Crowned in a Far Country: Portraits of Eight Royal Brides

(Paperback)

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Though of eminent birth and status in their own right, the women of Crowned in a Far Country all left the countries of their birth to marry heirs to great thrones. They all shared an inbred sense of duty and a genuine desire to see it performed. None fought against what she saw as her destiny but only sought to fulfill it. Some were passionate, others less so. Some were good wives; some were caring mothers. They were all catalysts, the pivots of their worlds for a time.

More than just a window into the politics and power brokering of royal marriage, Crowned in a Far Country charts the transformations of privileged princesses into women of power and historical importance.

Reviews

"A heart wrenching story of separation, love, and redemption gently told through two cousins as they confront the political realities of Castro's revolution and its aftermath. This is a story I can truly identify with. It is a story that Cecilia Samartin has told with astounding courage and grace."

-- Viviana Carballo, author of "Havana Salsa: Stories and Recipes"

"A nostalgic story that sieves smoothly in the folds of our memory, transporting us to a universe of flavors, unforgettable colors and Cuban landscapes. A tribute to those who live far from their homelands."

-- Javier Sierra, author of "New York Times" bestseller "The Secret Supper"

"Cecilia Samartin delivers a novel rich in passion, heartbreak and love. "Broken Paradise" captures the textures and rhythms of my homeland of Cuba with its musical, agile prose and kept me engrossed to the last page. An important, timely work of fiction, it goes to the heart of what it means to be an exile. A truly American story."

-- Victor Rivas Rivers, actor and author of "A Private Family Matter"

"Cecilia Samartin writes with shimmering grace about homeland and exile, passion and loyalty...A richly textured story, sensuous and haunting."

-- Janet Fitch, author of "White Oleander"

"Gripping, poignant, and enlightening...a profound meditation on the complexities of the human heart and the redeeming power of love."

-- Carlos Eire, National Book Award-winning author of "Waiting for Snow in Havana"

"I dare anyone not to be moved...the book is ultimately uplifting -- a testimony to the strength of love and the human spirit."

-- "Traveller Magazine"

"It's like drinking a full bottle of Cabernet by yourself."

-- New Zealand Public Radio

"She spins a gripping tale."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Author Bio

Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent is the author of two previous books, Crowned in a Far Country: Portraits of Eight Royal Brides and Cupid and the King: Five Royal Paramours. For more than ten years, the Princess has pursued a successful career lecturing on historical topics. She lives with her husband, Prince Michael of Kent, in Kensington Palace in London and in their seventeenth-century manor house in Gloucestershire, England.