Philip II: King of Spain and Leader of the Counter-Reformation

Philip II, king of Spain, was a study in contrasts. Deeply religious and committed to the Catholic cause, he was also shockingly violent and ruthless toward his enemies. Leader of millions, he was a solitary and reclusive man who avoided contact with most people. This beautifully illustrated book attempts to examine and explain this fascinating enigma. The dramatic gulf between the violence of European political life and the nobler aspirations of art and progress was embodied in the man himself. This is the enthralling story of the life and times of Philip II, truly a product of his troubled and glorious age