The fact of being a novel is especially noticeable in the fact that the author tells us what the characters were thinking, and offers us private conversations, something that no historian or biographer would dare to do. Exhilarating!” - Joseph Pearce, Author, The Quest for Shakespeare “In his epic poem, Lepanto, Chesterton called Don Juan the ‘the last knight of Europe.’ This thrilling tale is about things that really happened!” - Dale Ahlquist, Editor, Lepanto – The Annotated Edition “De Wohl novels are always mentioned by my radio audience as among their favorite reads.” - Al Kresta, Host, Kresta in the Afternoon Louis de Wohl was a highly acclaimed novelist who wrote numerous best selliĮNGLISH: Incomplete fictionalized biography of Don Juan de Austria, which it ends with the battle of Lepanto and does not take us until his death in Flanders, seven years later. romance, splendor and intrigue reaches a flaming climax.” – Chicago Tribune “A page-turning thriller. richly rewarding.” – Christian Herald “Color.

“Written with zest and excitement the battle scenes are excellent.” – Los Angeles Times “A novel of heroic proportions. Here is a novel of high adventure which brings to life the turbulence of the sixteenth century with its conflicts of wickedness and piety, its sins of pride and conquest, its seething heresies and its great faith. De Wohl paints in brilliant color the vivid scenes and characters at the Court of King Philip, Juan’s campaign against rebel Moriscos in Andalusia, and the amazing climatic victory at Lepanto where he saved the Christian world from Islamic dominance. Don Juan’s intelligence, kindness and devout attachment to the Church enabled him to live unscathed in an environment of luxury, violence and treachery. Acknowledged by King Philip as his half-brother, the attractive youth quickly became a central figure in a Court where intrigues and romances abounded.

Because of the circumstances of his birth, this last son of Emperor Charles the Fifth spent his childhood in a Spanish peasant’s hut.

Don Juan of Austria, one of history’s most triumphant and inspiring heroes, is reborn in this opulent novel by Louis de Wohl.

The Living Wood by Louis de Wohl