That Lady

As a historian specializing in Philip II's reign (and, funny enough, as a hobby author just trying my hand at a historical novel featuring Philip and his relationship to Ana de Mendoza when I discovered this book) I was naturally curious what insights "That Lady" would give on topics historians have always argued about (like the Escovedo affair). And I was pleasantly surprised - it's a wonderful read AND aims at the utmost historical correctness possible without letting that dry up its author's imagination. Straightforward style, absolutely credible characters and strong feelings without kitsch make this book the perfect start for, say, people who saw Verdi's "Don Carlos" at the opera and want to know more about the people featuring in it. Given that research on Philip II is still sometimes recurring to legends and prejudices because the truth simply can't be found out anymore, Kate O'Brien's approach to this period in Spanish history and to Philip's character is as true as any and probably fairer than a professional historian's. So if you are looking for a colourful and psychologically fascinating historical novel - this one's what you've always wanted!