Kell Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 The Constant Princess Author: Philippa Gregory ISBN # 000719031X Publisher: Harper Collins 1st Published: 2005 490 pages Katherine of Aragon. We think of her as the barren wife of a notorious king; but behind this legacy lies a fascinating story. Katherine of Aragon is born Catalina, the Spanish Infanta, to parents who are both rulers and warriors. Aged four, she is betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and is raised to be Queen of England. She is never in doubt that it is her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land. Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival in her new country with a great insult; Arthur seems little better than a boy; the food is strange and the customs coarse. Slowly she adapts to the first Tudor court, and life as Arthur's wife grows ever more bearable. But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry. His father and grandmother are against it; her powerful parents prove little use. Yet Katherine is her mother's daughter and her fighting spirit is strong. She will do anything to achieve her aim; even if it means telling the greatest lie, and holding to it. Returning to a study of Tudor royalty, Gregory is certainly on top form. The story is intricate, yet it seems to whiz by at lightening pace. Catalina, the Spanish Infanta, is often seen as the dull 1st wife, set aside by Henry VIII, but this fictional retelling of fact shows her as a determined and strong woman who knew her mind and did her level best to succeed in what she saw as her destiny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahrob Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 This is the first time I have read one of Philippa Gregory's historical novels and I thought it was fantastic. I knew a little about Katherine, but didn't know of her childhood, and that part of the novel was a revelation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 Sounds great, is on half price offer at Waterstones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 Under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 I really enjoyed this one. It made me realise just how little I know of Spain's history or how advanced the Moors were :oops: Everyone thinks of Katherine being the meek timid woman. This book shows her in a totally different light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inanna Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 I have it to read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 This is my review: Synopsis: Splendid and sumptuous historical novel from this internationally bestselling author, telling of the early life of Katherine of Aragon. We think of her as the barren wife of a notorious king; but behind this legacy lies a fascinating story. Katherine of Aragon is born Catalina, the Spanish Infanta, to parents who are both rulers and warriors. Aged four, she is betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and is raised to be Queen of England. She is never in doubt that it is her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land. Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival in her new country with a great insult; Arthur seems little better than a boy; the food is strange and the customs coarse. Slowly she adapts to the first Tudor court, and life as Arthur's wife grows ever more bearable. But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry. His father and grandmother are against it; her powerful parents prove little use. Yet Katherine is her mother's daughter and her fighting spirit is strong. She will do anything to achieve her aim; even if it means telling the greatest lie, and holding to it. Philippa Gregory proves yet again that behind the apparently familiar face of history lies an astonishing story: of women warriors influencing the future of Europe, of revered heroes making deep mistakes, and of an untold love story which changes the fate of a nation. This is the first book in Philippa Gregory's Tudor series. In this book we meet Katherine of Aragon, first as a girl of 5, then as a girl of 15, as she marries Arthur. We watch their love and affection develop, and their intimacy increase, until one fateful day when Arthur dies. Katherine, a strong-willed woman, determined to be Queen of England, steps up and tells one great lie - that their marriage was not consumated. The result - her marriage to Arthur's brother Henry. We see them crowned, and Henry become Henry VIII. With her power she manipulates, goes to war and struggles with the reality that her parents have used her as a pawn in their power struggle in Europe. But Henry is youthful and lustful - he longs for war, love, attention and an heir. How long until his eyes stray and her deadly secret is revealed? This was an enjoyable read. Gregory takes us on a historical adventure, in both England and Spain, incorporating their two histories. She writes about European battles between France, England and Spain, and of Spanish battles with the Moors. She looks at how people are the same, even if they have different religion, and she shows what lengths people will go to to achieve their ambitions. I liked how Katherine was written, a strong women, determined to do whatever it takes to achieve her destiny, even lying and manipulating, but yet a gentle, loving woman, who mourned Arthur's death and was crushed by the death of her little boy. Henry was a bit irritating, but well written, as he was just a spoilt boy, as can be seen through his history and his string of marriages. The ending is not a surprise because this is based on English history, but I liked how Gregory broke off. There are no surprises but that does not spoil the book at all. Gregory has re-told this event in history with creativity and passion. This is a good book, well worth reading. 8/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecisionMostDeadly Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 I dont think the television dramas did the book any favours. What does everyone else think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted May 3, 2009 Author Share Posted May 3, 2009 It's never been filmed. Confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecisionMostDeadly Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 (edited) It has trailors and cast info on this website, but i cant post the link yet!! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467200/ Edited May 3, 2009 by Michelle merged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 That's for The Other Boleyn Girl, not The Constant Princess.. and it was a film, not a television drama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 The Other Boleyn Girl was adapted as a television drama first (BBC2 with Natascha McElhone and Jodhi May) and was later made into a film (Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannson) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 It's still the wrong book though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Have just finished this, and found it totally fascinating. I have read the sequel - The Other Bolyn Girl - where Katherine was portrayed as a stong, determined character , but here one can feel her transition from a little innocent girl, who was always sure of her destiny to the fullfilment of this same destiny - that to be Queen of England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightingale Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Bought this one on Amazon last night for less than Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightingale Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 Oh my gosh! Mr Postman has just delivered this to my door. That was super quick!!! What with it being Xmas, i wasn't expecting delivery until the New Year. Sooo happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Wow, that was certainly quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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