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[b:The Lady Queen|8154|King, Queen, Knave|Vladimir Nabokov|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mzmKc7KkL._SL75_.jpg|1320269] begins with Joanna's ancestry, which later play significant roles throughout her reign. Then once Joanna ascends to the throne she must contend with years of maintaining her soveirgnity from claims and attacks made both by foreigners and her own husbands. Though she was a strong and more than capable ruler she always had to have a husband in order to produce an heir and to protect her kingdom from invasion of those desired the opulance of Naples. Even Elizabeth I could not have remained single in this political climate.
Joanna maintained her kingdom and much of her dignity through four husbands, five popes, famine, recession, plauge and frequent war. Her determination brought her time and again from the brink of disposition and ruin.
[a:Nancy Goldstone|68259|Nancy Goldstone|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg] takes what could be dry fact and gives it the detail and emotion that bring it to life. Players in distant history are enfleshed and vibrant. The detail of the politics and intrigues are understandable without bearing the weight of Goldstone's opinion. In fact, if Goldstone shows any bias it's that Joanna was a great queen who has largely been mistreated by history and though she has no monuments or funeral statuary her story deserves to be told.