October Wind

I am not quite so sure how historically accurate this book is ~~ but I don't care! The lavish descriptions of life inside Queen Isabella's court, the crusades against the Moors, the Inquisitions, true love found and lost, dreams broken and renewed ~~ this is the stuff made of dreams ~~ that comes true and sometimes, lost.It is not only a story about Christopher Columbus and his pursuit to find a new way to the Indies; it is also a story about a Grandee who finds out a secret that would damn him in the Inquisitions courts and as a result, he loses his true love. It is also a story about a gypsy, a mapmaker/scribe, the woman they both love; it is a story about Christopher Columbus' love and family ~~ it is a story about life. Wiggs writes with a lavish detail of the Spanish life and of Isabella's dream that she shares with Columbus. It tells of Columbus cooling his heels at the court for 7 long years. It tells of his despair that his dreams will never be realized. It talks of Santiago, the gypsy roamer and his best friend, Rafael. It tells of their love for Catalina, a doctor. It is a wonderful book to escape into ~~ but while it is entertaining like most historical fictions are ~~ I am dubious to all the facts being accurate. But other than that, it's a great read to while away a long wintery afternoon! 10-23-03

Anyone who is interested in Christopher Columbus will find this a fun and interesting story. It takes the reader on a journey before CC sailed for the Americas. With fictional characters to add spice and life the author shows the unwavering determination of CC to fullfill his vision of sailing to a new land. If you believe as many that CC knew he was not setting sail to find a new west indies route but rather a completely yet undiscovered land, this story will give you some food for thought into the mind set of CC.