The secret history of the court of Spain during the last century

"The Secret History of the Court of Spain During the Last Century" by Rachel Challice, is a book that pulls back the curtain on the 1800s Spanish royal court. It uncovers webs of political games, unfair advantages, and the way personal connections shaped big historical moments. The story begins by showing how Ferdinand VII grew up in a court full of trickery and competition. Queen Maria Luisa, who held a lot of power because she was married to Carlos IV, pushes Manuel Godoy into a position of authority, but her own son, Ferdinand, strongly disagrees with this. Ferdinand becomes bitter and starts planning his own way to gain power, setting the scene for a period of betrayal, power struggles, and Napoleon's looming shadow. The book offers a glimpse into how desire, loyalty, and cutthroat scheming influenced this period of Spain's past.