Bøger af Juliana Cummings

When we think of kings and queens, we conjure up illusions of a magnificent kingdom where His and Her Majesties live in the lap of luxury and want for nothing. While this may be true, life wasn't always as perfect.With the history of royal families comes a long and twisted history of genetics and family intermarriage that is often swept aside.In Ms Cummings' latest book, she takes us through the complicated spider's web of royal marriages. She tells us of the atrocities of the Ptolemy Dynasty as they continued to marry brothers and sisters to fend off political outsiders. She tells us about the centuries of intermarriage in Europe's most prominent royal family, along with the devastating results that came with it.We will learn of the devastation of mental illness that befell reigning monarchs of The Hundred Years War and plagued George III of England, Juana of Castile and the Wittlebach Empire. She will also tell us of the desperation that fell upon the Russian Royal Family as their only heir to the throne grew ill with hemophilia. She will also go into depth about the notorious Hapsburgs, the decades of physical and mental ailments that tormented them, and how their empire ended with the most inbred royal in history, Charles II of Spain.After hearing the heartwrenching stories of these great monarchs, you'll find that you can't help but sympathize with them as you read about how genetics was the ultimate game-changer in most families.

The year is 1457. Prince Vlad Dracul now sits on the throne of Wallachia. Seventeen-year-old Anastasia Holszanska, the bastard daughter to Hungarian war hero, John Hunyadi, finds herself betrothed to the new Prince, at the request of her father. As Anastasia travels to Targoviste Palace, she is filled with trepidation about her marriage, for she has heard unspeakable things about Prince Dracul and the way he deals with his enemies. But Anastasia discovers a side to her new husband that she never dreamed of. Vlad is a fierce and loving man who is determined to protect his kingdom at all costs. Anastasia learns about his traumatic childhood and comes to understand the reasons behind his brutality. She comes to realize the continuous threat to his throne from those who wish to usurp him. Her husband's desperation for a male heir forces Anastasia to understand what it really takes to be a Romanian Princess. She never thought she would fall in love with a man who impales and tortures those who disagree with him. But along with Vlad's thirst for power and cruelty, there lies a profound love that only Anastasia can comprehend.

The iconic image of the lunatic asylum is one that often leaves us wondering what went on inside these imposing buildings.

A fascinating walk through time to give us a better understanding of such a perilous part of history.