Author: Isabel Stilwell.
Dos hermanas para un rey (Two Sisters for a King), by the writer Isabel Stilwell, tells the extraordinary and unknown story of Isabel and Maria, the daughters of the Catholic Monarchs, two women for whom it was inevitable to make history.
Portugal, late 15th century: Justa, the housekeeper of the young Manuel, Duke of Beja, never doubted that he was “The Chosen One”, the one who, according to the prophecies, was called to reconquer Jerusalem and unite all mankind under the same faith. Although he was not born to be king, the Fates conspired so that, in 1495, after the death of his nephew and the murders of his brother and brother-in-law, he became successor to John II.
Nicknamed the Venturesome, his ships reached India and Brazil, enabling him to build an empire worthy of the Wizard King of the West, as he secretly called himself. Under his reign, Lisbon became the centre of the spice trade, with the streets teeming with spies, merchants, wealth and intrigue as never seen before.
Isabella, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs and widow of John II’s son Alfonso, resisted being married to the new king. She wanted to live out her sadness in peace. But from the first day he saw her, Manuel was determined to make her his, even if that meant first expelling the heretics and then the Jews from Portugal. Unfortunately, their marital bliss was short-lived, as Isabella died in childbirth and shortly afterwards their only son would follow her to the grave. The succession had to be guaranteed. The time had come for Mary, Isabella’s sister.
Pages: 760
Publisher: ESPASA LIBROS
Binding: Soft cover
ISBN: 9788467063677
RPP: 20,80 euros
