Philip II: (1527-1598)

Although Mr. Walsh writes from a traditional Catholic perspective, his work is in many ways exemplary for an historian. I have read several works on the amazing 16th Century and it has been a learning experience in the way "historians" make strong statements that when you have read the letters of the people involved, when you understand the conditions under which decisions were made, often these statements of historians turn out to be shallow or ridiculous. Such an understanding is what Mr. Walsh provides. Walsh said of his own work, of the history he sought to clarify, "It is a tale so dramatic, so fascinating, that it needs no embellishing or piecing out with the wisdom - or folly - of another age. To probe the inner cosmos of men and women long dead by the light of a pseudo-science, to strip away with pitiless irony all noble or generous appearances, to pry open with an air of personal infallibility the very secret hinges of the door to that ultimate sanctuary of the human conscience which is inviolable even to father confessors - that is an office for which I have neither the taste nor the talent; and if I have fallen unawares into any such pitfalls of the devils of megalomania, I beg forgiveness in advance." No forgiveness is needed. Because Philip forbid writers of his biographiess, and because of the betrayal of his secretary and William the Orange and their outright lies, a "Black Legend" was raised for several hundred years of vicious character assassination of Philip and his people. Mr. Walsh, to be objective, does color events sometimes with his love of Catholicism, white washing some errors and flaws of character of Philip II, Alba and Co. Because Walsh has quite excellent moral qualities with which he views history, one gets a deeper sense of the important factors in men and their decisions. I found it to be an education in character development to read this book. For spiritual people, this may be a fascinating story and help one to think more deeply about the issues that were active then and resound today. For students of history, this can be a cold bucket of water showing the appaulling shoddiness of what passes as "history," which is not only often boring but shallow and often patently false. This book goes more into the realities of the geo-strategic forces at play during Philip's time than all the others I have read combined. It is an eye-opener to learn of the actual forces at play behind the scenes in the rise of Protestantism and the Moslem attacks upon Christendom, as well as the appauling lack of character of William of Orange and company. At least according to Walsh. Highly recommended.

William Thomas Walsh's "Philip II" is perhaps the greatest historical biography it has ever been my pleasure to read. Walsh covers the life and times of this man, perhaps the greatest and most powerful monarch in European history with wonder and a proper sense of awe, coupled with serious scholarship and lilting prose. Philip strode across 16th century Reformation Europe like his crusading great grandmother, Isabella. Ruling a Spanish empire that stretched from Madrid to Manila, he was truly the first monarch in history on whose dominions the sun never set. More than any other man of his age, to include those who sat on the throne of Saint Peter, Philip preserved Europe for the Faith to the extent humanly possible. A true servant of Christ, the Catholic King inveighed against the Jews, freemasons, Moslems, and Protestants, who then sought the destruction of Christendom. We heartily recommend Walsh's terrific biography of this great man and suggest also his excellent "Isabella of Spain", written of course about Philip's illustrious ancestor.

A truly great work of history for anyone who believes that detailed research, thoughtful analysis, and intellectual honesty are vital for the study of history. Beautifully written, more than adequately referenced (the footnotes are like a small archives), and convincingly portrayed, this book is the finest scholarly work available on Philip II of Spain, with the possible exception of Kamen's recent 'Philip of Spain'. The biggest difference between the two is that Walsh's came about 60 years earlier! Corrects much of the error and bias inherent in other english works on the topic (Hume, Prescott and Merriman for example.) Essential for understanding both Philip and his times.

This is an excellent, and quite scholarly, book. Walsh tells the story of Spain, as well as England, France, and much of the rest of Europe, during the 16th century, not from the usual perspective of the English Protestant historians, but rather from the point of view of the Catholics of the time. The richness of detail is amazing: the author describes everything down to the clothing everyone wore, and in such vibrantly colorful language that the reader feels as if he is really there. It reads more like a novel, being not at all dry like many other serious histories, yet he backs up his work with pages and pages of footnotes, many in the original Spanish, latin and old English. A must-read for anyone interested in getting the other side of the great drama of the 16th Century. I would also recommend Walsh's wonderful "Isabella of Spain," for more on the Conquistadors, the discovery and colonization of America, and the Inquisition.

This is a good book for anyone studying world history. Wiliam Thomas Waslh gives an unbiased account of Phillip II and his times. He covers, the Inquisition, the battle of Lepanto, and the Armada.