Isabel la Católica, Queen of Castile: Critical Essays [Hardcover]

David A. Boruchoff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312293070 | ISBN-13: 978-0312293079 | Publication Date: November 23, 2002 | Edition: 1

Few historical figures have continued to captivate attention for centuries after their death as has Queen Isabel I of Castile. Yet the realities of Isabel’s life and works are obscured by the legacy of a persona carefully crafted by Isabel and a cadre of historians in her employ or that of her successors, who recognized the benefits of an image of benevolence and piety. This volume includes original essays that examine the world into which Isabel was born; the public and private facets of her marriage and reign; her intervention in the areas of religion, medicine, the arts, and the reform of political, social and economic institutions; and the construction of her image in literary and historical works from the fifteenth century onward.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David A. Boruchoff is a Professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies at McGill University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1 edition (November 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312293070
• ISBN-13: 978-0312293079
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,276,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncommonly insightful and well-balanced, October 6, 2003

By 

Luis Suárez (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Isabel la Católica, Queen of Castile: Critical Essays (Hardcover)

Most books about the Catholic Monarchs are either apologetic or censorious, either panegyrics to the crown's magesty or cruel in condemning its abuse of power. This collection is instead a well-balanced and thoughtful reconsideration of both the good and bad aspects of an extraordinary reign, in which Isabel I of Castile had to confront, and overcome, challenges in both her public and private lives. Some of the essays published here achieve even-handedness by merely presenting the facts of Isabel's engagement in events such as the struggle to become queen, the conquest of Granada, the discovery of America, and her support for the arts and learning. But most are also critical (as the title promises) in a good way: by dissecting the way that she left her mark on history and is remembered by it. There are many new insights here, even in much analyzed areas such as the Catholic Monarchs' dealings with Jews, Muslims, and the Inquisition. But best are the chapters that examine the language of history itself, because in these (especially the first and last essays by the editor) one finds original and thought-provoking insights into problems that go well beyond Spain and Isabel herself, so as to illuminate the relationship between writing and power: history, the scepter and those who wield them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superior scholarship, December 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Isabel la Católica, Queen of Castile: Critical Essays (Hardcover)

While there are several major studies of political and social conditions during the reign of Isabel I of Spain, her letters and oratory have remained almost untouched until now. The two essays by David A. Boruchoff in this collection address this deficiency with brilliance, affording a profound understanding of the inner workings of her approach to national and international relations, and of the reservations expressed by those commonly seen as her promoters and allies. The remaining essays are more varied in their interest and quality. These range from serious analyses of religious and social minorities (Jews and Muslims), of medical practitioners within the new political order, and of Isabel's education and struggle to become queen, to more run of the mill pieces on her place in literature, art, and theatre. Nevertheless, the volume as a whole benefits from wonderfully acurate and vibrant translations of primary texts, many never before available in any form in English. Readers may therefore wish to pick and choose among the essays, but this collection is required reading for anyone wishing to know how Isabel's rule really worked, and why she was so successful.

5.0 out of 5 stars History at its finest!, October 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Isabel la Católica, Queen of Castile: Critical Essays (Hardcover)

This collection is an excellent introduction to the reign of the Catholic Monarch, Isabel, and especially to the works written by and about her. While the chapters on her role in religion and on her figure in theater are a bit too general, most of the essays are full of new insights, well-documented commentary, and useful leads for further reading. I was particularly impressed by the two chapters on Isabel's historiography, and that on the crown's relations with its medical officers. These were fascinating and beautifully written, and I have seen nothing on these topics in the many books and articles that I have read about Isabel, both in English and Spanish. In summation, this is a first-rate book, and a "must" for anyone interested in Spain, early-modern women, monarchs, and the way that history is really written.