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Margaret of Austria: Governor of the Netherlands and Early 16th-Century Europe's Greatest Diplomat

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Arrives Tuesday, Jun 24
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Description

WINNER - Readers' Favorite Awards 2023 - Fiction-Historical-Personage SHORTLISTED - Chaucer Awards 2023 - Early Historical Fiction ◆ Royalty ◆ Power ◆ Politics ◆ Love ◆ Struggle Bestselling biographer and historian Sarah Gristwood, author of The Tudors in Love, calls this tale of early 16th-century Europe's most brilliant power broker “Compelling and wholly convincing—at once a vividly readable novel and a long-overdue presentation of Europe's unsung heroine to the broad audience she deserves.” Margaret of Austria was the most significant political negotiator of early 16th-century Europe. About as Austrian as French fries are French, she was born in Brussels in 1480, raised in France, married and widowed in Spain, then married and widowed again in Savoy by age twenty-four. In 1506 Margaret’s life turned upside down when her brother Philip of Burgundy unexpectedly died in Spain. With their mother Juana of Castile insane, four children, heirs to the Habsburg empire, were left behind in the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands. Margaret stepped in and took the reins. Appointed by her father, Maximilian I, Margaret became governor of the Netherlands, then widened her role to broker the 1508 Treaty of Cambrai where Europe’s princes united against Venice. Ferdinand of Spain, Henry Tudor then Henry VIII of England, Louis XII of France, and Louise of Savoy for Francis I all came to Margaret’s negotiation table. Under her deft diplomacy princes saw reason and wars were averted. Enjoying political power, Margaret avoided remarriage. Then Henry VIII's right-hand man Charles Brandon turned her world upside down. Margaret's court attracted Europe's brightest, including the young Anne Boleyn. Yet halfway through her rule Margaret was ousted by enemies. She won back her position with a comeback strategy as astute today as it was in 1517. Journey to the Renaissance with Margaret of Austria, who shot the fortunes of the House of Habsburg to the stars while setting a winning precedent for female rule in the Netherlands.“A must-read for fans of The Other Boleyn Girl and Agincourt.”—T. Pine Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Renaissance Editions (March 7, 2023)


Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2023


Language ‏ : ‎ English


File size ‏ : ‎ 43487 KB


Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited


Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled


Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported


Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled


X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, Jun 24

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • surprised at how much I enjoyed this!
It’s beautifully written and is historically accurate with the dates, places and players, but it’s presented more as a Historical Re-enactment rather than either a straight history volume or a historical fiction. It reminded me of the History Channel shows that have expert interviews then use actors to play out the events. I wish all my history books had been like this! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023 by Addicted to Amaz0n

  • The Defining Portrait of a Great Woman
Ms Gaston does more than one critically interesting thing with this fascinating historical novel. She brings to the forefront one of the magnificent female figures of Renaissance Europe, one who has too long been overlooked in the histories written by men. And she triumphantly breathes life into Margaret of Austria, and the other historical characters, in a way that makes you feel certain that the writer's depiction is the actual history. She imbues Margaret with what must have been the passion, wit, and courage that made this woman the preeminent diplomat of her era, while overcoming all the obstacles placed in front of a woman in the sixteenth century. The reader feels a part a brilliant engagement with the exercise and philosophy of power in Renaissance Europe, and comes away from the novel feeling happy to have learned a history that should be more generally known, and grateful to Ms. Gaston for making this history come to life. Buy this book. Read it. Buy several as gifts for your nieces and nephews. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2023 by Gerald Weaver

  • Wonderfully done
Highlighting yet another woman who got things done. Despite being a pawn in her early years, Margaret was capable and ruled her lands and subjects well. She helped succeeding generations find their own feet. The church at Brou, which she designed, is beautiful and an everlasting tribute to her.
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023 by Website's Mom

  • Historical entertainment
Although some of the sentences toward the beginning felt choppy, getting farther into the story got into its groove. The detail put into describing the setting is impressive, and the way the characters refer to others according to perceived station breathes life into the story.
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2023 by Rachel Annette

  • Fascinating
I really enjoy reading historical fiction especially when it is based in truth. Margaret's story is truly inspiring and full of intrigue. A fascinating read.
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023 by Sharon Thompson

  • a new favorite obsession
I must admit I have a thing for period pieces. I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid photos, descriptions, and dialogue. This novel is not hard to follow and is a very personal and interesting historical page turner. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023 by E.M. Fowler

  • Captivating Story of Margaret of Austria
A captivating journey through the life of an extraordinary woman who not only governed the Netherlands but also emerged as Europe's greatest diplomat in the early 16th century. The book masterfully unveils Margaret's diplomatic prowess and strategic brilliance, shedding light on her influence in shaping the political landscape of the time. A meticulously researched and well-written narrative, this biography is a must-read for history enthusiasts, offering a nuanced portrait of a remarkable figure who navigated the complexities of power with finesse and foresight. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023 by InsightfulReader

  • A Great Book for Lovers of historical fiction
I had never heard of Margaret of Austria, but I love historical fiction. The synopsis sounded intriguing and I placed the order. I am truly impressed with the scope of research the author went through, and not only was this a part of early "European History", it also made quite clear the cross-connections between the French/English and Austrian Courts and the strong hold of the Roman Catholic Church over these royal courts. While sometimes all these interconnections through several generations can be confusing to follow, I found that this time I could actually keep track of all of them... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can highly recommend it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2023 by FIFTYPLUS

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