A Matter of Pride by Linda Carlino is very funny and also at times, very sad.
In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable and grumpy Emperor Charles V retires to a small secluded monastery in southwest Spain.
He suffers from painful chronic gout, crippling arthritis and excruciatingly painful piles. He has to be carried around in a chair and continually washed and pampered with vinegar bandages.
Sounds like fun? It gets better!
He has lost most of his teeth and the sight of him eating was offensive to the eye and stomach. Food is sloshed and squashed about in his mouth before being sluiced down his throat with a good swilling of wine or beer, often both.
Through his staff and servants and the clever use of an all-knowing very amusing narrator, who gossips regularly with us, we soon get to learn much about the Emperor Charles V and we begin to wonder if this querulous, beer-swilling, belching gourmand, womaniser and egotist could possibly have been "the greatest emperor since Charlemagne."
His temper rages at "the bastard merchants" who had refused him gold and are to be taught a lesson on the rack, as well as at the "son of a whore" in the chapel who is singing off key.
He sees himself as a great victorious military leader and descends into child-like tantrums when reminded of his failures.
He is pitiless and intolerant: he had his mother imprisoned for 40 years; he refers to the Pope as the "duplicitous bastard"; he has trained his parrot to screech "incestuous bastard" whenever Luther's name is mentioned; his response to suspected heresy is ruthless - no trials, just severe punishment for the guilty, or innocent.
But from time to time there are glimpses of a loving, sensitive, and sympathetic Carlos. At times he lavishes gifts and rewards on friends and servants, and when a distressed widow with her beautiful young daughter appeared at his court begging for help so began a lasting and very generous relationship. She brought him romance, passion, tender loving care, which he would remember for the rest of his days - and bore him a son upon whom he can, secretly, lavish his affection.
Carlos is shown to be a man of weaknesses and strengths, meanness and generosity, brutality and tenderness, passions and regrets, all in equal measure and always to excess.
Even at the story's moving close the all-seeing, all-knowing, narrator leaves us still wondering who really was this "greatest emperor since Charlemagne".
It all makes for a great story that is very funny at times and also at times very sad.
To read the whole story in paperback or Kindle Book, A Matter of Pride by Linda Carlino, is available at Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.de
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Thursday, 7 July 2011
A Spanish Hapsburg Trilogy
A Spanish Hapsburg Trilogy by Linda Carlino
The books are connected (mother, son, grandson) but each book can be read separately.
That Other Juana (Queen Juana I of Spain) Juana la Loca
Juana founded the Hapsburg dynasties of Spain and Austria but her life was ruined by three men: her husband a blatant womaniser and political schemer; her father who betrayed and isolated her; and her son who imprisoned her for a further thirty years.
Her spirited resistance to this lifetime of barbaric persecution earned her, unfairly, the infamous nickname Juana la Loca, Joan the Mad.
A Matter of Pride (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor)
In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable Charles V retires to a secluded monastery in western Spain.
He brings memories of past loves, years in power, and military campaigns – mostly failures. His major domo freely speaks his mind, other characters tell tragicomic anecdotes and an all-knowing narrator makes sarcastic and funny observations. It all makes for a wonderful story - sometimes tearful, sometimes hilarious.
Wives & Other Women (Philip II of Spain)
At a time when kings were expected to produce male heirs Philip embarked on several dynastic marriages but was always disappointed and frustrated.
The story focuses on these loveless marriages — and his compulsive pursuit of other women.
With a background of family turmoil and a court plagued by intrigue and treachery, the result is a fascinating and very lively story.
In 2009 That Other Juana was published in Portugal by Editorial Presença and the other two books of the trilogy will be published in Portugal during 2012.
In March 2011 the Brazilian publisher Editora Europa bought the rights for That Other Juana and will publish it in Brazil and all its territories, in paperback and digital ebook forms, during 2012.
All of Linda Carlino’s books, paperbacks and Kindle Books, are available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.de
Biography
Linda was born in a small mining village at the southern edge of the Durham coalfield in the Northeast of England. Her family was quite remarkable for that time and place: they loved books and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Not surprising that after college a successful and rewarding teaching career followed.
Linda had a lifelong passion for history and historical fiction but writing as a second career was never planned or sought. But a five week independent tour of Spain in 1988 was a life-changing event. Its history, particularly the historical connections with England, caught her attention. She was hooked. She wanted to know more, much more. She studied Spanish and then started reading Spanish sources. Many exciting days followed in the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, other public and private libraries in Spain, and the British Library in London.
In 2008 she was elected a Full Member of The Society of Authors.
TAGS:
Ana Mendoza, Charles V-HRE, Don Juan of Austria, Ferdinand & Isabella, Historical fiction], historical novels, Juana la Loca, Mary Tudor, Philip II of Spain, Philip the Fair, Prince Don Carlos, Princess of Eboli
The books are connected (mother, son, grandson) but each book can be read separately.
That Other Juana (Queen Juana I of Spain) Juana la Loca
Juana founded the Hapsburg dynasties of Spain and Austria but her life was ruined by three men: her husband a blatant womaniser and political schemer; her father who betrayed and isolated her; and her son who imprisoned her for a further thirty years.
Her spirited resistance to this lifetime of barbaric persecution earned her, unfairly, the infamous nickname Juana la Loca, Joan the Mad.
A Matter of Pride (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor)
In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable Charles V retires to a secluded monastery in western Spain.
He brings memories of past loves, years in power, and military campaigns – mostly failures. His major domo freely speaks his mind, other characters tell tragicomic anecdotes and an all-knowing narrator makes sarcastic and funny observations. It all makes for a wonderful story - sometimes tearful, sometimes hilarious.
Wives & Other Women (Philip II of Spain)
At a time when kings were expected to produce male heirs Philip embarked on several dynastic marriages but was always disappointed and frustrated.
The story focuses on these loveless marriages — and his compulsive pursuit of other women.
With a background of family turmoil and a court plagued by intrigue and treachery, the result is a fascinating and very lively story.
In 2009 That Other Juana was published in Portugal by Editorial Presença and the other two books of the trilogy will be published in Portugal during 2012.
In March 2011 the Brazilian publisher Editora Europa bought the rights for That Other Juana and will publish it in Brazil and all its territories, in paperback and digital ebook forms, during 2012.
All of Linda Carlino’s books, paperbacks and Kindle Books, are available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.de
Biography
Linda was born in a small mining village at the southern edge of the Durham coalfield in the Northeast of England. Her family was quite remarkable for that time and place: they loved books and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Not surprising that after college a successful and rewarding teaching career followed.
Linda had a lifelong passion for history and historical fiction but writing as a second career was never planned or sought. But a five week independent tour of Spain in 1988 was a life-changing event. Its history, particularly the historical connections with England, caught her attention. She was hooked. She wanted to know more, much more. She studied Spanish and then started reading Spanish sources. Many exciting days followed in the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, other public and private libraries in Spain, and the British Library in London.
In 2008 she was elected a Full Member of The Society of Authors.
TAGS:
Ana Mendoza, Charles V-HRE, Don Juan of Austria, Ferdinand & Isabella, Historical fiction], historical novels, Juana la Loca, Mary Tudor, Philip II of Spain, Philip the Fair, Prince Don Carlos, Princess of Eboli
Monday, 4 July 2011
Philip II, Mary Tudor – and other women
Wives & Other Women, the third historical novel of Linda Carlino’s Hapsburg Trilogy, is the story of Philip II of Spain
The action takes place in the second half of the 16th century, mainly in Spain England Belgium France
It is set against a background of family turmoil, a court plagued by intrigue and treachery, the compulsive pursuit of other women, as Philip struggles under the continuing pressure of his royal responsibilities to God, to his country and, most importantly, to provide a suitable male heir.
His son by his very brief first marriage, Prince Don Carlos, was mentally and physically damaged, far from being a suitable male heir; an embarrassing and dangerous lunatic. In an uncontrollable rage he threatens to kill his father. Philip alleges treason, and has him arrested and imprisoned in solitary confinement. His death a few months later is very convenient, - and suspicious.
Mary Tudor did not provide the needed heir and other wives gave him only daughters. Meanwhile one of his mistresses, the Princess of Eboli (Kate O'Brien's "That Lady"), does bear him a healthy baby boy, which only increases his frustration as this illegitimate son could never inherit the throne.
Other major characters are Isabel de Valois (daughter of Catherine de Medici), Don Juan of Austria
The story will appeal to all lovers of historical fiction and women in particular will be interested in the lives of women at that time much of which still has relevance today.
Wives & Other Women has been bought by Portuguese publisher Editorial Presença and will be published worldwide in Portuguese in 2012.
All of Linda Carlino’s books are available at Amazom.co.uk and Amazon.com.
Reviews
Wives & Other Women is an excellent book: I started it last night and finished it this morning. I could not put it down. I was taken into an area of history I knew little about. And what a story! The nine chapters about Philip's time in England
From the stunningly brilliant and fascinating early chapters about Philip s time in England
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
The Emperor Dreams of Barbara
The Emperor Dreams of Barbara
A Matter of Pride is very funny and also at times, very sad.
In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable and grumpy Emperor Charles V retires to a small secluded monastery in southwestSpain
He suffers from painful chronic gout, crippling arthritis and excruciatingly painful piles. He has to be carried around in a chair and continually washed and pampered with vinegar bandages.
Sounds like fun? It gets better!
He has lost most of his teeth and the sight of him eating was offensive to the eye and stomach. Food is sloshed and squashed about in his mouth before being sluiced down his throat with a good swilling of wine or beer, often both.
Through his staff and servants and the clever use of an all-knowing very amusing narrator, who gossips regularly with us, we soon get to learn much about the Emperor Charles V and we begin to wonder if this querulous, beer-swilling, belching gourmand, womaniser and egotist could possibly have been "the greatest emperor since Charlemagne."
His temper rages at "the bastard merchants" who had refused him gold and are to be taught a lesson on the rack, as well as at the "son of a whore" in the chapel who is singing off key.
He sees himself as a great victorious military leader and descends into child-like tantrums when reminded of his failures.
He is pitiless and intolerant: he had his mother imprisoned for 40 years; he refers to the Pope as the "duplicitous bastard"; he has trained his parrot to screech "incestuous bastard" whenever Luther's name is mentioned; his response to suspected heresy is ruthless - no trials, just severe punishment for the guilty, or innocent.
But from time to time there are glimpses of a loving, sensitive, and sympathetic Carlos. At times he lavishes gifts and rewards on friends and servants, and when a distressed widow with her beautiful young daughter appeared at his court begging for help so began a lasting and very generous relationship. She brought him romance, passion, tender loving care, which he would remember for the rest of his days - and bore him a son upon whom he can, secretly, lavish his affection.
Carlos is shown to be a man of weaknesses and strengths, meanness and generosity, brutality and tenderness, passions and regrets, all in equal measure and always to excess.
Even at the story's moving close the all-seeing, all-knowing, narrator leaves us still wondering who really was this "greatest emperor since Charlemagne".
It all makes for a great story that is very funny at times and also at times very sad.
A Matter of Pride by Linda Carlino is available at Amazon.
In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable and grumpy Emperor Charles V retires to a small secluded monastery in southwest
He suffers from painful chronic gout, crippling arthritis and excruciatingly painful piles. He has to be carried around in a chair and continually washed and pampered with vinegar bandages.
Sounds like fun? It gets better!
He has lost most of his teeth and the sight of him eating was offensive to the eye and stomach. Food is sloshed and squashed about in his mouth before being sluiced down his throat with a good swilling of wine or beer, often both.
Through his staff and servants and the clever use of an all-knowing very amusing narrator, who gossips regularly with us, we soon get to learn much about the Emperor Charles V and we begin to wonder if this querulous, beer-swilling, belching gourmand, womaniser and egotist could possibly have been "the greatest emperor since Charlemagne."
His temper rages at "the bastard merchants" who had refused him gold and are to be taught a lesson on the rack, as well as at the "son of a whore" in the chapel who is singing off key.
He sees himself as a great victorious military leader and descends into child-like tantrums when reminded of his failures.
He is pitiless and intolerant: he had his mother imprisoned for 40 years; he refers to the Pope as the "duplicitous bastard"; he has trained his parrot to screech "incestuous bastard" whenever Luther's name is mentioned; his response to suspected heresy is ruthless - no trials, just severe punishment for the guilty, or innocent.
But from time to time there are glimpses of a loving, sensitive, and sympathetic Carlos. At times he lavishes gifts and rewards on friends and servants, and when a distressed widow with her beautiful young daughter appeared at his court begging for help so began a lasting and very generous relationship. She brought him romance, passion, tender loving care, which he would remember for the rest of his days - and bore him a son upon whom he can, secretly, lavish his affection.
Carlos is shown to be a man of weaknesses and strengths, meanness and generosity, brutality and tenderness, passions and regrets, all in equal measure and always to excess.
Even at the story's moving close the all-seeing, all-knowing, narrator leaves us still wondering who really was this "greatest emperor since Charlemagne".
It all makes for a great story that is very funny at times and also at times very sad.
A Matter of Pride by Linda Carlino is available at Amazon.
Reviews:
“I have just finished Linda Carlino’s latest book A Matter of Pride. From the title to the last full stop it is an enthralling read! I am really impressed with her use of an all-knowing narrator. From the very start he brings you right into the story with a warm personal welcome, offering a few revealing and intimate details so almost immediately I felt I was one of the characters in the novel.” (Alain Tomas)
“A Matter of Pride, the story about the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, is a triumph! Historical accuracy combined with the author’s faultless, sensitive, and entertaining writing makes it a joyful reading experience”. (J. M. Sanmarti)
“When Emperor Charles V retires to a remote monastery at age 56 he is most unlike an emperor: stooped and worn, his body ravaged by wars and gross over-indulgence. In A Matter of Pride Linda Carlino very cleverly uses flashbacks, comments by a “ghost” narrator and conversations with friends, confidants and servants, to create a very lively and entertaining story: sometimes very funny, at other times very sad.” (J. Gartner)
Friday, 17 June 2011
Looking for some different historical fiction?
How about the story of Juana la Loca, (Joan the Mad) That Other Juana by Linda Carlino - beautifully written, compelling and unforgettable.
Writers, dramatists filmmakers and even historians have distorted and sensationalised the story of Juana’s life for their own ends.
She wasn’t a nymphomaniac, she didn’t murder her husband, she didn’t have his coffin reopened repeatedly, nor did she trail all over Spain
Juana’s story takes place between 1496 - 1555 mainly in Spain Netherlands France England
She was the daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabel of Castile, and older sister of Catherine of Aragon. At the age of 15, she was contracted to marry Philip the Fair, son of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. Although it was a political marriage she fell hopelessly in love with him at first sight; a love that was extremely passionate, bordering on obsessive. He was a serial womaniser, a political schemer, and noted for his hatred of Spain
The deaths of the monarchs' two oldest children resulted in Juana’s, succession to the throne of Castile
When Philip died suddenly she was 26 and pregnant with her sixth child.
Hopes of relying on her father, who she adored and held in awe, for support, were quickly dashed. He isolated her, publicly humiliated her, finally denying her of her rightful status as Queen of Castile.
Her son Charles, even greedier for power, held her prisoner completely shut off from the outside world for four decades until she died at 76.
Throughout her life Juana was humiliated and abused and denied the right to reign by the three men she loved so much. Her spirited resistance to their relentless physical and mental cruelty earned her, unjustly, the nickname by which she is remembered, Juana la Loca, Joan the Mad.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Emperor: Mad or Sad?
A Matter of Pride by Linda Carlino is very funny and also at times, very sad.
In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable and grumpy Emperor Charles V retires to a small secluded monastery in southwest Spain
He suffers from painful chronic gout, crippling arthritis and excruciatingly painful piles. He has to be carried around in a chair and continually washed and pampered with vinegar bandages.
Sounds like fun? It gets better!
He has lost most of his teeth and the sight of him eating was offensive to the eye and stomach. Food is sloshed and squashed about in his mouth before being sluiced down his throat with a good swilling of wine or beer, often both.
Through his staff and servants and the clever use of an all-knowing very amusing narrator, who gossips regularly with us, we soon get to learn much about the Emperor Charles V and we begin to wonder if this querulous, beer-swilling, belching gourmand, womaniser and egotist could possibly have been "the greatest emperor since Charlemagne."
His temper rages at "the bastard merchants" who had refused him gold and are to be taught a lesson on the rack, as well as at the "son of a whore" in the chapel who is singing off key.
He sees himself as a great victorious military leader and descends into child-like tantrums when reminded of his failures.
He is pitiless and intolerant: he had his mother imprisoned for 40 years; he refers to the Pope as the "duplicitous bastard"; he has trained his parrot to screech "incestuous bastard" whenever Luther's name is mentioned; his response to suspected heresy is ruthless - no trials, just severe punishment for the guilty, or innocent.
But from time to time there are glimpses of a loving, sensitive, and sympathetic Carlos. At times he lavishes gifts and rewards on friends and servants, and when a distressed widow with her beautiful young daughter appeared at his court begging for help so began a lasting and very generous relationship. She brought him romance, passion, tender loving care, which he would remember for the rest of his days - and bore him a son upon whom he can, secretly, lavish his affection.
Carlos is shown to be a man of weaknesses and strengths, meanness and generosity, brutality and tenderness, passions and regrets, all in equal measure and always to excess.
Even at the story's moving close the all-seeing, all-knowing, narrator leaves us still wondering who really was this "greatest emperor since Charlemagne".
It all makes for a great story that is very funny at times and also at times very sad.
A Matter of Pride, by Linda Carlino, is available as Kindle Book and paperback at amazon.co.uk or amazon.com
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