Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The finest History I Have Ever Read..., March 10, 2005
As a life-long student of History with a BA in Medieval History from UCLA, I was absolutely floored by the triumph of historiographical method this book represents. The "reviewer" (who didn't have the integrity to name himself) certainly has no understanding of the role of the historian - to document, NOT to judge. All the great modern medievalists have striven with the utmost of care to cast off the biases of the historians of the past (mostly English Protestants writing about a Catholic Europe) and examine the Middle Ages in a way that will lead to a deeper understanding of the mentality of those who lived in those times. It is completely IMPOSSIBLE for anyone who did not grow up in Isabella's age to come close to fully understanding her motives, her experiences, her thoughts, her beliefs, or her reasons for doing what she did. We live in such a faithless, godless, hyper-secularized world that we rush to judge harshly those who were steeped in faith and unwaivering in belief, as was Isabela La Catolica. If you want to understand medieval Spain and the glorious victories and achievements of this magnificently brilliant and faith-filled woman, read this masterpiece. If you have no interest, like the anonymous "reviewer" in understanding the world as it once was, stick to the politically correct, completely useless "history" that so often passes for scholarship these days.
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35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Isabella the Magnificent, January 27, 2006
This biography by William Thomas Walsh is one of the finest I've ever seen. It reads like a novel of high adventure. If all you know abut Queen Isabella is that she financed the voyages of Columbus then please pick up this book and settle in for a long and exciting read. Walsh vividly recreates the brutal world that baby Isabella was born into and actually mananges to create a feeling of suspense as the quiet little girl faces a world of dangers alone. Her father died when she was an infant, her mother was too depressed to function and her older brother was a spineless weakling who not only didn't look out for her but was an actual danger to her.
While still a pre-teen she found herself living in the most immoral court in Europe. Before she was 17 she survived terrible peril and worked her way into a successful marriage with Prince Ferdinand of Aragon. The marriage lasted 35 years and they only had two public disagreements. That's pretty impressive right there.
She fearlessly rescued her country from anarchy, attacks from Portugal and drove the Moors out after they'd occupied Spain for over 700 years. Walsh writes brilliantly of the huge battles and the desperate skirmishes. Isabella's triumphs, tragedies and rock solid faith come to life on the pages of this book.
Catherine of Aragon was a woman of extraordinary character and courage and after reading this book you will see where she got it from; her magnificent mother. I absolutely loved this highly entertaining biography.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful, Remarkable, Prophetic, November 1, 2005
William Thomas Walsh's "Isabella of Spain" is a masterpiece. Walsh herein relates a story more dramatic and remarkable than fiction and more crucially relevant than today's headlines. The story of Isabella, the great Catholic Queen, is a tale of faithful determination, ingenuity, and the power of Christian love. Walsh relates how Isabella completes the 700 year struggle for the reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from Moslem domination with all the drama and style of the greatest of novelists. Here is a story of intrigue and valor, brought to life by the personal revelations of one of history's truly greatest monarchs, male or female.
There are extraordinary parallels between late 15th century Spain and 21st century America. Walsh relates that, behind the scenes, the Spain ultimately ruled by Isabella was one where Jewry had greater power than in any other Western nation in history. It was known in some clandestine circles as the "New Jerusalem". Remarkbably, Michael Collins Piper recently sytled the United States in the same manner in a like titled volume. Isabella was confronted with a fifth column in her work of reconquering and reuniting Spain, that of the Conversos, or false Christians. How like the situation of modern America this is. Isabella was able to triumph over this subversive movement, ultimately through invocation of Pope Sixtus' bull of Inquisition, one of the least understood epics in history.
As sovereigns of the reunited Spain, Isabella and her spouse, Fernando, made Spain the world's leading power. This was accomplished through the insightful commissioning of the voyages of Christopher Columbus and the well chosen marriages of their children. Prince Juan and Princess Juana were doubly wedded to Hapsburg Austria. Although Isabella's first born, the aforementioned Prince Juan, died very soon after his marriage and before reaching his twenties, her youngest daughter, Catalina, whom the English knew as Catherine of Aragon, went on to make her significant mark on world history.
This is tremendous history, soulfully told and beautifully written. The world desperately needs another Isabella. And we certainly need more historians who can write with the skill and courage of William Thomas Walsh. This is a great book.
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