"I am Catalina, Princess of Spain, daughter of the two greatest monarchs the world has ever known...and I will be Queen of England."
Thus, bestselling author Philippa Gregory introduces one of her most unforgettable heroines: Katherine of Aragon. Known to history as the Queen who was pushed off her throne by Anne Boleyn, here is a Katherine the world has forgotten: the enchanting princess that all England loved. First married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, Katherine's passion turns their arranged marriage into a love match; but when Arthur dies, the merciless English court and her ambitious parents -- the crusading King and Queen of Spain -- have to find a new role for the widow. Ultimately, it is Katherine herself who takes control of her own life by telling the most audacious lie in English history, leading her to the very pinnacle of power in England.
Set in the rich beauty of Moorish Spain and the glamour of the Tudor court, The Constant Princess presents a woman whose constancy helps her endure betrayal, poverty, and despair, until the inevitable moment when she steps into the role she has prepared for all her life: Henry VIII's Queen, Regent, and commander of the English army in their greatest victory against Scotland.
The Constant PrincessNovember 3, 2008 I thought this was a very good book with a lot of historical information in it.
Good but sometimes repetitiveOctober 14, 2008 This is the first book that I have read from this author. It was overall a good read but it did at times get repeditive.
Not as good as the othersOctober 14, 2008 I am a huge fan of Phillippa Gregory, and this was probably one of the most disappointing of her books. The beginning of the book does a good job of providing insight into the life of Katharine of Aragon while she was still the daughter of Philip and Isabella, but it fails to portray her as the strong woman that she was. She was the most defiant of Henry's wives, and was truly set aside on a whim. Overall, it wasn't dull, but certainly not as engaging as Gregory's other books.
I really wanted to like this book!!October 4, 2008 I have read several of Philippa Gregory's books, and found them to be enjoyable. I could not wait to read this one, as I have always admired Queen Katherine of Aragon, and I found the premise of this novel to be interesting. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The narrative was quite repetitive, and the characters were rather flat and one-dimensional. I kept reading the book with the hope that it would get better, and I really struggled to finish it. If you are looking for a really good Philippa Gregory read, I strongly recommend "The Other Boleyn Girl".
Constantly WonderfulOctober 2, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was a great novel. I loved it from the first moment I started reading it until I was finished. It was captivating and yet suspenseful. Phillipa Gregory has the ability to create great fiction based on truth. I definitely recommend this book.
