protagonist, but for the most part I found her wilting and boring. Zachary was more interesting – probably because he actually did something, his true nature was hidden for quite some time, and he had an intriguing personality. In the end they all evolved a little bit and I ended up liking both of them more than through most of the book. 

The setting is well done – I could feel the heat of the Spanish sun and the blacksmith shop. By comparison, England was dreary and sad. I think that maybe this mirrors the attitudes of events that occurred in the two places?

The plot was sort of a plodding pace for most of the book. Again, once the two-thirds point came around the various plotlines began coming together and it was a more cohesive story and the pages just moved by. The ending was satisfying, although not what I would have ultimately wanted.

I liked the book, but wouldn’t say that I loved it. I enjoyed The Gilded Lily MUCH more.

Author Deborah Swift has written these additional books: The Lady’s Slipper and The Gilded Lily. You can also visit Deborah Swift’s website or one of her blogs for additional information about the books.

My reviews of other books by this author:

• The Gilded Lily

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Reading the Past
• The Lit Bitch

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon UK.

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the HFVBT website or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #DividedInheritanceTour.

This is a re-post of the giveaway I originally posted on the In-Process Review.  The giveaway is for one paperback copy of A Divided Inheritance and it is open INTERNATIONALLY!  Make your entries through the Rafflecopter below.  Last day to enter is November 24th.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

In-Progress Book Review: A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift & Giveaway

A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift
Paperback, 544 pages
Pan
October 24, 2013 (UK Release)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from review from publisher

“London 1609…

Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace.

Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relative but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary – determined to claim back from him the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Under the searing Spanish sun, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery which finally unlocks the true meaning of family . . .”

I need to first start out by saying this is an incomplete review (my first!) – I had so many things come up in the last couple weeks that I have not been able to finish the book yet. I’m a little over halfway, so this is a sort-of “in progress book review”. I will post a completed review when I’m finished reading – which will inevitably include elements from this one.

So far, this isn’t my favorite book by this author. I loved reading The Gilded Lily; the characters were great, it was fast paced, and the drama was all there pretty much from the beginning. So far, I don’t really like any of the characters. I think Elspet is supposed to be the sympathetic protagonist, but I just sort of find her wilting and boring. Zachary is more interesting – I can feel there is more to him that I don’t know yet, but I still don’t really like him as a good or bad character. I think the characters are the aspect that I don’t like the most. The setting is well done – I can feel the heat of the Spanish sun and the blacksmith shop. The plot is sort of a plodding pace at the moment but I have the feeling it will pick up as several storylines seem to be coming to a head.

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the HFVBT website or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #DividedInheritanceTour.

I also have a giveaway opportunity for one paperback copy of A Divided Inheritance and it is open INTERNATIONALLY!  Make your entries through the Rafflecopter below.  Last day to enter is November 24th.  Good luck!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner

The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner

ARC, Hardcover, 400 pages

Ballatine Books

June 12, 2012

★★★★½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from the publisher for review as part of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

“No one believed she was destined for greatness—until she became one of history’s most powerful and controversial queens. 

Young Isabella is barely a teenager when she is thrust into danger. Suspected of treason and held captive, she treads a perilous path, until, at age seventeen, she finds herself heiress of Castile, the largest kingdom in Spain. Plunged into a deadly conflict to secure her crown, she is determined to wed the one man whom she has vowed to love yet is forbidden to her—Fernando, prince of Aragón. 

As together they unite their two realms under "one crown, one country, one faith," Isabella and Fernando face an impoverished Spain beset by enemies. With the future of her throne at stake, Isabella resists the zealous demands of the inquisitor, Torquemada, even as she is seduced by the dreams of an enigmatic navigator named Columbus. But when a violent, treacherous battle against an ancient adversary erupts, it will test Isabella’s resolve, her courage, and her tenacious belief in her destiny . . . . 

From the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and intrigue-laden gardens of Seville, The Queen’s Vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become Isabella of Castile.”

I have been a fan of Gortner’s work since I picked up my first read of his, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. He has a talent of taking maligned or misunderstood women and making them approachable characters whom readers can identify with and attempt to understand their choices. His novel of Isabella of Castile is no different. Isabella is remembered by history as the Spanish queen who re-incited the Inquisition, the mother of Catherine of Aragon and Juana la Loca, and the queen who financed Christopher Columbus’ American expedition. In The Queen’s Vow we are treated to an Isabella who does all of these things, but whom we also see grow up and who struggles with her decisions.

Right from the first pages we meet a young Isabella that we can identify with and grow up with. We feel what it is like to grow up maligned from the court that you belong to and see your livelihood stripped away. We can identify with the heat of a first love. As time goes on we get to know her husband, Fernando of Aragon, and even later her brood – Isabel, Juan, Juana, Maria, and Catalina. I most enjoyed getting to know her family who I didn’t know too much about. In all the novels I have read I have always found Fernando distasteful, however here I found myself enamored by him – despite his flaws. We get to really know her oldest two children the best, Isabel and Juan, whom you don’t read much about.

While we don’t know the thoughts that went through Isabella’s head while making some of her most important decisions as queen, I find Gortner’s take on it fully plausible. Most people have some qualms about major decisions they make and I can absolutely believe that Isabella might have had doubts about some of her most definitive decisions. If nothing else, his choices fit in well with the characters he created. You really feel that Isabella is a real person who has flaws.

While I enjoyed all the aspects of this story of Isabella’s life, I most enjoyed reading about the Reconquista and especially how she wanted to be out at the battlefield. She was truly a strong Queen, regardless of how we may feel about her decisions regarding the Inquisitions. I cannot wait to have the chance to read The Last Queen, about her daughter, Juana, as a continuation of this storyline.

Gorter is an author whose work I know I will always enjoy.

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

You can also watch the book trailer below.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Ageless Pages Review
• The Redheaded Reader

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by C.W. Gortner:

The Last Queen

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
[My Review]

The Vatican Princess
[My Review]

Mademoiselle Chanel
[My Review]

Marlene

The Tudor Secret (Spymaster #1)
[My Review]

The Tudor Conspiracy (Spymaster #2)
[My Review]

The Tudor Vendetta (Spymaster #3)
[My Review]

Find C.W. Gortner: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

You can follow the rest of the blog tour at HFVBT or on Twitter with the hashtag #QueensVowVirtualTour.

Copyright © 2012 by The Maiden’s Court

Movie Review: Mad Love

Mad Love

Canal+ España

115 mins.

August 30, 2002 (USA)

Rated: R

Mad Love is a Spanish foreign film on the life of Juana of Castille – or Juana La Loca. I watched this film last year and wrote a mini review for a challenge, but I wanted to expand upon that for a full review of the film. Just a heads up, the film is in Spanish but there are English subtitles. I had wanted to see this film for a long time, but the fact that I would have to really pay attention and read the subtitles had me pushing it off for awhile.

I had some knowledge of Juana before watching this film but this was a story that intrigued me to want to learn more. I still haven’t had the chance to read The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner, but after watching this film it has made me want to all the more. The film follows Juana from just before her marriage to Felipe to after his death.

The actress who portrayed Juana, Pilar Lopez de Ayala, did a fabulous job at being totally in love with Felipe and acting out in jealous, "crazy" rages. I felt for her as she did everything she could to keep the man she was totally in love with all to herself, when even the court was pushing for her to be put aside. The best scene is when she encounters Felipe’s mistress – great acting! I can absolutely see why she has won several awards for this role, including the Goya Award for Best Actress (equivalent to Academy Awards in Spain). Daniele Liotti plays Felipe very well as a very crafty individual who is used to getting what he wants. The set design and costumes are gorgeous!

The plot of this film does make Juana out to be crazy, but it certainly sets up the scenarios that send her off the deep end. It gives reasons for her jealousy and expands upon her exhaustive need for her husband. It doesn’t just pursue the story that she was crazy, period.

This film had such a deep and emotional story that it was so easy to get sucked into the film. I can’t believe that I waited so long to see it – I couldn’t pull myself away from the story. It is certainly something that I would watch again. Many people are hesitant to see this film because they have a preconceived notion that Spanish film are “soap-opera” like – do not hesitate, this film is nothing like that. This film receives my highest recommendation.

Check out this trailer:

Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Movie Review: Goya's Ghosts

Goya’s Ghosts
The Saul Zaentz Company

113 mins.

2006

Rated: R

This was an interesting movie that is going to be a little difficult to review. The setting for this movie is the Spanish Inquisition immediately following the French Revolution. The setting is realistic while the entire plot of the story itself is fantasy.

The basic plot works like this: Francisco Goya is painting in Spain, the Church thinks his paintings are heretical. Brother Lorenzo steps up and defends Goya and has a portrait painted by him. One of Goya’s models, Ines, is called in by the Inquisitors and incarcerated (her being put to “the question” was executed pretty well)– Lorenzo tries to defend her too, but really makes the situation much worse. Up until this point, the plot mostly made sense, afterward, when it jumps 15 years into the future, it sort of loses its footing. Ines is released from prison, Goya is deaf, and Lorenzo is…sort of flopping around trying to find where he belongs.

It felt like the plot was scrambling around trying to pull pieces together and not doing the best job. By the ending I was confused as to what had happened. I felt like the character of Lorenzo had no consistency to his decisions. As I look back on my notes as I try to write this review, they really don’t make any sense to me at all – and that was my overall impression of this movie.

The acting wasn’t terrible – Javier Bardem plays Lorenzo, Stellan Skarsgard plays Goya, and Natalie Portman plays Ines. I think that the actors did a decent job with what was given to them. I thought that the costuming and make up was very well done – especially Natalie after she is released from prison – time did not treat her well.

I think that the concept for the film was good but the execution and editing left a lot to be desired. I wouldn’t highly recommend this film, but this might be one of those movies that you watch if it is instant download on Netflix or something of that sort. I don’t regret watching it, but it wasn’t something that I loved.

Check out this trailer (it makes it look really compelling which is what drew me in!):

Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Sofonisba Anguissola...Who?

About a year ago I was taking an Italian Renaissance Art class and at the time I thought I had come to the greatest misfortune of having to do my term project on an artist I had never heard of: Sofonisba Anguissola. Good sources were few and far between and I had to use a lot of interlibrary loan to get the books and articles that I wanted/needed. It turned out to be one of the best and most enjoyable projects that I have ever worked on because the topic was so fresh and actually quite romantic.

Then earlier this year, I had heard that a book called The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen was coming out featuring none other than Sofonisba! I knew that I just had to read this book and see if it turned out to be everything that I wanted. You can check my review for further discussion of the book. There is much information that was not included in the book that I really wanted to share with everyone here who would appreciate it – I never knew this information would come in handy again.

• As you will see in her self-portraits – Sofonisba suffered from an eye condition, possibly blepharitis (an inflammation of the eyelid). This caused the eye to become pink, puffy, and for the eyelashes to occasionally fall out

• She was trained by artist Bernardino Campi and worked with Michelangelo for 2 years (a great honor as he was quite old at this time and didn’t work with too many people).

• Sofonisba had some stylistic innovations that she employed in her work – smiling characters, or outright laughing, were most uncommon. Her portraits often showed people at their leisure activities. Her textiles and fabrics were unrivaled – as she came from an area where fabric was produced.

• Many of her early painting were signed with, Sofonisba Anguissola, virgin.

• Sofonisba painted her family constantly – she often combined portraiture with genre style.

• Sofonisba was a court painter for the Spanish court of Phillip II. She was given the post of lady-in-waiting to the Queen (Elizabeth of Valois) to match her noble status. She taught the Queen how to draw and became a confidante to the Queen.

• Eventually, after 20 years at the Spanish court – the King agreed to marry her to Don Fabrizio de Mancada and they promptly set off for Sicily.

• A year after her marriage to Fabrizio – after arriving in Sicily – her husband died (possibly from the plague). On her way from Sicily to her hometown of Cremona, Sofonisba fell in love with the ship’s captain, Orazio Lomellino, they were married and happily so for 40 years.

• Sofonisba lived to be 96 years old. At the age of 68, she had to sign a document attesting that despite her advanced age, she was still alive, and could cash the pension given to her by Phillip II. She painted her last painting, a self portrait, at the age of 89.

Below you will find a slide show of as many of Sofonisba’s paintings as I could find. The trouble is, many of her works were attributed to Alonso Sanchez Coello, the official court painter of the time – so there may be many more works that we don’t know of yet. Sofonisba’s story is such an awe-inspiring one that just was crying out to be told.



If you are interested in further reading about Sofonisba, try:

Fulmer, Betsey. "Sofonisba Anguissola: Marvel of Nature." Academic Forum 23. Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio, 2005-2006. 20-34.

Krull, Kathleen. "Sofonisba Anguissola." Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and what the Neighbors Thought). San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1995. 25-27.

Mansfield University Art Department. Sofonisba Anguissola the "Miracolo di Natura". 4 February 2009.

http://www.mansfield.edu/~art/Papyrus2AnnabellaLajuzensofonisba_anguissola_the.htm.
Perlingieri, Illya Sandra. Sofonisba Anguissola: First Great Woman Artist of the Renaissance. New York: Rizzoli, 1992.




Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen

The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen
ARC, Paperback, 400 pages
Putnam Adult
March 23, 2010
★★★☆☆

Genre: Art Historical Fiction

Source: Received from publisher for review

“A lush and compelling tale of royal intrigue and artistic longing, set in the sixteenth–century Spanish court. 

The Creation of Eve is based on the true but little-known story of Sofonisba Anguissola, the first renowned female portraitist of the Renaissance. After a scandal in Michelangelo’s workshop, Sofonisba flees Italy and joins the Spanish court of King Felipe II to be a lady-in-waiting to his young bride. Sofonisba befriends the queen, only to become embroiled in a love triangle involving the queen, the king, and the king’s illegitimate half brother, Don Juan. The Creation of Eve combines art, romance, and history from the golden age in Spain in a story that asks the question: Can you ever truly know another person’s heart?”

When I heard about this book, months before it was to be released, I knew that I just had to read it. See, I had to do a senior project on Sofonisba Anguissola about a year ago and fell in love with her story. I just had to see if it turned out to be everything that I loved about her story.

One of the things that I loved about the style of this book was the way that each segment of the story started with an “item”. These items related to what was going to happen in the chapter and were related to social commentary, art tips, quotes from famous people, etc. These were always enlightening to me about the period and the people. I also really loved the relationship between Sofie and Queen Elizabeth. It was known that they were very close and I could believe that this was how their relationship was.

On the other side of things, I was a little disappointed with the lack of descriptions of her paintings or her even painting at all. She is most known for the fabulous paintings of the Spanish court members, and the only paintings that were described were at the very beginning of the story – before she ever went to the Spanish court! She spent most of her time talking about how she would “like” to paint or how she was “going to” teach the Queen how to draw – but it was much more talk than action. I was also a little disappointed in Sofie’s demeanor. Right from the start when she meets Tiberio, she longs for him, and wishes for him, and all she thinks about is him. I just found her to be too whiny (to be realistic or believable).

Without going into detail about the ending, I will say that it was action packed right up until the very end. It was very enjoyable and exciting – and to anyone who doesn’t know about her, they would probably very much like this ending. I on the other hand, having studied her and her work in depth, found it a little too farfetched and fictional to be believable at all.

I’m going to say that overall I was more disappointed with this book than I was excited. I think if more of her artwork was included and had went a little more into her life after the Spanish court (which was where all of her real romance and love of her life occurred) I would have enjoyed it SO much more. While I enjoyed the story, it just didn’t hit it out of the park for me – but I will say that it could partially because I have researched a lot about her life.

Take this opportunity to read the first chapter and get a taste as to whether this book is for you.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Reading the Past
• Devourer of Books

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Lynn Cullen:

Reign of Madness

Mrs. Poe
[My Review]

I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter

Twain’s End


Find Lynn Cullen: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest 

 

 

Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan

By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan

Paperback, 320 pages

Other Press

May 18, 2010

★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from publisher for review

“Luis de Santángel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. As the power of Inquisitor General Tomás de Torquemada grows, so does the brutality of the Spanish church and the suspicion and paranoia it inspires. When a dear friend’s demise brings the violence close to home, Santángel is enraged and takes retribution into his own hands. But he is from a family of conversos, and his Jewish heritage makes him an easy target. As Santángel witnesses the horrific persecution of his loved ones, he begins slowly to reconnect with the Jewish faith his family left behind. Feeding his curiosity about his past is his growing love for Judith Migdal, a clever and beautiful Jewish woman navigating the mounting tensions in Granada. While he struggles to decide what his reputation is worth and what he can sacrifice, one man offers him a chance he thought he’d lost…the chance to hope for a better world. Christopher Columbus has plans to discover a route to paradise, and only Luis de Santángel can help him.

Within the dramatic story lies a subtle, insightful examination of the crisis of faith at the heart of the Spanish Inquisition. Irresolvable conflict rages within the conversos in By Fire, By Water, torn between the religion they left behind and the conversion meant to ensure their safety. In this story of love, God, faith, and torture, fifteenth-century Spain comes to dazzling, engrossing life” .

This book was like no other book I have ever read. First of all is the subject matter. Other books that I have read have mentioned in passing the Spanish Inquisition that was led by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. I knew that it was about ridding those who were not Christians from their country – but that was about the extent of what I knew. I also have always seen these stories from the viewpoint of a member of royalty. This novel took a very different look at this event. The story is told mostly from the viewpoints of Judith Migdal, a Jewish woman whose life is being affected by the Inquisition, and Luis de Santángel, a converso who is the chancellor for King Ferdinand. This story is told from the viewpoints of those who are being directly affected by the Inquisition, versus everything I have read where the story has been told by those leading the Inquisition. It is definitely a very different look at the world. I think by seeing this event from both sides now, I have a much better understanding of just how awful it was. I really loved how this was regular people struggling to make it in the world. I also very interesting to see both the Christian and Jewish perspective on the Inquisition. Very well researched!

One character that really surprised me, and I enjoyed these interludes featuring him, was Cristobal Colon – or Christopher Columbus! I had never really thought of how he might fit into the world, except in the context of his voyage – it definitely added another level to this book. I also liked the interesting explanation of Mad Juana.

I would have originally given this book 3 ½ stars – up until the middle of the book. It was a little slow at the beginning – but it really took off after that and I connected with the characters. Be prepared with a tissue for the ending!

You can read a guest post by the author about his research methods or visit his website for additional information about the book. I also have giveaway for 2 copies of the book on the guest post page.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Rundpinne
• Alexa Loves Books

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Find Mitchell James Kaplan: Website | Facebook

 

 


Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

Guest Post by Mitchell James Kaplan

Please join me in welcoming author Mitchell James Kaplan to The Maiden's Court. Kaplan is the author of the book By Fire, By Water set during the Inquisition in Spain.

Researching and Writing

Guest Post by Mitchell James Kaplan, author of

By Fire, By Water

“How did you do the research?” I’m amazed how many people ask this question, as if research were the hard part. For me, research is enjoyable, even exciting. You don’t have to think too much. You just explore.

I suppose every writer has a different way of doing research. My method is no method at all: I try to read everything and go everywhere that’s relevant: libraries, museums, foreign cities.

My research falls into two phases: the initial phase, which precedes writing; and the fact-checking phase, during and after the writing. The initial phase is all about feeding the imagination. You collect details. You look at paintings, statues, buildings. You observe the clothes people wear, their bearing, how they interact. A peasant in a painting by Breughel walks with a stoop, grasping a twisted walking-stick. A woman in a Vermeer holds herself with dignity. You read the works of authors from the time and place in which your novel will be set. You notice the authors’ tone. Cervantes’ voice is tinged with self-mockery and amusement. What does this say about his society? Caesar’s voice is practical, authoritative, devoid of self-doubt. Chaucer’s is full of wonderment. Milton’s is serious, probing, and powerful.

A great deal of the research, of course, comes from just living. For example, when I lived in Paris many years ago, I knew a woman who occupied a place near the pinnacle of French society (which is quite stratified, as compared to American society). I found this woman fascinating: her blend of ruthlessness and noblesse oblige; her uncanny ability to remove her Mask Of Warmth and replace it with a Mask of Ice – both of which were utterly convincing – so gracefully and effortlessly one hardly noticed the transition.
Years later, as I toiled on my first draft of “By Fire, By Water” and Queen Isabella materialized in my imagination, I realized she resembled this woman.

Even when you’re not actively thinking about them, the details you absorb arrange themselves in your mind, forming a world. Little by little, your imagination takes up residence in that world. Holding a candle in the face of vast darkness, your explore its back alleys, the sounds of cartwheels creaking and clattering down its streets, the odors of rotting vegetables and fresh pheasant in its open-air marketplaces.

Research, of course, is not an end in itself; it is the means to an end. The purpose of reading books and traveling to faraway lands and museums is to find the key to the world of your novel. After you enter, the key is no longer important. What is important is to look around, to observe, to note what you see.

My sense is that the story, in all its detail, exists somewhere even before the author discovers it. The author’s job is to go to that place and document everything. At night, when I go to sleep, I try to place myself in the world I’m researching. All the research is of no value unless I can see and taste and smell that world. During the entire time I’m writing a novel, I want to live in that world even more than this world. The world of the novel is real, in the same sense that numbers are real.

Again, just before writing a scene, I’ll close my eyes and place myself in that particular corner of that world. After that, the writing just happens. Sometimes, I’m thrilled with the result but find it doesn’t fit with the rest of the book. Sometimes a scene or sequence of scenes has to be adjusted or even discarded.

When I’m writing, I often leave blanks. What kind of bread did they eat? How much did it cost? How did they light that taper? My initial research didn’t provide all the detailed facts I needed, but I don’t want to interrupt the flow. I’ll fill in the blanks later.

As a historical novelist, you’re juggling three balls: psychological truth, dramatic form, and historical accuracy. Often, I’ll find I missed an important inflection in the arc of a character’s growth, or that a scene is out of place.

I’m not one of those writers who just sit down, write a book, and send it to their editors. I’m constantly going back and verifying that my story is valid – psychologically, dramatically, and historically – filling in gaps, rearranging the pieces. Sometimes it feels like I’ll never get it right. It’s a messy, often rewarding but occasionally infuriating business – just like life.

Thanks for that wonderfully informative post! You can visit Mitchell Kaplan's website for more information about his book.

Now for the giveaway...

I have two copies of By Fire, By Water, courtesy of Other Press, to offer up for giveaway. This giveaway is open to US/Canada only and will end June 6th. The only requirement is to be a follower of this blog. You can gain an additional entry for tweeting or blogging about this giveaway. Please leave your email as well.

Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court