Books on Iberian royalty

[Eric_Lowe]

An English one ?

[morvilaRomanov]

no..a portuguese one

but you could translated online...

[Eric_Lowe]

Not sure but will try.

[morvilaRomanov]

babelfish.com translate portuguese to english but in long text contains some mistakes.

[Eric_Lowe]

That would be understable.

[morvilaRomanov]

I THINK that's the only chance...

[Eurohistory]

If you know Spanish,or can read it, the selection is enormous. 

There are not that many books on the Spanish royal family written in English. Theo Aronson, the late and great, wrote ROYAL VENDETTA _ which tells you the story of rthe schism between the Carlist and Isabeline lines. Jon van der Kiste's book on the Spanish Royal House tells you the basic information one needs to know.

THE GOTHA – Still a Continental Royal Family, Volume 3, will contain a rather longish chapter on the Spanish royals.

In my magazine, THE EUROPEAN ROYAL HISTORY JOURNAL, there have been quite a few articles about various branches and members of the Spanish royal family as well.

Best, Arturo Beéche

[morvilaRomanov]

"Eric" want a book about portuguese royal family and no about spanish royal family.

[Eurohistory]

The same case applies. Portuguese royal books are a rarity in English. In the last decade we maybe have had 2. However, those in Portuguese are countless and I have in my collection most if them as I can read Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish, English and am working on learning German.

Our magazine has had a considerable number of article son the Portuguese royal family as well...at more than 2800 pages now since we began publishing in August 1997 – we are bound to have article son just about every European royal family.

During my last visit to Portugal, the Duke of Bragança invited me to his home in San Pedro de Sintra. I spent a wonderful day with HRH looking at his collections, albums, taking long walks in the gardens and discussing myriad royal topics. Two days later we had lunch in Lisbon and the afternoon before my departure he asked me to visit him in his office, which is filled with historical objects. Dom Duarte is a wonderfully nice man. As a parting gift he gave me signed photos by himself and his wife.

Arturo Beéche

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. The magazine dedicated the most information on most royal family (The Portugese included). The only where you can get more is :The New Royalty Digest published by Red Rosvall and Majesty Magazine sometimes have bits and pieces.

[YaBB_Jose]

After Catherine of Bragança and Philippa of Lancaster, Isabel Stilwell has just published a new book, on Queen D.Amélia.

http://www.wook.pt/authors/detail/id/32814

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks ! But also in Portuguese...

[YaBB_Jose]

Not exactly Iberian Royalty but as next as one can get.

Who knows of a good bio on Emperor D.Pedro II of Brazil ?

And I don't mind if it is in portuguese ;-)

[Naslednik Norvezhskiy]

Speaking of Emperor Pedro II, has anybody read "The Emperor's Beard: Dom Pedro II and His Tropical Monarchy in Brazil" by Lilia Moritz Schwarcz?
I gather it is more of a political than personal biography.

[Lecen]

I have.

The book does not focus too much, in fact, not at all, in politics. It is more about the simbolic image of the monarchy, of how was perceived by Brazilians. The book tells how Pedro II evolved from the image of "savior of the Nation" during the chaotic 1830s to "Father of the Nation" between 1840s to 1860s than to "Lord or War" in the 1860s then to "Citizen Emperor" in the 1870s and finaly, to weak and uninterest monarch in the 1880s.

It has many history errors. If you want a precise view of Pedro II's life, you should skip it. It is more interest as complement, as a book that explain how the monarch was seen in Brazil.

However, if you are really interested on reading about Pedro II, you must have "Citizen Emperor" by British historian Roderick J. Barman. Interesting enough, although it is a true biography, it explains far better the simbolic role of the monarch that the book "The Emperor's beard".

But, if you are keen on reading about Pedro II now and does not have the time or patience to read full books I would recomend the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_II_of_Brazil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_and_fall_of_Pedro_II_of_Brazil

Have fun!