Read a synopsis of The Last Queen here.
Review
The Last Queen
by C.W. Gortner
She is known through history as Spain’s Mad Queen. But was Juana, daughter of the powerful Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, really as mad as they say? Juana of Castile, also known as Juana “La Loca” for her rumored insanity, lives again through the pages of C.W. Gortner’s beautifully written story of trust and betrayal. Gortner has taken a much different and unexplored approach to Juana, instead portraying her as a passionate woman who was not at all insane, but rather a victim of history’s chauvinistic attitude towards women.
Every man who came into Juana’s life wanted her only for her crown. And when she refused to freely give what was rightfully hers, her enemies spun a wheel of treacherous deceit and manipulation, telling all who would listen that Juana was unfit to rule, a women driven mad by her passions. This sad fact truly angered me, as it seems to play off that age old idea of “women and their hysterics.” While Juana did occasionally unleash a raging bout of anger or despair, it is clear that any woman of feeling would have been similarly driven to act out in some way if put under the same circumstances. I felt SO frustrated at certain points just reading as Juana fell into one trap after the other, blindly trusting those who should have been her staunchest allies, were they not only looking out for their own selfish ambitions.
I really like that the author has challenged a widely-accepted point of view on one of history’s most misunderstood, and under appreciated, of women. Recorded history in and of itself does not always amount to pure fact, indeed there were many men in Juana’s life who sought to tarnish her reputation forever in order to cover their own greed and the injustices that Juana was made to suffer. In Juana’s case, “recorded history” must be challenged, as much of the conventional wisdom on Juana’s character comes from the very men who sought to bring down this most tragic queen, and who thereby would have reason to wish to see Juana’s name sullied, her abilities as a queen held to indefinite question.
I cannot emphasize enough how stunningly this book is written. I’ve never read an historical novel on Spain before, and this author expertly wove in prose and poetic wording to bring this country’s history and its pious but prideful people brilliantly to life. He really captured the essence of Spain under the great Isabel, and the dramatic shift to hardship and chaos that took place there immediately after her death. Many of the betrayals Juana endured throughout her life came from the most unexpected of sources. Gortner is really good at tricking you as the reader into trusting these two-faced characters as well, which helps the reader to better understand Juana’s situation. His ability to make the reader feel empathetic, as though he or she were experiencing Juana’s hardships as their own, attests his abilities in evoking emotion and his overall artistry as a creative writer.
Gortner excels particularly at expressing the internal feelings and emotions of his main character Juana. I will admit I had my doubts at first when I learned that C.W. was a male author writing in first person from a female perspective, but after reading The Last Queen, he is now one of my new favorite authors. The Last Queen is right up there with Josephine B and Signora da Vinci for me; truly a splendid gem of a novel.
Check back soon for an interview with author C.W. Gortner!
What a beautiful and well written review!! The book sounds wonderful too. I'll add it to my list!
I also thought he wrote from a female perspective beautifully! I can't wait for his Catherine de Medici book!Lezlie
This sounds amazing. I covered the fascinating life and unhappy marriage (and reign) of Juana la Loca in NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES. That poor woman was abused by her parents, her husband, and her son, and I don't think she was "mad" at all — but very justifiably "angry"!
Great review! This sounds like a really interesting book, and one that belongs on my loooooooong tbr list.Btw, I LOVE your rating system
This was also my first book that dealth with historical Spain and I just loved it!
Excellent review! I don't think you've missed a thing! And now I REALLY want to read it. Thanks Allie:) It is on my wishlist- so who knows:)
Jenny – Thanks so much doll! I'm so happy you liked this review
Lezlie – Me too! He seems to be carving a nook for himself as an expert at giving a voice to the much-maligned women of history.Leslie Carroll – I'm so glad to hear you took the sympathetic approach to Juana as well. I so look forward to reading it! It is so unfair that she was labeled as crazy when she clearly had every reason to be pretty pissed off!Susan B. Evans – Why thank ya darlin! I just can't seem to get enough of that crazy Henry VIII and his poor wives…Jo-Jo – I thought the descriptions were so beautiful! I now want to go visit The Alhambra and all of Isabella's castles!Lucy – Yay! That means I've done my job as a book reviewer 
I had heard so many good things but as you will soon find out for yourself, nothing compares to actually reading and seeing for yourself how amazing his writing truly is! C.W. is a new favorite for me.
I just got this book yesterday to review! can't wait to read it! great review though! I have never read about Juana la Loca ..yet.
This was such a good read. I am very much looking forward to CW's next book!
okbolover – You are going to love it, I just know it!! I look forward to reading your review and hearing your thoughts on Juana.Marg – Me too! I can't wait to see how he portrays Catherine de Medici, another one of history's misunderstood women. I've not read too much on her before, only Courtesan by Diane Haeger, which covers the relationship between Henri II and Diane de Poitiers, and describes Catherine as Henri's devious, jealous, and vindictive wife. I'd be interested to read a new perspective on her, as I always like to give the historical ladies a second chance!
There was a movie about her several years ago…a Spanish or French movie, I think. It was subtitled. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name, but it was such a good movie, I have been intrigued about Juana ever since. I really want to read this book! Thanks for the great review!P.S. If I find out the name of the movie, I'll come back and post it here.
As promised! The film is called Mad Love or Juana La Loca, a 2001 Spanish film. I recommend it!
I'll have to read the Catherine de Medici novel, too! She's another royal whose marriage I profiled in NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES. and I tend to view her fairly sympathetically as well — at least during the years of her marriage. She was a real political tigress once she became the Dowager Queen. But in her marriage, she really had a dreadful uphill battle, painfully aware that her husband was passionately in love with another woman (Diane de Poitiers)
THE LAST QUEEN was my favorite historical fiction read of this past year. All of C.W.'s passion for the place, the period and his characters drench the pages in sound and fury and brilliant colors. As an author myself, who prides herself on being able to write both male and female characters, I expect no less from the likes of C.W. Gortner. But I have to admit that the book's sex scenes (written from Juana's point of view by a male) were extraordinary and unbelievably sexy. I too, cannot wait for his Catherine de' Medici book.
thebookaddict – You are not going to believe this, but I've actually had Mad Love rented from blockbuster for the past week! I thought it would be the perfect film to watch after I finished The Last Queen. I started watching it the other night but didn't have time to finish. I'm eventually going to review it on the blog when I get around to finishing it!Leslie Carroll – There is a lot of historical fiction out about Catherine right now, and from what I've heard, each one portrays her a bit differently. I think I would like to read a nonfiction take on her before I read another fictitious one, just to be able to have some perspective. Can't wait for Notorious Royal Marriages to satiate that CDM nonfiction craving I've been having!history queen – I think C.W. is extremely gifted. And you are so right, Robin, the sex scenes were very well done (and not at all overdone, which I imagine must have been a difficult balance to strike, especially with so passionate a relationship as that which was between Juana and Phillip). C.W. must be a very perceptive guy, considering how clearly he seems to understand and appreciate the female mentality!
I've had this on my TBR list for quite a while..your review is bumping it way up on the list..