Juana of Castile, also known as “Juana, the Mad”, was the daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. She saw her parents drive the Moors from Granada and unify the kingdoms of Spain. In an effort to expand the Spanish rule, Juana was sent to Flanders to marry Philip the Fair when she was only sixteen. Her sister, Catherine of Aragon, was sent to England to marry Henry VIII for the same reason.
The author tells her story of romance and betrayal through Juana’s voice. In the beginning, her marriage to Philip was one of passion. As their family grew, so did their problems. By marrying Juana, Philip assumed that he would become the King of Spain. After Queen Isabella died, there were major confrontations as both her husband and father positioned themselves to rule Spain. Juana was imprisoned under the accusation that she was mad. As her relationship with both her father and husband began to deteriorate, she became the victim of their plots. Her estranged husband Philip, became ill and died before he could become the King of Spain. Although abused by him, Juana was deeply affected by his death. She traveled throughout Spain in an effort to assert her control and Philip, in his coffin, traveled with her. She was rumored to have had his coffin opened several times so she could see him again. For this and other peculiarities, she became known as “Juana La Loca.”
C. W. Gortner gives the reader new insight into the world of the Spanish royal family and humanizes the woman who was the last Queen from the royal lineage. - Reviewed by Deb
