So I've read A LOT of British history, but not much Spanish history, so I decided to check out this novel about Queen Isabella of Spain (as in Ferdinand and Isabella). I really enjoyed it, and I learned a lot too (although it is a fictionalized account, all of the characters except one lady's maid are real people).
Isabella was a strong, intelligent woman, at a time when women were subservient to men and were mostly uneducated. She inherited a kingdom - Castile - that was in ruins, thanks to the ineffective previous kings, but she made it into one of the most respected European dynasties ever - with the help of her husband, Fernando (Ferdinand) of Aragon. They are the first rulers to unite the whole of Spain.
Isabella is an intriguing character. She's headstrong, but also extremely religious. That dichotomy leads to the two most disturbing aspects of their reign, the Inquisition and the expelling of the Jews. The author does a nice job of giving us some reasons behind why she allowed these atrocities, but of course no one can say what was in her heart.
The novel is a who's who of Spanish history, including Torquemada, Columbus, and little Catherine of Aragon. And it's a really great read.
The Queen's Vow
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