Isabella of Castile

Europe's First Great Queen

By: Giles Tremlett

Narrated by: Karen Cass

In 1474, a 23-year-old woman ascended the throne of Castile, the largest and strongest kingdom in Spain. Ahead of her lay the considerable challenge not only of being a young female ruler in an overwhelmingly male-dominated world but also of reforming a major European kingdom that was riddled with crime, corruption, and violent political factionism. Her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon was crucial to her success, bringing together as it did two kingdoms, but it was a royal partnership in which Isabella more than held her own. Her pivotal reign was long and transformative, uniting Spain and setting the stage for its golden era of global dominance. For by the time of her death in 1504, Isabella had laid the foundations not just of modern Spain but of one of the world's greatest empires.

Acclaimed historian Giles Tremlett chronicles the life of Isabella of Castile as she led her country out of the murky middle ages and harnessed the newest ideas and tools of the early Renaissance to turn her ill-disciplined, quarrelsome nation into a sharper, modern state with a powerful, clear-minded, and ambitious monarch at its centre. With authority, insight and flair, he relates the story of this legendary, if controversial, first initiate in a small club of great European queens that includes Elizabeth I of England, Russia's Catherine the Great, and Britain's Queen Victoria.

©2017 Giles Tremlett (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Compelling Read

I learned a lot about this controversial queen. The book gives an unbiased look at Isabella, and leaves final judgement to the reader/listener.
The narration was okay except for the narrator's constant imitations in the quotations of men throughout the book.
I highly recommend this book.

Astounding and enlightening

So enjoyed this book as it connected many dots in my understanding of history.

A different Isabela

This portrait of the queen is very different from the history
of the catholic queen that we are used to hearing, for example how she rose to the throne of Castile; the Beltranera is seldom mentioned and the civil war that presided her reign is not mentioned in the history books.
The time spent listening is time well spent.

Amazing Queen and Fascinating History

Loved the detail of this book.
Highly recommend
Will probably listen to it again
Beautiful History of Spain, Europe and America

Informative and not dull

Many historical elements explained in detail without being boring. From the crusades and persecution of Muslims and Jews alike to the expansion of the New World.