Ana: Ana of Austria (1568-1629) - Paperback

by Linda Carlino (Author), Charles Carlino (Prologue by), Charles Carlino (Afterword by)

Ana, known as Ana of Austria, was the illegitimate daughter of Juan de Austria, who was himself the illegitimate son of Charles V (HRE). She was raised by the same nanny as her father until she was seven then placed in a convent in Avila. Later her confessor introduced her to the convent's young, handsome pastry chef, Gabriel de Espinosa. He claimed to be King Sebastian I of Portugal, who was never convincingly accounted for after a battle in Morocco. With the complicity of her confessor they started courting. Espinosa bore a surprising resemblance to the missing king Sebastian and Ana was duped into believing his claim to the throne. And dazzled by his charm and the hope of becoming queen of Portugal, she fell in love with him and became involved in the complicated and dangerous political intrigue surrounding the Portuguese crown.

Author Biography

Linda Carlino was born in a small mining village at the southern edge of the Durham coalfield in the Northeast of England. She had a lifelong passion for history and historical fiction and a five week independent tour of Spain in 1988 was a life-changing event. She became interested in Spain's history. She wanted to know more, much more. She studied Spanish and then started reading Spanish sources. Many exciting days were to follow in the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, other public and private libraries in Spain, and the British Library in London. During 2007-08 VeritasPublishing published her Spanish Hapsburg Trilogy: That Other Juana. (Juana la Loca). A Matter of Pride (Charles V, HRE) and Wives & Other Women (Philip II of Spain). In 2008 she was elected a Full Member of The Society of Authors. In 2009 That Other Juana (Joana, a Louca) was published in Portugal by Editorial Presenca (Lisbon) and in January 2012 they published A Matter of Pride (Uma Questao de Orgulho). In February 2012 her Brazilian publisher Editora Europa (Sao Paulo) published That Other Juana (Joana, a Louca) in Brazil and after its success they published A Matter of Pride (Carlos V) in September 2013."