The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic (The Complete Three-Volume Edition) (ePub)

William Hickling Prescott (1796-1859) was a renowned American historian specialising in the early histories of Spain and Spanish America. A native of Salem, Massachusetts, his academic journey was curtailed by a personal tragedy when a bread crust thrown in a Princeton College dining hall left him with one damaged eye and the other afflicted by sympathetic ophthalmia, severely compromising his vision. Nonetheless, undeterred by his visual impairment, Prescott honed his craft as a historian, relying on secretaries to read to him, as he meticulously composed his narratives. He became an iconic figure in 19th-century historiography, notable for his rigorous approach to primary sources and his vivid prose style that brought the past alive for his readers. Among his contributions, 'The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic' stands as a magnum opus, offering a comprehensive account of the monarchs who unified Spain and sponsored Columbus's voyages to the New World. This meticulously researched three-volume work, published in 1837, earned Prescott considerable acclaim for its literary elegance and analytical depth, cementing his reputation as one of the first American historians to gain international recognition. His scholarship set a standard for historical writing and contributed to the Romantic historical tradition, blending scholarly research with engaging narrative. His influence extended beyond his lifetime; his work remains a significant reference for students of the Hispanic world and the craft of historiography.