Julia Fox (1)

This was a dual biography of two sister queens: Katherine of Aragon and Juana of Castile. These daughters of legendary Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella led unbelievable lives. Katherine went to England as the wife of Prince Arthur of Wales. Widowed after just a few months, she eventually became the first wife of King Henry VIII. Of course, we all know it was downhill from there. Juana inherited the throne of Castile after the death of her mother. She was locked up by her father and her son after some "madness". Her own stubbornness and obstinacy didn't help her cause.

The book is very readable, presenting history in a very accessible way. One of the best features, I think, is Juana's story. It's something that English biographies tend to overlook. So, it was great to see these sisters' lives written side by side.

Great reading!… (plus d'informations)

An interesting, well-researched, convincingly argued biography of two sisters faced with terrible challenges and how they overcame there. The first few chapters are their childhood and look at their parents, Isabella and Ferdinand, and then, once they part ways for marriage, Fox gives them alternating chapters to let their lives play off each other a bit. The writing’s good but not great, and apart from a very clear casting of Anne Boleyn as a gold-digging villain, appears unbiased. Fox certainly seems to have done her research, and man, she’s good at pulling heartstrings. Like, the tragedies Katherine and Juana went through? The politics they had to learn on the fly? The incarcerations, gaslighting, and emotional abuse? The ways Katherine kept on top of politics when nobody would tell her anything? This is a much-needed look at the sisters, and at women in power at the time, and if you’re interested in the era, I say go for it.

7/10… (plus d'informations)