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Carlos #1
Carlos, Rey Emperador
¿Cómo se convirtió un joven taciturno y sin brillo en uno de los hombres más poderosos que ha conocido Europa a lo largo de los siglos? ¿Cómo aquel que decía "menos en un mes de lo que Lutero habla en un día" puedo erigirse en dirigente de la cristiandad y gobernar un imperio de proporciones tan extraordinarias como diverso? ¿Cómo fue capaz de hacerlo, enfrentado además a rivales tan taimados y poderosos como Francisco I, Solimán el Magnífico, Enrique VIII e incluso los sucesivos moradores de la Santa Sede? ¿Y de qué modo sus deberes chocaron con el amor profundo que sentía por la emperatriz Isabel de Portugal?
Una gran novela sobre una época fascinante de nuestra Historia: la formación del Imperio español. Nieto de los Reyes Católicos e Hijo de Juana La Loca y Felipe el Hermoso, educado en el extranjero, esposo enamorado y padre de Felipe II, Carlos V es uno de los personajes más asombrosos de la Historia.
Una gran novela sobre una época fascinante de nuestra Historia: la formación del Imperio español. Nieto de los Reyes Católicos e Hijo de Juana La Loca y Felipe el Hermoso, educado en el extranjero, esposo enamorado y padre de Felipe II, Carlos V es uno de los personajes más asombrosos de la Historia.
505 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 2016
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25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 1, 2023
Es la primera vez que la versión cinematográfica supera al libro. Se entretiene con algunos hechos históricos pero otros más importantes que aparece en la serie y que ocupan casi la mitad, ni los menciona.
January 23, 2021
A few years ago, I read the lengthy trilogy of novels entitled "Isabel" based on the highly successful three-season Spainish TV drama series of that name - about Isabel of Castile/Spain (as in Ferdinand and Isabella). Those books were perhaps over-long but excellent and gripping.
That drama series was followed by the one-season "Carlos, Rey Emperador", about Isabel's grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V / Carlos I of Spain.
That show was, I understand, was nowhere as successful as "Isabel". And this novelisation of it (by a different author from the Isabel books) is also less successful.
It is plodding and less engaging. Carlos is just less exciting to follow and the story only really comes alive at certain moments. Part of the problem that Carlos/Charles faced is that his territory was so vast, he never really got a grip on it. And the result is that, story-wise, we're forever hopping from Spain to Germany to what is now the Netherlands to Italy. (Thankfully, although there is a fleeting encounter with Cortés, Charles's New World territories are largely addressed only in passing.) On top of that, we also follow his contemporary monarchs François I of France (his archrival and, briefly, brother-in-law) and Henry VIII of England (his uncle-in-law).
On the one hand, it is somewhat fascinating to witness so much European history taking place at one go. But the result is that we lose focus. And Carlos himself takes so long to really come into his own - and that is ultimately when his health fails, coinciding with his realisation that this vast empire cannot and should not going forward remain undivided.
And I haven't mentioned the complicated family politics, with all those royal brothers, sisters, aunts and cousins, marrying and remarrying (mostly with their own cousins, in some cases with double-cousins)......
I'm really glad I read it. But, boy, was it a bit of a slog at times...
That drama series was followed by the one-season "Carlos, Rey Emperador", about Isabel's grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V / Carlos I of Spain.
That show was, I understand, was nowhere as successful as "Isabel". And this novelisation of it (by a different author from the Isabel books) is also less successful.
It is plodding and less engaging. Carlos is just less exciting to follow and the story only really comes alive at certain moments. Part of the problem that Carlos/Charles faced is that his territory was so vast, he never really got a grip on it. And the result is that, story-wise, we're forever hopping from Spain to Germany to what is now the Netherlands to Italy. (Thankfully, although there is a fleeting encounter with Cortés, Charles's New World territories are largely addressed only in passing.) On top of that, we also follow his contemporary monarchs François I of France (his archrival and, briefly, brother-in-law) and Henry VIII of England (his uncle-in-law).
On the one hand, it is somewhat fascinating to witness so much European history taking place at one go. But the result is that we lose focus. And Carlos himself takes so long to really come into his own - and that is ultimately when his health fails, coinciding with his realisation that this vast empire cannot and should not going forward remain undivided.
And I haven't mentioned the complicated family politics, with all those royal brothers, sisters, aunts and cousins, marrying and remarrying (mostly with their own cousins, in some cases with double-cousins)......
I'm really glad I read it. But, boy, was it a bit of a slog at times...
June 19, 2024
Si dirigimos la mirada a personajes fundamentales de la historia de España, sin duda Carlos I de España (y V de a
Alemania) será uno de los primeros nombres que se nos vengan a la cabeza.
Un hombre que consiguió estar a la altura del impresionante legado que sus abuelos -sobre todo los maternos, Isabel y Fernando-. Un hombre que se convirtió en el más poderoso del orbe antes de los veinte años. Un gobernador inteligente y vivaz que llevó a España a una gloria tan solo superada por el reinado de su primogénito Felipe II (aquel que haría de España el Imperio en el que nunca se ponía el sol).
Esta novela basada en la serie de RTVE "Carlos, Rey Emperador" nos descubre la vida del emperador desde su llegada a España a la muerte de su abuelo materno Fernando el Católico, hasta su fallecimiento en el monasterio extremeño de Yuste.
Carlos es sin lugar a dudas uno de los personajes de la historia de mi país que más admiro, humilde pero no por ello poco ambicioso, el ejemplo más claro de la Modernidad y del Renacimiento, el cual supo lidiar con la adversidad ya desde su nacimiento (fruto del matrimonio de Felipe de Habsburgo y de Juana de Castilla, la mal llamada "Loca").
Una novela que de forma muy ligera y entretenida ahonda en los entresijos de la vida de tan grandioso emperador. Muy recomendable su lectura.
Alemania) será uno de los primeros nombres que se nos vengan a la cabeza.
Un hombre que consiguió estar a la altura del impresionante legado que sus abuelos -sobre todo los maternos, Isabel y Fernando-. Un hombre que se convirtió en el más poderoso del orbe antes de los veinte años. Un gobernador inteligente y vivaz que llevó a España a una gloria tan solo superada por el reinado de su primogénito Felipe II (aquel que haría de España el Imperio en el que nunca se ponía el sol).
Esta novela basada en la serie de RTVE "Carlos, Rey Emperador" nos descubre la vida del emperador desde su llegada a España a la muerte de su abuelo materno Fernando el Católico, hasta su fallecimiento en el monasterio extremeño de Yuste.
Carlos es sin lugar a dudas uno de los personajes de la historia de mi país que más admiro, humilde pero no por ello poco ambicioso, el ejemplo más claro de la Modernidad y del Renacimiento, el cual supo lidiar con la adversidad ya desde su nacimiento (fruto del matrimonio de Felipe de Habsburgo y de Juana de Castilla, la mal llamada "Loca").
Una novela que de forma muy ligera y entretenida ahonda en los entresijos de la vida de tan grandioso emperador. Muy recomendable su lectura.
January 19, 2024
Alright, I don’t want to sound too proud or excessively cruel, but some script writers should never try to write books, it’s too delicate for their brutish ways. Anyways, this book didn’t live up to my expectations, I expected something like the books of Isabel or even La Corona Partidas which was slow but poetry next to the book about Carlos. This one lacked charisma and joy, it lacked serious descriptions, and it was supposed to be colorful.
UNSYMPATHETIC MAIN COUPLE.
Omg, Carlos and Isabel, both too self-absorbed to live, both unable to accept the other’s flaws, both meant to be with each other because they were both so insufferable to read about. Like, Isabel was the embodiment of delusion and Carlos the portrait of selfishness, both terrible lying rulers. And their offspring, Felipe was no different, maybe a bit more chaotic.
POOR LEONOR.
She was the only character that I truly enjoyed reading about, her tragedy, her need for love, her imminent depression and her ultimate end were moments where I seriously was near to crying, because damn it, it was all so hurtful. She deserved better, obviously, even though she started as an ungrateful brat when they were received by the poor family during their first arrival to Castile.
UNSYMPATHETIC MAIN COUPLE.
Omg, Carlos and Isabel, both too self-absorbed to live, both unable to accept the other’s flaws, both meant to be with each other because they were both so insufferable to read about. Like, Isabel was the embodiment of delusion and Carlos the portrait of selfishness, both terrible lying rulers. And their offspring, Felipe was no different, maybe a bit more chaotic.
POOR LEONOR.
She was the only character that I truly enjoyed reading about, her tragedy, her need for love, her imminent depression and her ultimate end were moments where I seriously was near to crying, because damn it, it was all so hurtful. She deserved better, obviously, even though she started as an ungrateful brat when they were received by the poor family during their first arrival to Castile.
February 16, 2023
4.75/5 stars
The book is true to the show in every aspect, especially the portrayal of the characters (hello, Fernando of sass-burg !). It doesn't encompass any Indies subplot but Cortés deserves his own book anyway.
The book is also a lot more historically accurate than the show - no, Fernando Alvarez de Toledo was not a grown man when Carlos first arrived in Spain.
It is beautifully written. The transitions between scenes are so satisfying *chef's kiss*.
Not giving it 5 full stars because I'm still mad the author didn't include the "no quiero la corona, quiero que hijo viva" line. Waited 480 pages for it and it never came :')
The book is true to the show in every aspect, especially the portrayal of the characters (hello, Fernando of sass-burg !). It doesn't encompass any Indies subplot but Cortés deserves his own book anyway.
The book is also a lot more historically accurate than the show - no, Fernando Alvarez de Toledo was not a grown man when Carlos first arrived in Spain.
It is beautifully written. The transitions between scenes are so satisfying *chef's kiss*.
Not giving it 5 full stars because I'm still mad the author didn't include the "no quiero la corona, quiero que hijo viva" line. Waited 480 pages for it and it never came :')
May 19, 2016
Uitstekend in aanvulling om de TV serie helder te kunnen volgen. Literair echter ondermaats.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews