The Story of Don John of Austria

The Story of Don John of Austria

In one of the addresses delivered at the time of Padre Coloma's admission to the Real Academia Espaola there is a reference to Jeromn, as this Story of Don John of Austria is called in Spanish, which says that it awakes great interest in the reader by inaugurating a new type of book, half novel and half history. This seems too true a description of it not to be quoted here. In his preface the author states that he does not propose to delve into any deep problems, or to put forward unknown facts about personages already judged at the bar of history. All the same, I think that much in this book will be fresh to English readers, notably, perhaps, the fact that an "auto da fe" consisted in hearing the sentences pronounced on the prisoners of the Inquisition, not in witnessing their execution, and that in most cases the condemned were garrotted before being burnt. Many of the illustrations will also be new to most people. Through the kindness of the Duke of Berwick and Alba the two pictures of the "Gran Duque" in his palace at Madrid are reproduced with their history. I am indebted to Colonel Coloma for the picture of Antonio Prez and the one of Luis Quijada, photographed specially for this book. Seor de Osma was good enough to send me the autograph of Don John's mother, which proves her to have been a woman of at least some education. From him, too, comes a most interesting specimen of Don John's writingthe postscript to the dispatch announcing the battle of Lepanto. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 53383
Author: Coloma, Luis
Release Date: Oct 27, 2016
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Moreton, Lady, 1863?-1944