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Margaret of Austria: Governor of the Netherlands and Early 16th-Century Europe's Greatest Diplomat Paperback – March 6, 2023
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WINNER - 2023 READERS' FAVORITE Awards - Fiction-Historical-Personage
◆ Royalty ◆ Power ◆ Politics ◆ Love ◆ Struggle
Bestselling biographer and historian Sarah Gristwood, author of Game of Queens and 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
- Print length427 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 6, 2023
- Dimensions5.25 x 1.07 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101732589992
- ISBN-13978-1732589995
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"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. This telling of Margaret's story is captivating on a personal level, and classily comprehensive on sixteenth-century diplomacy."
-Sarah Gristwood, author of The Tudors in LoveandGame of Queens
"Rich in history and filled with enticing drama, a diplomatic tale that celebrates the life of a brilliant European power broker of the early 16th century. Margaret emerges as a charming, savvy, and wily hero, capable of manipulating Europe's political chessboard."-Kirkus Reviews
"Beautifully written, with a strong narrative and compelling characters, Margaret of Austria offers readers insight into the life of one of history's most intriguing monarchs."-Publishers Weekly 2023 Booklife Prize
"Author Gaston has brought Margaret to life as a daughter, wife, niece, aunt, friend, politician, ambassador, and diplomat. The reader of Margaret of Austria will be both enlightened and entertained."-Historical Novel Society
"An engaging account of the life and achievements of one of the foremost prominent figures of her time, Margaret of Austria is a well-researched and meticulously crafted narrative, blending historical facts and fiction in a way that renders the story both informative and entertaining. Gaston's ability to balance intricate details of diplomatic events and relationships with the broader historical context makes the book a valuable resource for scholars of early modern Europe. With an overview of Burgundy and a cast of characters that enable readers to follow the complex relationships and political intrigues that shape Margaret's life, Gaston's writing style, infused with lively dialogue and a spirited narrative, keeps the reader engaged. The book offers a nuanced portrayal of a powerful woman in a period when female leadership was often overlooked and will be embraced by readers interested in the history of women in power."-Readers' Favorite
"Gaston's is a deftly drawn rendering of this historically significant woman who embraced leadership at a time when women were discouraged from leading."-Archduke Géza von Habsburg of Austria, author of Princely Treasures
"A must-read for anyone interested in the history of early modern Europe, women's history, or political biography."-Lee Leho
"This is an excellent book about a fascinating woman during a period in which women played an important, and to-date largely unrecognized, role."-Keira Morgan, author of The Importance of Pawns
"With sparkling dialogue and rigorous historical accuracy, Gaston brings Margaret to life, taking us along on her travels, sitting beside her at the negotiation table, and unearthing how she evolved into one of the most important rulers of the Renaissance."-Susan Abernethy, European Women in History blog
Product details
- Publisher : Renaissance Editions (March 6, 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 427 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1732589992
- ISBN-13 : 978-1732589995
- Item Weight : 1.07 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.25 x 1.07 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #149,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #239 in Royalty Biographies
- #378 in Biographical Historical Fiction
- #1,689 in Women's Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
ROZSA GASTON is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life.
She is the author of Margaret of Austria, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction.
Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, Black is Not a Color, Budapest Romance, Running from Love, and Dog Sitters.
Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her Master's degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor magazine, then as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian.
She is currently working on a book on Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria's court. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family.
Her motto? History matters.
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Historical fiction at its best.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thank you, Rossa Gaston
Top reviews from other countries
The novel weaves between biography and fiction, filled with fascinating historical fact and detail coupled with lively dialogue and spirited narrative. The intricate minutiae of relationships—e.g., Margaret married successively the Dauphin of France, the Heir Apparent of Spain, and Duke of Savoy; and she was sister to Queen Catherine of Aragon in England, and sister-in-law to Duchess Louise de Savoy, to name a but a few—and diplomatic events can make the story heavy going for those who are not familiar with the characters and issues of the period. Yet Gaston writes with a light touch, bringing Margaret’s rich personal life into clear focus and she emerges as a charming and wily heroine. Gaston also begins with a brief explanation of Burgundy at the time, and a Cast of Characters to provide a context.
On to the story itself. After three unfortunate marriages in France, Spain and Savoy, well-chronicled by Gaston, Margaret comes into her own after 1504, when she is once again widowed. Refusing to marry again despite intense pressure from her father, Emperor Maximilian I, she returns to the Netherlands.
In 1506, Margaret’s life takes a dramatic change in direction when her brother Philip, Duke of Burgundy and King of Spain, dies unexpectedly in Spain at the age of 28. With their mother Queen Juana of Castile insane in Spain, the elder four children, including the underage Charles, heir to the duchy of Burgundy, were left orphaned in the Netherlands. Margaret stepped in to care for them. Appointed by her father, Margaret became governor of the Netherlands in 1507. Shen widened her role to broker the 1508 Treaty of Cambrai when Europe’s princes united against Venice.
When Charles came of age as Duke of Burgundy and King of Spain, her enemies ousted Margaret. She won back her position by convincing her nephew of her probity and loyalty and he named her Regent in the Netherlands, where she continued to defend the interests of that area until her death. During this event-filled time in Europe’s Renaissance, Gaston brings the early 16th century family wranglings, power struggles and diplomatic negotiations Margaret orchestrated to life.
This is an excellent book about a fascinating woman during a period in which women played an important, and to-date largely unrecognized, role. I recommend it highly.