the queen board
the queen board is the new historical novel written by the well-known Spanish historian, engineer and author Luis Zueco Jiménez, known for books such as The surgeon of souls. The work was published by Ediciones B | B from Books in 2023. To date, the title has met with mixed reviews from critics and the public.
Some of the latter call it "feminist", others claim that it is a great real thriller. The first epithet has to do with the fact that, to the surprise of many, Luis Zueco Jiménez's novel addresses the rise to power of a young Isabel I of Castile from a point of view beyond history, telling the misadventures of her and other secondary and fictitious characters that enrich a narrative that has chess as a backdrop.
Synopsis of the queen board
More than just a strategy game
the queen board emerges from a part of the interesting history of the ancient Spanish monarch Isabel I of Castile, better known by many as Isabel la Católica, wife of Fernando de Aragón. The book —almost always from the fiction that literature allows— narrates the events that took place during the infanta's first years, and the tribulations, intrigues, political contests and battles that took place for Isabel to become queen.
However, the novel emphasizes a resource that is fundamental for the construction of settings, characters, dialogues, and, why not?, the plot itself: chess. According to the author —who considers himself a map and compass writer at the same time—, he always works on the subject before focusing on the time, and chess was a sport that had been going around in his head for some time, especially since its modern version originated in Spain.
A little history lesson
the queen board and real history have something in common: Isabella I of Castile, a woman of noble origin who was born in 1451. She was the daughter of Juan II of Castile and his second wife, Queen Isabella of Portugal. This literary and historical character grew up under the title of “infanta” —a rank granted to the princes of the Castilian crown—, since the one who was going to inherit the kingdom was the first son of her father, Prince Enrique.
Juan II of Castile and Isabel of Portugal had a second son, Alfonso, so Elizabeth came to occupy the third place in the line of succession because of her status as a woman. So that his brothers would not conspire against him to seize power, Enrique took them to live at court, where they were constantly watched by his second wife, Juana de Portugal. From that moment, Isabel began to know the palace intrigues.
The creation of the figure of the queen
The plot of the queen board begins many years after the previous context, in 1468. A short time ago, Alfonso, Isabel's younger brother (and the favorite to inherit the crown) dies in strange conditions. History suggests that he may have died of poisoning, but no one knows for sure. Consequently, Castilla is in one of its worst moments.
Enrique continues at the head of power. To avoid further setbacks that threaten his reign, he forces his sister Elizabeth to sign a peace treaty. suspicious, the princess agrees, but is unwilling to stay in the shadows for too long. She has a star that marks her destiny, and will lead her to become one of the greatest political icons in her country.
Beyond court affairs
The walls of the court and the political and economic affairs of Castile are not the only thing that concerns this book. Behind the palace walls the mysterious murder of a man belonging to the nobility unites the lives of a young girl with a great talent for chess and a lover of history. She is called Gadea, and he is called Ruy. The woman hides a tragic past, and the man, a strange secret.
Both race against time to find out who was to blame for the death of the nobleman.. Meanwhile, this wild search is intertwined with the always rich in intrigue: Isabel's life. The latter, in turn, fights against conspiracies, while she moves like a piece on the most dangerous chessboard in the world.
About the author, Luis Zueco Jiménez
louis clog
Luis Zueco Jimenez was born in 1978, in Zaragoza, Spain. This author is a tireless worker and a fan of the old, although this was not his first area of study. First, He studied Industrial Technical Engineering at the University of Zaragoza. Later, he entered UNED to obtain a degree in Art History. However, she has worked in other trades, such as freelance photography, management and management of social networks, and marketing.
The writer has also collaborated numerous times with some radio communication programs, such as Aragón Radio and ABC Punto Radio. A fun fact about Luis Zueco Jimenez It is his recognized love of ancient structuressuch as cathedrals and castles. That passion led him to buy, remodel and inhabit the Palace of Bulbuente, which was in ruins when it became his property.
In addition, the author is the director of the Castillo de Grisel, which was the winner of the Best Tourist Experience in Aragon award in 2019. Thanks to his tendency to disseminate history through literature, Luis Zueco Jiménez's books have had several editions in multiple languages, such as Polish, Portuguese and Italian.
Other books by Luis Zueco Jiménez
Novels
- Red Sunrise in Lepanto (2011);
- Step 33 (2012);
- Land without king (2013);
- The Castle (2015);
- The city (2016);
- The monastery (2018);
- the book merchant (2020)
Text book
- Castles of Aragon: 133 routes (2011)