Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II - Rilegato

Parker, Geoffrey

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0300196539 ISBN 13: 9780300196535

Casa editrice: Yale Univ Pr, 2014

Riassunto

A vast archive of documents, unread since the sixteenth century, revises the portrait of Spain’s best-known king

Philip II is not only the most famous king in Spanish history, but one of the most famous monarchs in English history: the man who married Mary Tudor and later launched the Spanish Armada against her sister Elizabeth I. This compelling biography of the most powerful European monarch of his day begins with his conception (1526) and ends with his ascent to Paradise (1603), two occurrences surprisingly well documented by contemporaries. Eminent historian Geoffrey Parker draws on four decades of research on Philip as well as a recent, extraordinary archival discovery—a trove of 3,000 documents in the vaults of the Hispanic Society of America in New York City, unread since crossing Philip’s own desk more than four centuries ago. Many of them change significantly what we know about the king.
 
The book examines Philip’s long apprenticeship; his three principal interests (work, play, and religion); and the major political, military, and personal challenges he faced during his long reign. Parker offers fresh insights into the causes of Philip’s leadership failures: was his empire simply too big to manage, or would a monarch with different talents and temperament have fared better?

Su questo libro

Recensione:

'There is no Anglophone historian who knows more about Philip II than Geoffrey Parker. In this soaring biography which draws on a cache of recently discovered documents as well as the enormous back catalogue of archival deposits, he paints a compelling, even-handed portrait of the most powerful man in 16th century Europe. Parker informs us that Philip's handwriting is hard to read. It is no easier to decipher his legacy. It seems that he didn't kill his son Don Carlos (whatever the Verdi opera tries to tell you) but he was not averse to removing other obstacles. He continues to fascinate - if you are in the market for a nuanced study bolstered by a lifetime of study, Parker is your man and this is, for me, the historical biography of the year.' --Jonathan Wright, The Herald

L'autore:

Geoffrey Parker is Distinguished University Professor, Andreas Dorpalen Professor of European History, and associate of the Mershon Center, Ohio State University.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Yale Univ Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0300196539
• ISBN 13: 9780300196535
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 438