Customer Reviews

Philip II (European History in Perspective)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very easy-to-read book, well written, comprehensive, well researched. It does not challenge other biographies of the Prudent King, like those classic ones by G. Parker and H. Kamen, on any significant point, but/and is a nice choice if you are a casual reader, or a student. Well structured and vividly written, with what the Greeks call "a sensitivity towards the subject", and a sensitivity towards the reader, I might add, this is a nice biography in all.

Very good and interesting biography on Philip II. It was very easy to read and will written. Becoming the most powerful person in Europe at the time. The amount of land and countries he ruled over is impressive.

For anyone with an interest in Philip II of Spain or the convulsive times Europe was going through in his age, this is an absolute must. The author's mastery of the subject is obvious and his writing is never heavy or boring. The book is superb, simple, clear,discretly erudite. Mr. Williams writes to please and interest the reader, not to impress the world with his knowledge. His book should be compulsory reading for French historians, most of whom are pompous bores.

This version of Philip falls into so many shallow traps repeating the errors and outright lies of Philip's enemies, it is frustrating to read. He makes blanket statements which are just "let me tell you what to think about this" without backing them up.


Having read at least five other bios of Philip, my estimate of this one is that it no where near does justice to the man, his spirit, character or reasons for his decisions.

Walsh's is the most interesting and best researched, even forgetting that it was written long ago. He has the most love for his subject. He really shows Philip's heroic character and immense pressures, along with flaws.

Kamen's is an interesting read, though it almost ignores the Catholic aspect of Philip.