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The Last Crusader: A Novel about Don Juan of Austria
Don Juan of Austria, one of history’s most triumphant and inspiring heroes, is reborn in this opulent novel by Louis de Wohl. Because of the circumstances of his birth, this last son of Emperor Charles the Fifth spent his childhood in a Spanish peasant’s hut. Acknowledged by King Philip as his half-brother, the attractive youth quickly became a central figure in a Court where intrigues and romances abounded. Don Juan’s intelligence, kindness and devout attachment to the Church enabled him to live unscathed in an environment of luxury, violence and treachery. De Wohl paints in brilliant color the vivid scenes and characters at the Court of King Philip, Juan’s campaign against rebel Moriscos in Andalusia, and the amazing climatic victory at Lepanto where he saved the Christian world from Islamic dominance. Here is a novel of high adventure which brings to life the turbulence of the sixteenth century with its conflicts of wickedness and piety, its sins of pride and conquest, its seething heresies and its great faith. “Written with zest and excitement; the battle scenes are excellent.” – Los Angeles Times “A novel of heroic proportions . . . richly rewarding.” – Christian Herald “Color . . . action . . .romance, splendor and intrigue reaches a flaming climax.” – Chicago Tribune “A page-turning thriller. Exhilarating!” — Joseph Pearce, Author, The Quest for Shakespeare “In his epic poem, Lepanto, Chesterton called Don Juan the ‘the last knight of Europe.’ This thrilling tale is about things that really happened!” — Dale Ahlquist, Editor, Lepanto – The Annotated Edition “De Wohl novels are always mentioned by my radio audience as among their favorite reads.” — Al Kresta, Host, Kresta in the Afternoon Louis de Wohl was a highly acclaimed novelist who wrote numerous best selli
497 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
41 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Louis de Wohl
52 books246 followersMr. de Wohl was a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and his wife (nee Ruth Magdalene Lorch, whom he married in 1953) is a Lady Commander of the same Order. His fifty books include The Living Wood (Lippincott, 1947), Imperial Renegade (id., 1950), The Restless Flame (id., 1951), Throne of the World (id., 1949; published in England as Attila), The Golden Thread (Lippincott, 1952), The Second Conquest (id., 1954), Set All Afire (id., 1953), The Spear (id., 1955), and St. Joan, the Girl Soldier (Farrar, 1957) in the Vision Books series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 9, 2014
If you are a fan of historical adventure novels this is the real deal. And especially if you are looking for an exciting book to tempt a young boy, this should do the trick. Plenty of swashing and buckling here. The only drawback I can see (and from the education standpoint its actually a plus) is the number of characters with long names. This will force your young readers to work a little harder than they might be used to doing. Suggest they make a who's who list and they will do just fine. Hey you have to have to know who the players are at a game, right? Same difference.
After a little reading up, the major known facts about Don Juan of Austria match this novel, although the story doesn't cover all of them. The book ends with the famous battle immortalized in G.K.Chesterton's poem, Lepanto.
After a little reading up, the major known facts about Don Juan of Austria match this novel, although the story doesn't cover all of them. The book ends with the famous battle immortalized in G.K.Chesterton's poem, Lepanto.
June 13, 2020
3.5 stars actually.
ENGLISH: Incomplete fictionalized biography of Don Juan de Austria, which it ends with the battle of Lepanto and does not take us until his death in Flanders, seven years later.
The fact of being a novel is especially noticeable in the fact that the author tells us what the characters were thinking, and offers us private conversations, something that no historian or biographer would dare to do.
The figure of Don Juan de Austria is very well delineated, and his conversations with Fray Juan Calahorra are successful (albeit invented), although the author is wrong to point out that the two met when Don Juan was an adult, for in reality he had been his confessor since childhood.
In general I liked it, although all in all I liked best Father Coloma's JEROMIN, which deals with the same subject, but invents less. Although it deals almost exclusively with historic facts, Jeromín must also be considered a novel, for the author fills gaps with no footnotes and without mentioning authorities and alternatives.
ESPAÑOL: Biografía novelada incompleta de Don Juan de Austria, pues termina al final de la batalla de Lepanto y no nos lleva hasta su muerte en Flandes, siete años más tarde.
El hecho de ser una novela se nota sobre todo en que el autor nos dice qué estaban pensando los personajes, y nos ofrece conversaciones privadas, algo que ningún historiador o biógrafo se atrevería a hacer.
La figura de Don Juan de Austria está muy bien delineada, y sus conversaciones con Fray Juan Calahorra son muy logradas (e inventadas), aunque el autor se equivoca al señalar que los dos se encontraron cuando Don Juan era ya adulto, pues en realidad fue su confesor desde niño.
En general me gustó, aunque en conjunto me gustó más el libro del padre Coloma JEROMIN, que trata sobre el mismo tema, pero inventa menos. Aunque menciona casi exclusivamente hechos históricos, Jeromín también debe considerarse una novela, ya que el autor llena huecos sin notas a pie de página y sin mencionar autoridades y alternativas.
ENGLISH: Incomplete fictionalized biography of Don Juan de Austria, which it ends with the battle of Lepanto and does not take us until his death in Flanders, seven years later.
The fact of being a novel is especially noticeable in the fact that the author tells us what the characters were thinking, and offers us private conversations, something that no historian or biographer would dare to do.
The figure of Don Juan de Austria is very well delineated, and his conversations with Fray Juan Calahorra are successful (albeit invented), although the author is wrong to point out that the two met when Don Juan was an adult, for in reality he had been his confessor since childhood.
In general I liked it, although all in all I liked best Father Coloma's JEROMIN, which deals with the same subject, but invents less. Although it deals almost exclusively with historic facts, Jeromín must also be considered a novel, for the author fills gaps with no footnotes and without mentioning authorities and alternatives.
ESPAÑOL: Biografía novelada incompleta de Don Juan de Austria, pues termina al final de la batalla de Lepanto y no nos lleva hasta su muerte en Flandes, siete años más tarde.
El hecho de ser una novela se nota sobre todo en que el autor nos dice qué estaban pensando los personajes, y nos ofrece conversaciones privadas, algo que ningún historiador o biógrafo se atrevería a hacer.
La figura de Don Juan de Austria está muy bien delineada, y sus conversaciones con Fray Juan Calahorra son muy logradas (e inventadas), aunque el autor se equivoca al señalar que los dos se encontraron cuando Don Juan era ya adulto, pues en realidad fue su confesor desde niño.
En general me gustó, aunque en conjunto me gustó más el libro del padre Coloma JEROMIN, que trata sobre el mismo tema, pero inventa menos. Aunque menciona casi exclusivamente hechos históricos, Jeromín también debe considerarse una novela, ya que el autor llena huecos sin notas a pie de página y sin mencionar autoridades y alternativas.
December 29, 2017
I love all of de Wohl's books (that I've read), but this is by far my favourite. Not only is it right up my alley - so to speak - of interests, but it is also incredibly informative and well-written. Action, emotion, drama, adventure; a Crusade.. the Faith.. possibly one of the best books I have ever read.
As of the first read, I can truly say that Louis de Wohl's 'The Last Crusader' is an incredible book to conclude 2017, and bring in the new year.
As of the first read, I can truly say that Louis de Wohl's 'The Last Crusader' is an incredible book to conclude 2017, and bring in the new year.
September 24, 2020
A novel depicting the life of Don Juan de Austria since childhood until the battle of Lepanto. It describes very well his character and the historical background, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, particularly the second half of the book once the action started.
June 23, 2020
The fictional retelling of the life of Don Juan of Austria, illegitimate son of Emperor Charles V, who became the victorious Commander of the sea battle of Lepanto in 1571 against the Ottoman Empire at the early age of 24. De Wohl does a superb job in painting the picture of 16th century Spain where faith permeates every aspect of life, life at the royal court, and the geo—political situation at the time.
June 9, 2020
I enjoyed this novel about don Juan de Austria, from his childhood to the battle of Lepanto.
It faithfully follows the historical events and it is engaging.
It faithfully follows the historical events and it is engaging.
July 3, 2020
This, and other historical novels by de Wohl, should be recognized in Catholic literary circles as a genre and literature no less worthy of praise than the works of Flannery O'Connor, Graham Greene, or even J. R. R. Tolkien. For example, the spiritual direction provided by Fray Juan de Calahorra to Don Juan, the protagonist, is extremely well composed by an author who knows his faith. The matter of Pope Pius V responding to the Gospel passage "There was a man, one sent by God, whose name was John," is also magnificently done. The characterizations, setting, historical accuracy, drama, suspense, action and dialogue are the work of a true artist. The greatest disappointment was the book's having to come to an end. Therefore, in order to let the adventure continue - in another time, another place, and with other historical personages - I have ordered de Wohl's Throne of the World. Thank you, Louis de Wohl. Requiescat in pace.
November 29, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. It's been years since I've read a de Wohl novel and I'm glad I picked this one up. Actually it was assigned reading for a men's retreat I went on. It's great story with a lot of history woven in. Louis de Wohl is a master at historical fiction and lives of the saints. Don't miss this or any of his books.
May 5, 2022
Don Juan of Austria was the illegitimate son of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V . Charles legitimized Juan when he was 11 years old, but denied him the title of Royal. Throughout his life he was addressed as Excellency"
Charles indicated he wanted Juan to enter the priesthood. However Juan was determined to become a military leader. This HF book explores his road to that dream. He is best known for his leadership in the Battle of Lepanto, where European Christendom defeated the Ottoman Empire.
The book was published in 1956, so the writing is not what I am use to. It appears, from what I could uncover on my own, that the author did his research and did not add "filler" or exaggerate the life and times of the Christian hero.
A friend knows that I am always interested in reading about the Crusades and recommended this book. It is only for those who have a deep interest in that era.
Charles indicated he wanted Juan to enter the priesthood. However Juan was determined to become a military leader. This HF book explores his road to that dream. He is best known for his leadership in the Battle of Lepanto, where European Christendom defeated the Ottoman Empire.
The book was published in 1956, so the writing is not what I am use to. It appears, from what I could uncover on my own, that the author did his research and did not add "filler" or exaggerate the life and times of the Christian hero.
A friend knows that I am always interested in reading about the Crusades and recommended this book. It is only for those who have a deep interest in that era.
December 1, 2024
In the late 1500's, the Ottoman Empire was Christendom's biggest threat, and the Protestant Revolt, which had seriously weakened Christian unity, had left Europe more vulnerable to Islamic conquest that ever before. Over a million Europeans were enslaved by Muslim pirates on the Mediterranean Sea and taken to North Africa in the Barbary Save Trade. The Turks were on the attack, and the Moriscos in southern Spain were revolting, despite the Spanish Inquisition's attempts to root out false Catholics for almost a century.
Enter our hero, Don Juan of Austria.
He was the great grandson of Queen Isabel the Catholic, who sponsored Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492, defended the indigenous peoples of the Canary Islands and the Americas, and completed the re-conquest of Spain (also in 1492) after almost 800 year of Islamic rule. Shortly thereafter, the Moors rebelled in Granada and were expelled from Spain. But those who converted to the Catholic faith were granted amnesty and allowed to remain. While many of these so-called "Moriscos" became faithful Christians, others made false conversions and were secretly allying themselves with external Islamic powers to bring about the downfall of Spain from within. Among other things, the Spanish Inquisition was trying to stop this from happening.
Don Juan was also the illegitimate son of Charles V, grandson to Queen Isabel the Catholic, King of Spain, and Holy Roman Emperor. By the time we meet Charles V in this novel, he is already an old man who has rejected the world and retired to a monastery for a life of prayer.
Finally, Don Juan was the half brother of King Philip II, King of Spain, namesake of the Philippians, and husband of Mary Tudor (daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon). Philip II's eldest son, Prince Carlos, was a despot, as insane as his grandmother "Joanna the Mad" had been, deformed both physically and spiritually, known for torturing animals and habitually insulting and assaulting not only his valets but also noblemen with immunity. Prince Carlos never forgave his father for marrying the woman he loved after Mary Tudor died, and while still a young man he planned patricide and a coup d'état. However, his plans were foiled by Don Juan, and he was put under house arrest until he died from overeating and ongoing poor health shortly thereafter.
Being the grandson of the Emperor, Don Juan, blond haired and handsome, was not free to marry as he pleased. When circumstances separated him from his first love, he never fully recovered from his broken heart.
Don Juan's greatest accomplishments was his leadership at the Battle of Lepanto, where Christian Europe was decisively saved from a belligerent Ottoman Empire.
(The Feast of Our Lady of Victory, celebrated October 7th, is the anniversary of this decisive victory.).
Some readers may associate the Battle of Lepanto with Miguel de Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote" and Spain's own Shakespeare. Fighting valiantly, his left hand was injured and paralyzed at the battle "for the glory of the right." While sailing home, he was captured by Muslim pirates on the Mediterranean Sea. His family was soon able to ransom his brother who was with him, but Cervantes himself remained enslaved in Algeria for five years until his ransom was paid by the priests of the Trinitarian order. For this reason, "Don Quixote" and his other writings contain detailed references to the Barbary Slave Trade.
So much for the history behind the novel.
The writing style is excellent, often beautiful. The text is mostly dialogue, and each chapter ends on a cliffhanger leaving you eager for more. If you are looking for a page-turner that also teaches you what they should have taught you in school but didn't, then this is as good as it gets. Louis de Wohl truly has a gift for bringing history to life.
Enter our hero, Don Juan of Austria.
He was the great grandson of Queen Isabel the Catholic, who sponsored Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492, defended the indigenous peoples of the Canary Islands and the Americas, and completed the re-conquest of Spain (also in 1492) after almost 800 year of Islamic rule. Shortly thereafter, the Moors rebelled in Granada and were expelled from Spain. But those who converted to the Catholic faith were granted amnesty and allowed to remain. While many of these so-called "Moriscos" became faithful Christians, others made false conversions and were secretly allying themselves with external Islamic powers to bring about the downfall of Spain from within. Among other things, the Spanish Inquisition was trying to stop this from happening.
Don Juan was also the illegitimate son of Charles V, grandson to Queen Isabel the Catholic, King of Spain, and Holy Roman Emperor. By the time we meet Charles V in this novel, he is already an old man who has rejected the world and retired to a monastery for a life of prayer.
Finally, Don Juan was the half brother of King Philip II, King of Spain, namesake of the Philippians, and husband of Mary Tudor (daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon). Philip II's eldest son, Prince Carlos, was a despot, as insane as his grandmother "Joanna the Mad" had been, deformed both physically and spiritually, known for torturing animals and habitually insulting and assaulting not only his valets but also noblemen with immunity. Prince Carlos never forgave his father for marrying the woman he loved after Mary Tudor died, and while still a young man he planned patricide and a coup d'état. However, his plans were foiled by Don Juan, and he was put under house arrest until he died from overeating and ongoing poor health shortly thereafter.
Being the grandson of the Emperor, Don Juan, blond haired and handsome, was not free to marry as he pleased. When circumstances separated him from his first love, he never fully recovered from his broken heart.
Don Juan's greatest accomplishments was his leadership at the Battle of Lepanto, where Christian Europe was decisively saved from a belligerent Ottoman Empire.
(The Feast of Our Lady of Victory, celebrated October 7th, is the anniversary of this decisive victory.).
Some readers may associate the Battle of Lepanto with Miguel de Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote" and Spain's own Shakespeare. Fighting valiantly, his left hand was injured and paralyzed at the battle "for the glory of the right." While sailing home, he was captured by Muslim pirates on the Mediterranean Sea. His family was soon able to ransom his brother who was with him, but Cervantes himself remained enslaved in Algeria for five years until his ransom was paid by the priests of the Trinitarian order. For this reason, "Don Quixote" and his other writings contain detailed references to the Barbary Slave Trade.
So much for the history behind the novel.
The writing style is excellent, often beautiful. The text is mostly dialogue, and each chapter ends on a cliffhanger leaving you eager for more. If you are looking for a page-turner that also teaches you what they should have taught you in school but didn't, then this is as good as it gets. Louis de Wohl truly has a gift for bringing history to life.
May 15, 2017
Another great de Wohl book, ends very strong.
January 17, 2024
The Last Crusader by Louis De Wohl
“For our wish has always been that we should make a permanent foundation and be buried in its ground, so that wish to remain reunited in death, in the same harmony in which we have lived together.“ (389)
“As she entered, her love performed the miracle of a warm, happy smile. Won saw it, and his reflection undone, Luis’s waxing face.“ (388)
“Even whether or not he found happiness in the arms of a wife was of no account in comparison to the greatest of all tasks. For man did not belong to himself, but to God. That was why the knights of past ages left their wives and their castles for the sake of the Cross. Deus lo vult (God wants it).” (323)
“The Christian was invincible as long as he kept in union with Christ, with the Word that had become Flesh; with God, who had become Man, and of whose living Body he partook in the Host… The Muslim, however, tried to cut the newfound bridge between God and man. Christ, no longer the God-Man, became a mere minor prophet who had to bow to Muhammad. And Muhammad, too, was a prophet only. Once more the bond between God and mankind was to be severed, the closest and most loving union broken. Once more God would become remote, no longer the Father of men, but only the King, the terrible, awesome Lord of olden times… Islam was regress. And inasmuch as it tried to nullify Christ’s supreme sacrifice, it was worse than that and therefore it had to be fought and fought again… That was what mattered. That alone mattered, to uphold and spread a realm on earth over which God would rule not only as a King, but also as a Father; where men were allowed to partake in the divinity of him who had not disdained to share man’s humanity.” (322)
“If God is like fire, let me be burned by it. If God is like water, let me drown in it. If he is like air, let me fly into it. If he is like earth, let me burrow my way into it until I reach its very center.” (321)
“Surely there will always be good priests who will go on teaching what is right…” “Yes, there will be. The gates of hell will not prevail, we know that. But each of us must live as if that promise of Christ depended on him alone. And priests and nuns are not enough. Christ needs the layman, too. He may need the layman more and more as time goes on… Priests, monks, friars, and nuns are set aside for their own specific purpose., but their work will be brought to nought, perhaps not only in single cases, but in whole countries, unless God will give us apostles who are laymen, yes and laywomen.” (320)
“Not long ago ecclesiastics were the only people who could read and write,” Calahorra went on. “Not because the seats of learning were closed to all others, but because the people did not take the trouble to learn. That’s what priests and monks were for, reading and writing. And thus one day they will say, ‘that’s what priests and monks are for, praying and preaching,’ and, like learning, piety also will shrink, and coagulate in the monasteries. Let that go on long enough and a priest will be the only one to remember the Our Father.” (320-1)
“When you understand them, you will have the recipe for happiness and all the rest is prayer. This is what he wrote: ‘When you want to be everything - you must go where you are nothing./ When you want to have everything - you must go where you have nothing’… Namely, to God. God is everything, and to him belongs the universe. Unite with Him and you are everything and everything is yours. Can’t you see that? And have you forgotten that the crown of the King of Kinds, infinitely more precious than all the crowns in the world, is one of thorns? When our Lord walked on earth, what was he to the learning Jews? To the priests of the great temple? A wandering rabbi, making false claims. What was he to the Romans? Provincial subject of the great emperor and a man charged with crimes. He himself has warned us that the servant cannot expect better treatment than his master, hasn’t he? Your excellency, Don Juan of Austria, don’t you recognize Christ as your master, that you expect to be great and honored and allow yourself to be better when all greatness and honor is not given to you because of your birth? What about your Lord’s most sacred birth? Can you claim it as your right to be born in a palace, when he was born in a staple?“ “if ever, I meet the infidel and battle,” Juan said, “I hope he won’t be as strong as you are.” “And he won’t be,” Calahorra explained. “He cannot talk to you as I do, in the Name of Christ Crucified.” (317-8)
“Pardon does not mean exemption from punishment. But here again: I don’t think that it is only a question of cause and effect… I mean, there is more to it that you can see at the moment.” (316)
“Juan said: “it seems a terrible thing that the man had to be born blind for the sake of the moment when God would show his power…” “I don’t agree,” Calahorra said cheerfully. “If it were not for God, he wouldn’t exist at all. ANd he had countless joys of other kinds before our Lord gave him his eyesight on top of it all. What right have we to claim from God that we should all have the same assets? I might as well demand of King Philip to make me captain general of the sea - or of God to make me a king as powerful as King Philip. God has a perfect right to distribute his gifts as he thinks fit. Besides, when a man has had more than his usual load of difficulties in this life, God will make it up a hundred and a thousandfold in the next… you and I, we are Christians. This means among other things that we believe in this life only as the preparation for the next. Our Lord mentioned that again and again, starting with the Sermon on the Mount. But so often when good Christian people try to judge this or that situation in life, they seem to forget about life after death altogether. They are like children who think that the sweetmeat they dropped into the mud is an a irretrievable loss for all of eternity. They are quite desperate about the sweetmeat – Whatever it may be, a girl, dignity, rank, a house, a privilege, a new dress, or the victory of a bull on which they placed the bet. Anything. And they proceed to blame God for the grave injustice is done to them by taking the sweetmeat away from them. Phhhhha! Do you know what that proves? Do you, your Excellency?” He did not wait for a reply. “It means that the action of our Lord did not concern that one blind beggar and Jerusalem only. It concerns us all at some stage. You too are a blind, bigger, your ex, unless our Lord open your eyes“ Won met a cherub smile. “Obviously,” Calahorra said, “we shall find it difficult to be happy as long as we are spiritually blind.” “I think that’s about as much as I can take in for the present.” The little fryer did not seem to be surprised. He, too, got up, elastic as a cat. “As you wish,” he said, pleasantly. “But do remember that our Lord can still work miracles – when we ask him.“ (314-5)
“Praying for something or somebody,” Calahorra said slowly, “is a very, very dangerous thing to do. One is always heard. And one never really knows what one is asking for. I’d never ask God for anything without adding, ‘if such is thy holy will’ or ‘if such is good for me.’ Of couirse, sometimes God says no to our prayers…seemingly. But when he does, his no in one issue will be transformed into a stream of grace in another, often in many others. There is no such thing as a prayer not heard. In the case you mentioned your prayer was heard and answered directly. The prince was healed. Do you remember how our Lord met the man who was born blind? His disciples asked him whether the man was punished with blindness because he was guilty of sin, or because his parents were guilty of sin. And Jesus answered: ‘neither he nor his parents were guilty; he was born blind so that God’s action might declare itself in him.’ And then he healed him. We are not told whether the man from then on lived an exemplary life or not, are we?… you prayed for the prince.” Calaahorra interrupted firmly. “He was cured. And you received a stream of grace solidifying your own faith for the hours when you would most need it. For at least that once you were allowed to see God in action.” “You mean - Carlos was cured for my sake?” “Certainly. But not only for your sake, although that would have been quite enough. Other people were present, among them a number of learned physicians. Well, one of them, never mind which, came here soon afterward for the first retreat he ever made in his life. He had been besieged by heavy doubt. To him who know that medically speaking the prince had been as good as dead, the shock of a cure was an eye opener.” “I never knew…” “Of course not. In this particular matter, it so happens that I was allowed to see some of the reasons why. And the grace given to you and the grace given to Dona Magdalena about your coming to see me and asking me that question; me, answer it from knowledge as well as faith. It is not often we are allowed to see a larger piece of the pattern of God’s work on earth, and that has its good reasons without doubt. After all, a little faith and hope and love is all we can contribute to the building of the Kingdom and faith would be unnecessary if we knew all things. Thank God, we don’t. This life of ours would be immeasurably poorer for it. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to trust a man or woman, isn’t it? To say with the inner certainty that is faith, this man is honest, this woman is faithful. If we knew it from knowledge alone, it would be like stating that stone is hard or water liquid. Of course human beings can deceive us and thus we meet with disappointments and have to fall back on the faith in God, who never deceived - and who is never deceived.” (312-3)
“There was a time when God allowed our country to be ruled by Moors. A very long tim, as you know. Many centuries. Moors. Muslims. During the first centuries of that time the present dynasty did not exist at all, either here or elsewhere. And history goes on. How can you be sure that it won’t repeat itself? And if it does, you will have to censure God again for letting it happen. But God has not to my knowledge given any country guarantees about its frontiers or its rules. What he has guaranteed is our individual and personal salvation, if we believe and keep his commandments.” (311)
“He was restless and irritated and not at all ready for an atmosphere of joyful tranquility.” (309)
“No one is born a saint,” Calahorra said, smiling. “I don’t think any of the apostles could be called a saint-before Pentecost. We can’t be saints before the Holy Spirit descends on us, can we? Most of us aren’t even after that. It takes some collaboration. Ah, well - the occasion when San Juan was too ambitious was when he - and his brother too- wanted our Lord to assure them that they. Would have the places at his right and left. Remember, how he asked them whether they could drink from the cup he was drinking from and they said yes they could?” “ I remember” Juan said. “Well, San Juan at least had the opportunity to see what his wish implied, when he stood at the foot of the Cross and saw who was hanging on our Lord’s left and right. Must have made him think - later. Quite all right. Main thing is not to think only when it is too late. It rarely is, though. Certainly isn’t in your case…it all depends on what we mean by ambition,” he went on taking no notice of Juan’s surprise. “If we mean self-aggrandizement, we are in for a shock sooner or later. If we mean ambition for the kingdom of God, we may still be in for a shock, even for a whole series of shocks, but they won’t be able to harm us; because we are not disappointed. We can’t be. We only wanted God’s glory and no defeat can darken that, can it? Only it’s not always easy, at first, to separate our personal ambition from the real one… Don’t forget - San Juan was our Lord’s most beloved disciple- before he became a saint.”” (307-8)
“Eyes like merry black cherries.” (304)
“Right… we love talking about our rights. But are we ready to conceded their rights to others? Who gave you your rank and wealth? Who has a claim, next to God, on your loyalty?… Royalty and nobility have many privileges. But these privileges would be hateful and absurd without a way to merit them. If we forget our duty, the poorest beggar in the street has a perfect right to sput at us when we pass by. We do not own ourselves or anything we are or have. We are stewareds of God and stewards of the King…” (250)
“He covered her hands with kisses. Then he felt the soft touch of her lips on his hair, and looking up, he saw he face bent over him, more beautiful than ever in the radiance of her love, the very fruit of paradise.” (225)
“Waiting was the worst thing onearth. Even hope was pain when one was waiting, because it never came alone buy always in the company of doubt and fear.” (217)
“As unapproachable as heaven is to an unrepentant sinner.” (215)
“To the natural egoism of a lover, it seemed as if the world were in a conspiracy against him.” (202)
“For our wish has always been that we should make a permanent foundation and be buried in its ground, so that wish to remain reunited in death, in the same harmony in which we have lived together.“ (389)
“As she entered, her love performed the miracle of a warm, happy smile. Won saw it, and his reflection undone, Luis’s waxing face.“ (388)
“Even whether or not he found happiness in the arms of a wife was of no account in comparison to the greatest of all tasks. For man did not belong to himself, but to God. That was why the knights of past ages left their wives and their castles for the sake of the Cross. Deus lo vult (God wants it).” (323)
“The Christian was invincible as long as he kept in union with Christ, with the Word that had become Flesh; with God, who had become Man, and of whose living Body he partook in the Host… The Muslim, however, tried to cut the newfound bridge between God and man. Christ, no longer the God-Man, became a mere minor prophet who had to bow to Muhammad. And Muhammad, too, was a prophet only. Once more the bond between God and mankind was to be severed, the closest and most loving union broken. Once more God would become remote, no longer the Father of men, but only the King, the terrible, awesome Lord of olden times… Islam was regress. And inasmuch as it tried to nullify Christ’s supreme sacrifice, it was worse than that and therefore it had to be fought and fought again… That was what mattered. That alone mattered, to uphold and spread a realm on earth over which God would rule not only as a King, but also as a Father; where men were allowed to partake in the divinity of him who had not disdained to share man’s humanity.” (322)
“If God is like fire, let me be burned by it. If God is like water, let me drown in it. If he is like air, let me fly into it. If he is like earth, let me burrow my way into it until I reach its very center.” (321)
“Surely there will always be good priests who will go on teaching what is right…” “Yes, there will be. The gates of hell will not prevail, we know that. But each of us must live as if that promise of Christ depended on him alone. And priests and nuns are not enough. Christ needs the layman, too. He may need the layman more and more as time goes on… Priests, monks, friars, and nuns are set aside for their own specific purpose., but their work will be brought to nought, perhaps not only in single cases, but in whole countries, unless God will give us apostles who are laymen, yes and laywomen.” (320)
“Not long ago ecclesiastics were the only people who could read and write,” Calahorra went on. “Not because the seats of learning were closed to all others, but because the people did not take the trouble to learn. That’s what priests and monks were for, reading and writing. And thus one day they will say, ‘that’s what priests and monks are for, praying and preaching,’ and, like learning, piety also will shrink, and coagulate in the monasteries. Let that go on long enough and a priest will be the only one to remember the Our Father.” (320-1)
“When you understand them, you will have the recipe for happiness and all the rest is prayer. This is what he wrote: ‘When you want to be everything - you must go where you are nothing./ When you want to have everything - you must go where you have nothing’… Namely, to God. God is everything, and to him belongs the universe. Unite with Him and you are everything and everything is yours. Can’t you see that? And have you forgotten that the crown of the King of Kinds, infinitely more precious than all the crowns in the world, is one of thorns? When our Lord walked on earth, what was he to the learning Jews? To the priests of the great temple? A wandering rabbi, making false claims. What was he to the Romans? Provincial subject of the great emperor and a man charged with crimes. He himself has warned us that the servant cannot expect better treatment than his master, hasn’t he? Your excellency, Don Juan of Austria, don’t you recognize Christ as your master, that you expect to be great and honored and allow yourself to be better when all greatness and honor is not given to you because of your birth? What about your Lord’s most sacred birth? Can you claim it as your right to be born in a palace, when he was born in a staple?“ “if ever, I meet the infidel and battle,” Juan said, “I hope he won’t be as strong as you are.” “And he won’t be,” Calahorra explained. “He cannot talk to you as I do, in the Name of Christ Crucified.” (317-8)
“Pardon does not mean exemption from punishment. But here again: I don’t think that it is only a question of cause and effect… I mean, there is more to it that you can see at the moment.” (316)
“Juan said: “it seems a terrible thing that the man had to be born blind for the sake of the moment when God would show his power…” “I don’t agree,” Calahorra said cheerfully. “If it were not for God, he wouldn’t exist at all. ANd he had countless joys of other kinds before our Lord gave him his eyesight on top of it all. What right have we to claim from God that we should all have the same assets? I might as well demand of King Philip to make me captain general of the sea - or of God to make me a king as powerful as King Philip. God has a perfect right to distribute his gifts as he thinks fit. Besides, when a man has had more than his usual load of difficulties in this life, God will make it up a hundred and a thousandfold in the next… you and I, we are Christians. This means among other things that we believe in this life only as the preparation for the next. Our Lord mentioned that again and again, starting with the Sermon on the Mount. But so often when good Christian people try to judge this or that situation in life, they seem to forget about life after death altogether. They are like children who think that the sweetmeat they dropped into the mud is an a irretrievable loss for all of eternity. They are quite desperate about the sweetmeat – Whatever it may be, a girl, dignity, rank, a house, a privilege, a new dress, or the victory of a bull on which they placed the bet. Anything. And they proceed to blame God for the grave injustice is done to them by taking the sweetmeat away from them. Phhhhha! Do you know what that proves? Do you, your Excellency?” He did not wait for a reply. “It means that the action of our Lord did not concern that one blind beggar and Jerusalem only. It concerns us all at some stage. You too are a blind, bigger, your ex, unless our Lord open your eyes“ Won met a cherub smile. “Obviously,” Calahorra said, “we shall find it difficult to be happy as long as we are spiritually blind.” “I think that’s about as much as I can take in for the present.” The little fryer did not seem to be surprised. He, too, got up, elastic as a cat. “As you wish,” he said, pleasantly. “But do remember that our Lord can still work miracles – when we ask him.“ (314-5)
“Praying for something or somebody,” Calahorra said slowly, “is a very, very dangerous thing to do. One is always heard. And one never really knows what one is asking for. I’d never ask God for anything without adding, ‘if such is thy holy will’ or ‘if such is good for me.’ Of couirse, sometimes God says no to our prayers…seemingly. But when he does, his no in one issue will be transformed into a stream of grace in another, often in many others. There is no such thing as a prayer not heard. In the case you mentioned your prayer was heard and answered directly. The prince was healed. Do you remember how our Lord met the man who was born blind? His disciples asked him whether the man was punished with blindness because he was guilty of sin, or because his parents were guilty of sin. And Jesus answered: ‘neither he nor his parents were guilty; he was born blind so that God’s action might declare itself in him.’ And then he healed him. We are not told whether the man from then on lived an exemplary life or not, are we?… you prayed for the prince.” Calaahorra interrupted firmly. “He was cured. And you received a stream of grace solidifying your own faith for the hours when you would most need it. For at least that once you were allowed to see God in action.” “You mean - Carlos was cured for my sake?” “Certainly. But not only for your sake, although that would have been quite enough. Other people were present, among them a number of learned physicians. Well, one of them, never mind which, came here soon afterward for the first retreat he ever made in his life. He had been besieged by heavy doubt. To him who know that medically speaking the prince had been as good as dead, the shock of a cure was an eye opener.” “I never knew…” “Of course not. In this particular matter, it so happens that I was allowed to see some of the reasons why. And the grace given to you and the grace given to Dona Magdalena about your coming to see me and asking me that question; me, answer it from knowledge as well as faith. It is not often we are allowed to see a larger piece of the pattern of God’s work on earth, and that has its good reasons without doubt. After all, a little faith and hope and love is all we can contribute to the building of the Kingdom and faith would be unnecessary if we knew all things. Thank God, we don’t. This life of ours would be immeasurably poorer for it. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to trust a man or woman, isn’t it? To say with the inner certainty that is faith, this man is honest, this woman is faithful. If we knew it from knowledge alone, it would be like stating that stone is hard or water liquid. Of course human beings can deceive us and thus we meet with disappointments and have to fall back on the faith in God, who never deceived - and who is never deceived.” (312-3)
“There was a time when God allowed our country to be ruled by Moors. A very long tim, as you know. Many centuries. Moors. Muslims. During the first centuries of that time the present dynasty did not exist at all, either here or elsewhere. And history goes on. How can you be sure that it won’t repeat itself? And if it does, you will have to censure God again for letting it happen. But God has not to my knowledge given any country guarantees about its frontiers or its rules. What he has guaranteed is our individual and personal salvation, if we believe and keep his commandments.” (311)
“He was restless and irritated and not at all ready for an atmosphere of joyful tranquility.” (309)
“No one is born a saint,” Calahorra said, smiling. “I don’t think any of the apostles could be called a saint-before Pentecost. We can’t be saints before the Holy Spirit descends on us, can we? Most of us aren’t even after that. It takes some collaboration. Ah, well - the occasion when San Juan was too ambitious was when he - and his brother too- wanted our Lord to assure them that they. Would have the places at his right and left. Remember, how he asked them whether they could drink from the cup he was drinking from and they said yes they could?” “ I remember” Juan said. “Well, San Juan at least had the opportunity to see what his wish implied, when he stood at the foot of the Cross and saw who was hanging on our Lord’s left and right. Must have made him think - later. Quite all right. Main thing is not to think only when it is too late. It rarely is, though. Certainly isn’t in your case…it all depends on what we mean by ambition,” he went on taking no notice of Juan’s surprise. “If we mean self-aggrandizement, we are in for a shock sooner or later. If we mean ambition for the kingdom of God, we may still be in for a shock, even for a whole series of shocks, but they won’t be able to harm us; because we are not disappointed. We can’t be. We only wanted God’s glory and no defeat can darken that, can it? Only it’s not always easy, at first, to separate our personal ambition from the real one… Don’t forget - San Juan was our Lord’s most beloved disciple- before he became a saint.”” (307-8)
“Eyes like merry black cherries.” (304)
“Right… we love talking about our rights. But are we ready to conceded their rights to others? Who gave you your rank and wealth? Who has a claim, next to God, on your loyalty?… Royalty and nobility have many privileges. But these privileges would be hateful and absurd without a way to merit them. If we forget our duty, the poorest beggar in the street has a perfect right to sput at us when we pass by. We do not own ourselves or anything we are or have. We are stewareds of God and stewards of the King…” (250)
“He covered her hands with kisses. Then he felt the soft touch of her lips on his hair, and looking up, he saw he face bent over him, more beautiful than ever in the radiance of her love, the very fruit of paradise.” (225)
“Waiting was the worst thing onearth. Even hope was pain when one was waiting, because it never came alone buy always in the company of doubt and fear.” (217)
“As unapproachable as heaven is to an unrepentant sinner.” (215)
“To the natural egoism of a lover, it seemed as if the world were in a conspiracy against him.” (202)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2014
There are Catholic books, and then there are books with Catholic themes. Taking a mediocre plot-development, largely uninteresting characters, and a lack of substantial suspense, and then slapping a few Catholic trappings on it and being sure to have several of the main characters show up on time to Mass does not make a book a Catholic book; it only makes it a mediocre book with Catholic themes.
Adding to the negatives, the book is highly unoriginal. It is almost completely reliant on Chesterton's poem "Lepanto," down to its passing appearance of Cervantes after a brief scene depicting the Pope having his vision of the victory of the Holy League; even the name is a barely-tweeked rendering of Chesterton's description "The last knight of Europe takes weapons from the wall" (Lepanto, 18).
Overall, a weak book with very little lasting literary value. The reader would be much better off reading Chesterton's much more concise and memorable "Lepanto."
Adding to the negatives, the book is highly unoriginal. It is almost completely reliant on Chesterton's poem "Lepanto," down to its passing appearance of Cervantes after a brief scene depicting the Pope having his vision of the victory of the Holy League; even the name is a barely-tweeked rendering of Chesterton's description "The last knight of Europe takes weapons from the wall" (Lepanto, 18).
Overall, a weak book with very little lasting literary value. The reader would be much better off reading Chesterton's much more concise and memorable "Lepanto."
June 27, 2010
Excellent work! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author! Interesting and historically accurate telling of Don Juan de Austria's part in the last crusade, culminating in the famous Battle of Lepanto. Full of beauty, romance, political intrigue and enormous depth, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the period (even mildly).
July 31, 2017
L’ultimo crociato è Don Giovanni d'Austria, figlio naturale di Carlo V e fratello di Filippo II re di Spagna, comandante della flotta cristiana a Lepanto. L’autore ricostruisce con acuta sensibilità la sua vicenda umana, sullo sfondo dei grandi eventi del suo tempo, in un libro imperdibile per gli amanti della storia.
August 31, 2023
“Pero ahí queda lo que está hecho.
¡Qué magnífico loco! ¡Qué magnifica locura! Ya hubo alguien que habló de la locura de la Cruz.
Fue San Pablo.
En cualquier altura a la que un poeta lograra elevarse, en cualquier profundidad a la que pudiera descender, se encontraría con que allí ya había estado antes un santo…”
¡Qué magnífico loco! ¡Qué magnifica locura! Ya hubo alguien que habló de la locura de la Cruz.
Fue San Pablo.
En cualquier altura a la que un poeta lograra elevarse, en cualquier profundidad a la que pudiera descender, se encontraría con que allí ya había estado antes un santo…”
Read
May 28, 2011Interesting historial novel about the last crusade. It seems maybe if not successful Christanity would have been destroyed in europe. When considering the current world I think it is important to look back on the past. Know the dangers and hold on to your faith.
July 1, 2011
If one wants a very accurate historical lesson on Don Juan and what led up to the battle of Lepanto, this is a page turner. It was historically accurate without every single detail.
November 2, 2018
Fantastic book about the commander of the Christian forces at the Battle of Lepanto. A story of loyalty and betrayal, determination and faith.
February 8, 2019
“Un vero re” pensava Cervantes. “Un magnifico, giovane re. Un crociato, forse.. l’ultimo crociato.”
Semplicemente spettacolare.
Semplicemente spettacolare.
August 16, 2018
What a crazy book. I'm giving it 5 stars not because I had a 5 star experience, but because it was the weirdest experience I ever had! Most of the book was noble people with many confusing names talking about other noble people... I was soooo confused! I did read it on and off, but the mellifluous flow the incredible detail to names and titles blew me away. The epic ending was amazing, short, and still weird! It's historical fiction and quite wonderful, and amazing, and yes, I'm very confused by it all. I am familiar with the time period but still a little dizzy from it all. I don't have time to clarify and organize my thoughts on it all but dang! What a strange royal noble historical mellifluous enticing ride!
December 11, 2025
Anche nel caso di don Juan d'Austria, come in tutte le sue opere, de Wohl riesce con successo a dar vita ad un personaggio storico, mostrandocelo nella sua umanità.
Ben descritto il panorama dell'epoca, rispettoso della realtà storica del tempo.
Ho faticato un po' nelle ultime pagine del libro, che sono dedicate alla descrizione della battaglia di Lepanto, la cui vittoria costituisce il motivo della fama di don Juan.
Piacevole invece la lettura della parte in cui viene raccontata l'infanzia e l'adolescenza del protagonista, caratterizzata dall'incontro con persone che saranno fondamentali per la formazione del suo carattere.
Ben descritto il panorama dell'epoca, rispettoso della realtà storica del tempo.
Ho faticato un po' nelle ultime pagine del libro, che sono dedicate alla descrizione della battaglia di Lepanto, la cui vittoria costituisce il motivo della fama di don Juan.
Piacevole invece la lettura della parte in cui viene raccontata l'infanzia e l'adolescenza del protagonista, caratterizzata dall'incontro con persone che saranno fondamentali per la formazione del suo carattere.
September 16, 2019
I listened to this as an audiobook on Formed.org. Great accompaniment for chores and walking the dog. I enjoyed this book, but I suspect that the author glossed over some of Don Juan's faults. Still, winning the Battle of Lepanto (and, in fact, holding the Holy League together and getting them to the battle) was a tremendous accomplishment, and it was exciting to listen to the narration.
January 22, 2020
Decir que éste libro es la mejor novela histórica que he leído no hace justicia a lo mucho que me ha gustado leerlo. Está excelentemente documentada y es de inspiración católica (lo cual me gusta). Morera Rubio ha realizado una excelentísima traducción que refleja la grandeza de la novela. Una hagiografía que todo amante de la historia española debería leer. Deus lo vult!
January 31, 2023
Maravillosa historia
Disfruté mucho la aventura del personaje a través de cómo en distintos escenarios y paisajes se pintaba la vida cotidiana y de la realeza de esa época. Los comentarios astutos y sagaces junto con ideas claras Y Vita les hacen de este libro una lecuraora recomendada a quienes gustan de este género.
Disfruté mucho la aventura del personaje a través de cómo en distintos escenarios y paisajes se pintaba la vida cotidiana y de la realeza de esa época. Los comentarios astutos y sagaces junto con ideas claras Y Vita les hacen de este libro una lecuraora recomendada a quienes gustan de este género.
July 1, 2017
De Wohl rarely disappoints, and this book is no exception. Not only does he bring to life Don Juan of Austria, but he brings us to the battle of Lepanto, the chapel of Pius V, the courts of King Philip.
July 31, 2019
Odlični povijesni roman.
October 3, 2019
An amazing story told romantically.
January 20, 2020
Fun historical fiction. A bit long for me but ok
April 17, 2020
Great historic novel!
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