Book Review: Kuningatar Kristiina (The Silver Mask: a Brief Biography of Queen Kristina)

Kuningatar Kristiina – Elämänkerta (Silvermasken – En kort biografi över drottning Kristiina)
(The Silver Mask: a Brief Biography of Queen Kristina)
by Peter Englund
translated to Finnish by Rauno Ekholm
Pocket book edition: WSOY 2012.

Queen Kristina of Sweden (1626-1689) was a controversial character in European history, who ruled Sweden only briefly before abdicating her throne to her cousin Carl Gustav. She was interested in arts and sciences and she assumed that Catholicism offered more liberal view for scientists. Englund suggests that was the main reason why she converted from Protestantism to Catholicism and moved to Rome. Catholic Church assumed that they would get a humble and saintlike Kristina, but what they got was restless and willful woman. 

Although Kristina gave up the Swedish throne she believed to be entitled to rule. She later tried to regain power in Sweden, Poland and Italy. Her scheming failed in many cases often because she trusted in wrong persons. She never married and valued an independent life. She acted and dressed manly. However she was in love with cardinal Azzolino who brushed her off.

Although his politics and power plays failed her influence was great on culture and arts. She supported theatre and musicians. She had a huge library and she opened new academia in Rome. 

In this mini biography Englund tells about the many transformations and many roles in the life of Kristina. The book is written in short chapters that offer great insight about the life of an interesting person.

Rating: Very good