\"El Escorial\" Palace 16thC Medieval Spain Habsburg Bourbon Lepanto Ottoman Turk

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\"El Escorial\" Palace 16thC Medieval Spain Habsburg Bourbon Lepanto Ottoman Turk:
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Wonders of Man: El Escorial by Mary Cable and the Editors of the Newsweek Book Division.

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DESCRIPTION: Hardback with Dust Jacket: 172 pages. Publisher: Newsweek; (1971). El Escorial is the fascinating story of the vast monastery-palace that was the spiritual and political heart of Spain in the turbulent sixteenth century when Europe erupted with religious discord and military rivals; the New World beckoned with promises of rich colonial empires; and Spain had reached its imperial zenith.

Philip II of Spain, arch-rival of Protestant England’s Queen Elizabeth I, built “El Escorial” to reflect his Catholic piety and the military might of Spain. At the Escorial Philip charted the Counter-Reformation as well as Spain’s military forays throughout the world: Lepanto, scene of Spain’s stunning victory over the “invincible” Ottoman Turks; the Netherlands, bloody site of a protracted and futile attempt to suppress rebel troops; and the English Channel, final battlefield for the famed Spanish Armada in its ill-fated attach on Elizabeth’s island empire.

“El Escorial” also chronicles the tragic history of Philip II’s Habsburg successors; the decadent opulence of the Spanish Bourbon’s court; and the desecration of the Escorial by French troops during Napoleon’s 1808 Iberian campaign. Supplementing the engrossing narrative are some one hundred illustrations, old engravings, sketches, and sculpture. Among the artists represented are Sanchez Coello, El Greco, Velazquez, and Goya.

A special section, “El Escorial in Literature” includes excerpts from the works of such famous writers as Friedrich Schiller, Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Dean Howells, Benito Perez Galdos, and Nikos Kazantzakis. A reference section, including a chronology of Spanish history, a genealogy of Spanish succession, a guide to the Escorial complex itself, a selected bibliography, detailed information about the illustrations, and an index, concludes the volume.

CONDITION: Light shelf wear, otherwise in Very Good to Like New condition. Seemingly never read, at worst flipped through a few times. Pages are pristine; clean, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound. Satisfaction unconditionally guaranteed. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING!

PLEASE SEE IMAGES BELOW FOR SAMPLE PAGES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK.

PLEASE SEE PUBLISHER, PROFESSIONAL, AND READER REVIEWS BELOW.

PUBLISHER REVIEW:

REVIEW: “El Escorial” is one in a series of volumes in the Newsweek Book Division’s series of illustrated histories, “Wonders of Man”. Each volume in the series focuses on a well-known historical monument. Each volume is divided into three major sections. First, a lively and informative history of both the monument and its creators, written by a distinguished and authoritative writers, profusely illustrated on color and black and white. Second, a selection of literary excerpts about the monument. Third, a comprehensive reference section.

Other titles in the series include: “The Parthenon”, “The Taj Mahal”, “The Colosseum”, “Statute of Liberty”, “The Pyramids and Sphinx”, “The Hague”, “Notre-Dame de Paris”, “The Kremlin”, “Hagia Sophia”, “Versailles”, “The White House”, “The Tower of London”, “Dome of the Rock”, “Venice”, “Teotihuacan”, and “The Forofferden City”. Contents of this volume include: Introduction; The Story of El Escorial; “A Dwelling for God on Earth”; The Vow Fulfilled; Architects and Artists; The Burdens of Empire; Dissent at Home, Defeat at Sea; Last of the Spanish Habsburgs; In the Absence of Royalty; El Escorial in Literature; Chronology of Spanish History; The Spanish Succession: 1469-1931; Guide to El Escorial; Selected Bibliography.

Mary Cable, author of “El Escorial”, has written on a wide variety of historical subjects. In addition to her articles for the New York, Horizon, and Atlantic, Mrs. Cable has produced a number of full-length social histories. Among the latter are “American Manners and Morals”; “The Avenue of the Presidents”; and “Black Odyssey: The Case of the Slave Ship Amistad”.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:

REVIEW: Profusely illustrated. The marvelous story of the opulence of the Spanish Bourbon court of the 16 century and El Escorial, the vast monastery-palace that was the spiritual and political heart of Spain. A volume in Newsweek\'s series “Wonders of Man”.

REVIEW: As self-appointed champion of the counter-reformation, Philip II of Spain devoted much of his forty-two year reign, and lavished a large portion of his seemingly inexhaustible supply of New World gold-on a fore-doomed attempt to arrest the spread of Protestant heresies in Western Europe. A stunning visual feat. An informative and educational read. A marvelous historical edition, lavishly illustrated and attractive \"coffee table\" book.

READER REVIEWS:

REVIEW: The Eighth Wonder of the World! Anyone interested in the rich history of 16th century Spain will love this book. The oversized book is as informative as it is engrossing with its lavish photographs that one can only marvel at. The color photographs are the real treasure here and a glimpse into the opulence and extravagance of Catholic Spain. There are over 100 photographs, over half in color often taking up the whole page. The book is part of a series Newsweek used to have in their book division entitled \"Wonders of Man”. Besides the magnificent color photographs there are illuminated manuscripts, old sketches and engravings. Many of the featured items are by famous artists such as Goya, El Greco and Velasquez. Goya\'s cartoons or his orginal art on a smaller scale for his masterpieces were used to create the tapestries hanging in El Escorial.

The visual aspects of this book are to be enjoyed over and over again. The text itself is a fascinating read into the lives of the famous and infamous rulers of Spain during its imperial zenith. Much of the book is dedicated to Phillip II who built El Escorial as a monument to the zeal of the Counter- Reformation. The king dedicated much of his forty-two year reign, and money gained from conquering the new world, into building this stone edifice, which was in honor of Saint Lawrence and a tribute to Catholic Spain. The book takes the reader through the troubles encountered and the many architects and artists involved in creating \"the eighth wonder of the world”.

Unfortunately the successors to the crown of Phillip II were not as competent and had other interests and El Escorial experienced deterioration and eventual restoration. Within the church, underneath the altar, are the remains of eleven Spanish kings, including Phillip II himself. The polished marble coffins of their queens are viewable in a two page color photograph that is big enough so that the names of the queens can be read. The story of the succession of the Bourbon crown over the Hapsburgs reads like a tele-novela complete with stories of lies and deceit, murder and even rumors of necrophilia. It is a story of the Spanish crown when it was at it\'s zenith up to and including the reign of Juan Carlos in modern times and their relationships with El Escorial.

At the end of the book there is a section dedicated to El Escorial in literature and the Spanish Succession lineage from 1469-1931. After reading this book I had a new found respect and admiration for the reign of Phillip II and the legacy he left the world, his monument in stone to Catholic Spain. I would recommend this book to history buffs or art enthusiasts, especially those interested in the Catholic Church or Spain at the heights of its powers. It is definitely worth the relatively inexpensive price with its treasure of visual delights.

REVIEW: The story of El Escorial, the vast monastery palace that was the spiritual and political heart of Spain in the turbulent Sixteenth Century. Supplementing the narrative, in 170 pages of table top-sized rendering, are some one hundred illustrations, one half in full color. Modern photos were especially commissioned for this volume, royal portraits, manuscript illuminations, old engravings, sketches and sculpture, along with paintings of famous artists appear. This is an attractive, informative volume; a nicely produced and useful illustrated history of El Escorial.

REVIEW: An excellent gift! Wonderful photographs and illustrations tell the history of El Escorial. Both textual and pictorial history, this book is part of Newsweek\'s Wonders of Man series. Presents a lively and informative history of the monument, a selection of literary excerpts about the monument, along with a comprehensive reference section. Splendidly illustrated, well-written, in a high-quality, “coffee-table” style format. This book is both art in itself, as well as a history. Highly recommended.

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Most of the items I offer come from the collection of a family friend who was active in the field of Archaeology for over forty years. However many of the items also come from purchases I make in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) from various institutions and dealers. Though I have always had an interest in archaeology, my own academic background was in sociology and cultural anthropology. After my retirement however, I found myself drawn to archaeology as well. Aside from my own personal collection, I have made extensive and frequent additions of my own via purchases on (of course), as well as many purchases from both dealers and institutions throughout the world - but especially in the Near East and in Eastern Europe. I spend over half of my year out of the United States, and have spent much of my life either in India or Eastern Europe. In fact much of what we generate on Yahoo, Amazon and goes to support The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as some other worthy institutions in Europe connected with Anthropology and Archaeology.

I acquire some small but interesting collections overseas from time-to-time, and have as well some duplicate items within my own collection which I occasionally decide to part with. Though I have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, my primary interest is in ancient jewelry. My wife also is an active participant in the \"business\" of antique and ancient jewelry, and is from Russia. I would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from me. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Whenever I am overseas I have made arrangements for purchases to be shipped out via domestic mail. If I am in the field, you may have to wait for a week or two for a COA to arrive via international air mail. But you can be sure your purchase will arrive properly packaged and promptly - even if I am absent. And when I am in a remote field location with merely a notebook computer, at times I am not able to access my email for a day or two, so be patient, I will always respond to every email. Please see our \"ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE.\"