New Book “The Don Carlos Enigma” Delves into the Mysterious Death of a Spanish Prince and How It Inspired Three Artistic Geniuses to Innovate

New York, New York

The death of Spain’s Don Carlos, Prince of Asturias, on July 24, 1568, remains an enigma.

Several accounts insinuated that the Spanish Crown Prince was murdered while incarcerated by order of his father, King Philip II.

The mystery of Don Carlos’s death, supported by ambassadorial accounts that implied foul play, became a fertile subject for defamation campaigns against Philip, fostering an extraordinary fluidity between history and fiction.

New York author Maria-Cristina Necula’s new book, The Don Carlos Enigma: Variations of Historical Fictions, was born from her PhD dissertation. While the main story is rooted in 16th-century Spanish history, Necula believes the themes of this topic are very relevant today.

“There are political machinations, conspiracies, and manipulation of history to denigrate an enemy,” said Necula. “That’s not too far removed from what is happening today and has happened throughout time. And it’s fascinating to see how literature and music deal with these themes.”