History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, Vols. 1 and 2   By: William Hickling Prescott (1796-1859)

In William Hickling Prescott's monumental work, "History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain," the author provides a detailed and comprehensive examination of one of the most influential rulers in European history. With meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Prescott brings to life the political intrigue, religious conflict, and military conquests of Philip II's reign.

Prescott's prose is both informative and captivating, making even the most complex geopolitical events accessible to the reader. His analysis of Philip's strategies and decisions offers valuable insights into the mindset of a powerful monarch whose reign shaped the course of European history.

Overall, "History of the Reign of Philip the Second" is a must-read for anyone interested in Renaissance Europe, political history, or the impact of religion on geopolitics. Prescott's scholarship and storytelling combine to create a compelling narrative that sheds light on the complexities of power and authority in the 16th century.

First Page:

The reign of Philip the Second has occupied the pen of the historian more frequently if we except that of Charles the Fifth than any other portion of the Spanish annals. It has become familiar to the English reader through the pages of Watson, who has deservedly found favor with the public for the perspicuity of his style, a virtue, however, not uncommon in his day, for the sobriety of his judgments, and for the skill he has shown in arranging his complicated story, so as to maintain the reader's interest unbroken to the end. But the public, in Watson's day, were not very fastidious in regard to the sources of the information on which a narrative was founded. Nor was it easy to obtain access to those unpublished documents which constitute the best sources of information. Neither can it be denied that Watson himself was not so solicitous as he should have been to profit by opportunities which a little pains might have put within his reach, presenting, in this respect, a contrast to his more celebrated predecessor, Robertson; that he contented himself too easily with such cheap and commonplace materials as lay directly in his path; and that, consequently, the foundations of his history are much too slight for the superstructure... Continue reading book >>