The Constant Princess (The Tudor Court, #1) by Philippa Gregory

May 07, 2011 Misfit rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: get-it-from-the-library, tudor-lite

2.5 stars

Those of you familiar with all things Tudor already know the basics of the long-suffering Katherine of Aragon and the husband who dumped her when she couldn't produce a male heir. Those who aren't might consider this review rather spoilerish so consider yourself warned. That said, since the author skims through a big chunk of the latter part of Katherine's life and "The King's Great Matter", I wouldn't recommend this for newbies as you'll be scratching your head at the end wondering wha...more 2.5 stars

Those of you familiar with all things Tudor already know the basics of the long-suffering Katherine of Aragon and the husband who dumped her when she couldn't produce a male heir. Those who aren't might consider this review rather spoilerish so consider yourself warned. That said, since the author skims through a big chunk of the latter part of Katherine's life and "The King's Great Matter", I wouldn't recommend this for newbies as you'll be scratching your head at the end wondering what in the heck you missed. Just be warned, this is Tudor history PG style so expect historical accuracy at your own peril...

In this book, Gregory purports that the marriage between Catalina (Katherine) of Spain and Arthur Tudor was a love match and their union was most definitely consummated - a secret they kept from everyone. When Arthur realizes he'll not survive the sweating sickness, he commands Catalina to marry his younger brother Henry, so that she can still become Queen of England as they'd always dreamed. Catalina is determined to stay *constant* to her beloved's commands, but there's a lot of political turmoil ahead of her, especially over the fact of whether the marriage was consummated,

"I shall keep my promise. I shall be constant to my husband and to my destiny. And I shall plan and plot and consider how I shall conquer this misfortune and be what I was born to be. How I shall be the pretender who becomes queen."

"At Arthur's request I told the greatest lie a woman has ever told, and I will tell it to the very grave...He asked me to say that we had never been lovers and he commanded me to marry his brother and be queen...I was constant to my promise."

But you all know the *rest of the story* so I'll not rehash it one more time, I'm just here to discuss the reading experience. Whether or not Katherine and Arthur consummated the marriage or not is a subject of debate and despite my previous conviction that Katherine spoke the truth about it during "The King's Great Matter", I was willing to keep an open mind (kind of). However, I didn't buy into the twu wuv fowever between Arthur and Catalina, nor did I buy into Henry VIII's portrayal as a bit of an ignorant dolt with no business sitting on the throne of England,

"He is bright and clever, perhaps even as quick witted as Arthur. But where Arthur had been trained to think, had been educated as a king from birth, they let this second son slide by on his charm and his ready tongue."

Bah. Worse yet, towards the end the author appears to run out of steam (and page count) and makes a last minute push to finish in a big hurry as Katherine's latter years as queen and the whole business of "The King's Great Matter" is barely touched upon. Add to that the switches to the first person narrative (Katherine's) appear much too often and become increasingly annoying and soporific. Seriously, did we need to have her recount actual dialog with others, thus telling us what's happened instead of using the third person and showing us? As for Katherine's voice itself, she's very full of herself and her own self-importance and makes for a rather unsympathetic main character, particularly over her disdain for Henry VIII. Then there's the portrayal of Henry VII. Why, oh why does he always have to be portrayed lusting after the main female character from his very first sight of her?

The book started off all right, when the switches to Katherine's narrative were short and well spaced, but by the end I was nodding off at them and was praying for the book to end, and I'd only recommended it for PG fans only. If you are looking for a well rounded, historically accurate look at Katherine of Aragon I suggest you look elsewhere. Oh, and before anyone gets in a tizzy as to why this non-PG fan decided to read another, this is for a group read for the European Royalty Group at Goodreads. I expect lively discussions.

FTC disclosure. I obtained this book from my county library. (less)

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Aug 20, 2007 Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicalfiction

I'm going to start out by saying 1) I love historical fiction and 2) I loved Margaret George's, The Autobiography of Henry VIII with notes by his fool Will Sommers (one of my fave books of all time).

So when I have the opportunity to go back to Kind Henry VIII's court I do! I've read the Other Boleyn Girl, I've read Elizabeth I by Rosamund Miles to learn about the time after Henry VIII, etc.

Therefore I was really looking forward to learning more about Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon.

The...more

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May 07, 2008 alana Semuels rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ah, Philippa Gregory. You lured me in with The Other Boleyn Girl, which I knew was kind of trashy, but still couldn't put it down. TOBG was like eating cupcakes while watching SVU re-runs. Paradise. The Constant Princess, however, was like eating Doritos while watching Grey's Anatomy. I really wanted to like it, but really, it just made me want to barf. The problem, dear Philippa, is that just as Henry VIII liked his ladies, you seem to love italics. You write whole pages in italics, which in my...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, monarchs-tudors-and-stuarts, 1st-person-pov, audiobook, eras-16th-century, historical-romance, 4-stars, philippa-gregory, ebook

A very entertaining and engaging story, more lively than Jean Plaidy's Katherine trilogy. Even though I found Plaidy's books a bit on the dull side, I'm glad I read them to complement Gregory's take on the young Katherine. Most of the HF I've read about Katherine shows her in her times of trial during her second marriage, where she comes across as a long-suffering and pious cow, an object of scorn and pity. Even as a younger girl, she comes off as a bit of a drip and killjoy, as if she was born...more A very entertaining and engaging story, more lively than Jean Plaidy's Katherine trilogy. Even though I found Plaidy's books a bit on the dull side, I'm glad I read them to complement Gregory's take on the young Katherine. Most of the HF I've read about Katherine shows her in her times of trial during her second marriage, where she comes across as a long-suffering and pious cow, an object of scorn and pity. Even as a younger girl, she comes off as a bit of a drip and killjoy, as if she was born old with the knees of a Carmelite nun.

So it was a nice change to see the focus on Katherine as a child and young bride to the ill-fated prince Arthur Tudor, where she is vivacious, coquettish, and worldly in the ways of political matters (thanks to her parents' God-driven crusades, etc.) More familiar territory here is her early years of marriage to Henry up to her victory as temporary Regent against the Scots at Flodden Field.

I thought the book was tightly written. There were narrative hooks, motifs, and character contrasts and comparisons that kept things connected: Arthur's post-coital requests for a story, the similarities between Isabella and Margaret Beaufort in their maternal austerity (and the effects of such on their respective children), the differing temperaments of Henry VII and VIII, Katherine's repeated reminders that she is Infanta, Princess, and Queen, etc.

This last one at first struck me as annoying repetition, but by the end it fit in well with Katherine's devotion and loyalty to a temporal entity as much as she is a pious and devout Catholic. In fact, I thought by the book's close she was more dedicated to the body of England than the body of Christ. Her titles and her vows to Arthur became almost like a rosary prayer. Her earthly mission to be Princess of Wales and Queen of England had become the motivation for her soul and conscience, making The Big Lie completely justified and excusable. And I agree with the author that Katherine and Arthur most likely did consummate their marriage. It's a testament to Katherine's impeccable performance as Henry's queen that she was able to tell so implausible a lie and yet be believed for centuries. Of course, the only ones who know for sure are Arthur and Katherine, but it sure is fun to speculate.

I also thought the switches to Katherine's viewpoint served the story well more often than it didn't. Sometimes the switch didn't add much, but I enjoyed seeing the actions through Katherine's eyes and the change in tone as she grows older, from innocent child to silly bride to resigned and disappointed yet wise Queen. Her time as Arthur's bride, where her musings seems really fatuous had a kind of poignancy. All her life she had been looked upon as an object for Spain's advancement, a tool for God's great plan, but with Arthur she became prized as a person, not merely a female vessel.

Overall, a solid romantic read that complements Plaidy's more staid take on Katherine's youth and early adulthood. I would recommend both, as Plaidy's books have more detail on Katherine's family, particularly her mad sister Juana.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Diana Bishop. I greatly enjoyed her interpretation and dramatic effects. She really got into Katherine's anguish, joy, and calm certainty and delivered it all with feeling. It certainly made repainting 3 rooms in the house pass more pleasantly!(less)

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Dec 14, 2009 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-historical-romance, zz-reviewed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I gave this book 3 stars--so, I liked it. I would have rated it higher if she had edited some of the parts where she tended to ramble on and expand on the parts that seemed to begin and end abruptly.

The Constant Princess is the story of Katherine of Aragon aka Catilina, Infanta of Spain and her betrothal to Henry's older brother, Arthur. She is quite determined to become the Queen of England--even at a very young age she knows it is her destiny, something she has been conditioned for her entire...more

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Apr 07, 2009 Tanja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am completely fascinated by this time period. It is like reading a soap opera. It also helped me to understand how King Henry could be so cruel and it made me sad for Queen Katherine. This was a beautiful love story and a story of perseverance. I loved the descriptions of the spanish court. It certainly made me glad that I am not royalty.

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Aug 24, 2012 Crystal Starr Light rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, so-boring-it-s-boring, anachronistic-heroine, romance-in-disguise

"A near-constant bore"

Catalina is the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, the Spanish Infanta, betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the throne of England. From childhood she was prepped for her queenly position; she grows up alongside a battlefield, in the splendid palace in Spain, until she is sent to be married to Arthur. And thus begins the life of the future Queen Katherine of Aragon.

Despite their flaws, I rather enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and The ...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Adrianna rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romance Lovers

Recommended to Adrianna by: Cafe Libri

Shelves: fiction, england, historical-setting, cafe-libri

I have read and heard many positive critiques about Philippa Gregory, so I was really excited to finally read one of her books. Unfortunately, the hype did not live up to my expectations.

Fellow readers claim that this book takes a new approach to Katherine of Aragon's life with a predominant focus on her marriage to Prince Arthur. Yes, this is true. It does focus on that five month period but at what cost? This is not the most fascinating part of Katherine's life, especially considering all that...more I have read and heard many positive critiques about Philippa Gregory, so I was really excited to finally read one of her books. Unfortunately, the hype did not live up to my expectations.

Fellow readers claim that this book takes a new approach to Katherine of Aragon's life with a predominant focus on her marriage to Prince Arthur. Yes, this is true. It does focus on that five month period but at what cost? This is not the most fascinating part of Katherine's life, especially considering all that was left out from the book. This focus on an untouched aspect of her life was really just an excuse to highlight romantic aspects of the characters' relationships, which more than likely didn't exist in real life.

One of the major critiques of the book was the unusual focus on the romantic relationships. I enjoy reading historical romances, but that is not what I expected when I picked up The Constant Princess. Even if I was hoping for a romance novel, this one paled in comparison to others of the genre that I've read. Gregory targeted a certain audience with her drivel, women romance readers, rather than us lovers of history. Additionally, the whole approach to the story just felt wrong. None of it was realistic. When a reader picks up a historical fiction genre book, we hope to be fascinated by how facts and history are translated into a more creative form rather than a romanticized re-telling of history. Throwing in a couple of important dates or real people from history does not make the book historical fiction.

Gregory wrote Katherine's history as a character tale because that gave her the most freedom to play with the fiction elements of her book. Many intimate details are revealed about all the characters, including Henry VIII's obsession with Katherine (and even his own father's obsession with his daughter-in-law). Katherine's personal life and thoughts are indicated by the use of italicized first-person narrative spread intermittently throughout the third person traditional story-telling style. At first, I found this aspect intriguing. However, the thrill quickly wore off. These portions were overly dramatized and redundant. Katherine came off as a wishy-washy, whiny woman. She would have faith in God one minute because she was chosen and then, just as quickly, lose it all because of bad luck in her life. If Gregory had dramatically reduced these portions in the book, I would have enjoyed the reading more because it would have highlighted these few poignant moments. Instead, I found myself skipping ahead to the more-compelling third person narrative.

Philippa Gregory states at the conclusion of her book and on her website that she wanted to portray Katherine as a strong woman, which is why she ended it the way she did. To put it bluntly, she failed. Katherine's whole reason for committing the heinous lie of history (that she was a virgin when she married Henry VIII) was because another made her promise to lie. She was to continue the lie because she was told to not because she wanted to be Queen of England. This decision needed to be all about Katherine to make her stand out as the strong woman that history has depicted her as. She told the lie or the truth (after all, we can only speculate on this matter because this is a gray area of history) because she desired the power, freedom, and political connections a continued marriage to the king of England would provide.

Alas, the entire book was not redundant with childish writing and bad grammar. There were some interesting parts, such as the last ten or so pages of the book. Katherine shows herself as a warrior who bravely leads her troops against the villainous Scots. Where was this Katherine hiding throughout the entire book? Too bad she didn't make an appearance until the end! Excluding this, the only other high point of the book was when Katherine is introduced as a child in Granada at the very beginning. Even in this situation, her mother, Isabella of Spain, shined more than her daughter. Now, that's a historical fiction book I want to read!

Overall, most of the characters were not developed strongly enough or were too comical in their overly emotional presentations. Sadly, any historical elements to the book were told to the reader rather than shown or described through the narrative.

I expected much more from Philippa Gregory, but she never delivered the fascinating glimpse of British history that she is raved for. I'm not excited to pick up any of her other titles even though I did enjoy the Hollywood adaptation of The Other Boleyn Girl. I just don't see the point if all I have waiting for me is disappointment. (less)

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May 24, 2007 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

This was actually the second attempt I made at reading this book. The first failed about fifty pages in: I simply couldn't buy the premise. Apparently there are some things that are "obviously what happened" in Gregory's brain, but that seemed like huge, wildly improbable conjecture to me and many other readers. I don't want to go into it in detail, so as not to spoil the plot, but basically, Gregory took historical events and assigned feelings and motivations to the major players that seemed co...more

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Nov 14, 2007 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: justagreatread

Just started to read this book and I'm hooked so far.
***********

I completed this book last night and I really enjoyed it. Its the first book I've read from this author and she does a wonderful job telling this historal fiction book. I sometimes have trouble getting into these kinds of books but I fell into this one.

Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England is written has a very strong woman, taking command of her life when and where she is able. In that that, many women were mainly objects.

Through h...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Brittany B. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, audiobook, favorite-authors

3.5 stars. The novel has issues, one of them being the irregular shift of perspective from 1st person told by Katherine to 3rd person. Phillippa Gregory has a habit of shifting perspectives at random times. (Same trouble with The White Queen) The other thing is that Katherine is not that likable of a character. She believes herself entitled to things because if her birth. She also believes she is adored above others in God's eyes.
I think the author took extreme liberty when depicting Katherine...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Marissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fiction, tag-tudor, era-early-modern, geo-england-etc

This book is, in my opinion, Gregory’s best novel. Some historical fiction can be a little too tawdry for my taste. (But don’t get me wrong, tawdry is awesome as long as it’s accompanied by some substance I can sink my teeth into). Gregory’s novels can lose this balance every now and then and she is sometimes guilty of repetitive phrases that can force your mind to wander. I did not notice these pitfalls in this particular novel. There are, of course, passionate love scenes (because what hf woul...more

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Mar 28, 2010 Kristen "Kirby" rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: march-2010, reviews

Let me start by saying this: If you hated The Other Boleyn Girl for it's lack of exciting events and boring pace, good luck getting past page 100 of The Constant Princess.

Now, I'm no fan of Philippa Gregory. To be honest, I HATE the way she writes. She spins in circles, repeating the same crap over and over again. She includes tons of unneeded fillers. Ugh. I simply read her books because I like the history.

After enjoying The Other Boleyn Girl, I went on to the Boleyn Inheritance, finally decidi...more Let me start by saying this: If you hated The Other Boleyn Girl for it's lack of exciting events and boring pace, good luck getting past page 100 of The Constant Princess.

Now, I'm no fan of Philippa Gregory. To be honest, I HATE the way she writes. She spins in circles, repeating the same crap over and over again. She includes tons of unneeded fillers. Ugh. I simply read her books because I like the history.

After enjoying The Other Boleyn Girl, I went on to the Boleyn Inheritance, finally deciding to go back in time with the Constant Princess. The Constant Princess provided an insider's view into the world of Queen Katherine and Henry. I was surprised to find that Katherine actually had substance.. I had originally thought that she was just some obedient moron who wouldn't move it on out of there for the next girl. But by reading the Constant Princess, I learned that she was simply determined and driven by her faith. She stayed unwanted because she had already spent many years waiting for the throne. She was used to being mistreated, and didn't think it'd be possible that she'd lose her position. And so on with the revelations.

As for Henry, that big selfish boy, you learn about his upbringing and why he married Katherine. You understand why he claimed that the marriage wasn't blessed by God. I still consider the King unloyal, selfish, and gross, but now I know what made him tick.

The ending was very rushed. I wasn't discontent because I knew how it all ended, but she cut off right after Katherine won the battle against the Scots. She then skipped to a time later in her life when Henry had strayed many times and eventually turned against her in court. She didn't even include the verdict or mention that she had a girl. Nada. It was like Gregory had had enough of the story and wanted to quit writing.

SO, Great story, poor execution as with all of Phillipa Gregory's books.

Note: If you liked The Other Boleyn Girl and want more history read this. If you didn't like The Other Boleyn Girl, but want to learn more about the History, do a little research on the internet and skip this.
I'd read The Constant Princess, then The Other Boleyn Girl, then The Boleyn Inheritance in order. The story is probably more interesting that way.(less)

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Jan 29, 2008 The Book Maven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicalfiction, renaissance_fiction

If King Henry VIII's wives have any consolation, it is that they are remembered and honored far more in death than they were in life--there were six wives, and now there are dozens of books about them. But The Constant Princess begins at the beginning--with the first wife, Katherine of Aragon, whose unfortunate life did not include the birth of a son and heir to King Henry VIII. It is that perceived fault of hers that inspired Henry to seek sport in the arms of other women, and provided us with...more

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Dec 20, 2007 CELIA rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For me, Gregory's big problem is point of view. Her first-person narratives are fantastic, but her third-person ones suck. Here is an interesting combo: The Constant Princess is written mostly in third, but with about just as much in first-person asides that aren't really justifiable in any way. Are they journal entries from the protagonist, Katherine of Aragon? Just musings? Often, the narratives overlap, which could be interesting, but really just comes off as jarring. I don't really get what...more

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Sep 11, 2007 Bree rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2006

I really, really enjoyed this book. I know absolutely nothing about the Tudor era, but this series of books was recommended to me (because I mentioned to a friend I was interested in reading about Marie Antoinette, she thought I might like this series as well). I'm reading them not in the order Philippa Gregory wrote them, but in the order of succession of Henry's wives. I love that it's fiction, but based in fact...how much of the story is true, who knows, but still it was entertaining.

Anyhow,...more

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Apr 30, 2008 Maggie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 01, 2012 Sara Giacalone rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this view of a younger, more passionate Katherine of Aragon. While I know better than to assume it is historically accurate, I enjoyed this tale. I especially enjoyed reading about Granada and the Moors. Although, I think the author should have gone forward to the end of Katherine's life. I know her later days have been well covered, but it was a bit of a cop out to leave out so much of her story.

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Dec 26, 2008 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have not read many Philippa Gregory books, but this is my favorite so far. I love the story of Katherine of Aragon, however embellished it may be. I love the lusciousness of Philippa's imagination bringing a completely believable story to the unknown crevices of Katherine's life and then setting it on the gorgeous backdrop of the Tudor time period. It was excellent.

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Aug 12, 2007 Teddy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually rated this 3.5 stars. Here's my review from Amazon.ca:

I read “The Other Boleyn Girl last month last month. (See My Review). It was my first Phillippa Gregory book and I loved it. Since I was hungry for more Gregory I decided on The Constant Princess next. I actually listened to the Audio CD version. The narrator, Kate Burton brought Gregoy’s characters to life. I loved learning more about Catherine of Aragon and her fight to become Queen of England. Gregory captures the plight of wome...more

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Feb 02, 2008 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the prequel to the book The Other Boleyn Girl. Philipa Gregory has thankfully improved her writing since The Other Boleyn Girl (a book I really liked though). This is the story of Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry the VIII, and her rise to the throne as the Queen of England. I really liked it. I think Katherine of Aragon is a fascinating historical figure and due to reading the book I went and read and learned more about her.

This is a great book to read curled up on the couch...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Susan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, tudor, not-finished, will-try-again-one-day, non-urgent-to-read

This was a 2006 Christmas present and I'd been looking forward to reading it. 2007 was a difficult year for me (healthwise) so I also bought it from Audio (unabridged) to listen to on my iPod while my vision wasn't great.

Umm...to cut a long story short I still haven't finished either the audio or print version. I've tried listening to it several times but I keep falling asleep! It *is* different to the other Gregory books I've read and enjoyed but I'm determined that I won't give up and I *WILL*...more

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May 07, 2013 Lisa Houlihan added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: novel, female

I have to add Stupid Books by Stupid Philippa Gregory to my list of guilty pleasures. But this is one that I hate even as I indulge in it, that doesn��t amuse me.

List of Guilty Pleasures:

* What Not to Wear
* The blogs of freaky fundy homeschoolers who can neither spell, write, nor think clearly
* Faux Jane Austen (some, not all)
* Philippa Gregory��s Tudoresque novels

Because they are Tudory, because my sister likes them, and because I liked the first one I read (Virgin��s Lover) fine, I��ve...more

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May 13, 2011 Nancy Schober rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series-tudors

Made me really respect Katherine of Aragon.[return][return]On the weather;[return] "It gets far worse than this," he said cheerfully. "Far colder, it rains or sleets or snows, and it get darker. In February we have only a couple of hours of daylight at best and then there are the freezing fogs which turn day into night so it is forever gray."[return][return]Sure they're not speaking of Holland?[return][return]On fake it 'til you make it?[return][return]"We are all pretenders until we win. When w...more Made me really respect Katherine of Aragon.[return][return]On the weather;[return] "It gets far worse than this," he said cheerfully. "Far colder, it rains or sleets or snows, and it get darker. In February we have only a couple of hours of daylight at best and then there are the freezing fogs which turn day into night so it is forever gray."[return][return]Sure they're not speaking of Holland?[return][return]On fake it 'til you make it?[return][return]"We are all pretenders until we win. When we win, we can rewrite the history"[return][return]"True obedience can only happen when you secretly think you know better, and you choose to bow your head. Anything short of that is just agreement,"[return][return]On a mother withholding approval and validation;[return][return]I fold the letter carefully, matching the edges one to another as if tidiness matters very much. I think that if she knew of the despair that laps at the edges of my mind like a river of darkness, she would have written to me more kindly. If she knew how very alone I am, how grieved I am, how much I miss him, she would not write to me of settlements and jointures and titles. If she knew how much I loved him and how I cannot bear to live without him, she would write and tell me that she loves me, that I am to go home to her at once, without delay.[return][return]I like being queen. I like having pretty things and rich jewels and a lap dog, and assembling ladies-in-waiting whose company is a pleasure.[return]Well, duh.[return][return]On enlightenment in the medical profession. Here she's talking about a Moorish doctor in Tudor times. But the same could be said of someone consulting an alternative practitioner today.[return][return]They are prepared to think anything, to consider anything; nothing is taboo. These people are educated where we are fools, where I am a fool. I might look down on him as coming from a race of savages, I might look down on him as an infidel doomed to hell, but I need to know what he knows.[return][return]What moors & Quakers have in common?[return][return]"I was brought up to hate no one," he said gently. "Perhaps that is what I should be teaching you before anything else."[return][return]On doing your own thinking;[return][return]They were wrong, my mother and father. Finally, I say the unsayable, unthinkable thing. Soldiers of genius they may have been, convinced they certainly were, Christian kings they were called--but they were wrong. It had taken me all my life to learn this.[return][return]A state of constant warfare is a two-edged sword: it cuts both the victor and the defeated.[return][return]I think to some extent we use the tools we know. The whole idea that when you have a hammer everything looks like nails. Maybe the world is bigger than we can imagine.[return][return]Words have weight. Something once said cannot be unsaid, meaning is like a stone dropped into a pool; the ripples will spread and you cannot know what bank they wash against.[return][return]My goodness! Do I believe that! Many times someone has come up to me and said, 'Do you remember saying to me/telling me...?' I don't. But they were moved and changed by my throw away comments. How scary!(less)

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Dec 21, 2010 Miranda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

"I have to say that this book was a disappointment. The story is good, but the facts surrounding the Tudor royal family and how it came to be is a fascinating story so even a poor writer could pull something readable from the facts.[return][return]I think that I would still read another of Philippa Gregory's books, but may lower my expectations of them. Once an author gains success with a particular line of books they may be put under a lot of pressure to continue to produce at outlandish rates...more "I have to say that this book was a disappointment. The story is good, but the facts surrounding the Tudor royal family and how it came to be is a fascinating story so even a poor writer could pull something readable from the facts.[return][return]I think that I would still read another of Philippa Gregory's books, but may lower my expectations of them. Once an author gains success with a particular line of books they may be put under a lot of pressure to continue to produce at outlandish rates so hopefully her next book will allow her the luxury of time to produce another winning piece of work![return][return]From the Publisher:[return]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.[return][return]Why I Liked/Didn't Like this Book:[return]Philippa Gregory seemed to be rushed in this book - the actual writing was muddled and repetitive and it seemed that some charactors appeared out of nowhere simply to move the story along. For me, it certainly didn't live up to expectations, as I had enjoyed her other books (The Other Boleyn Girl being my favorite). The ending was a little bizarre, as it ends with the trial of Katherine of Aragon - it seems to rush to that conclusion where the book might have been better served to end earlier and more fully flesh out the story at the end, rather than rush headlong to make sure that we got to the trial."(less)

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Mar 22, 2009 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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(less)

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Feb 09, 2009 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is essentially a biographical novel about Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. It took me awhile to become involved with this book and I really considered quitting. Part of the problem is that it seemed to me that Ms. Gregory spent too much time on Katherine' very brief first marriage to Henry's older brother Arthur. This part of the book read like one of those pink romance novels. Everything is lovely and idyllic. Things did not start out well for them, but once they decide t...more

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Jan 25, 2009 Ali rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Philippa Gregory has taken the question of Katherine of Aragon’s (Cataline, Infanta of Spain) lie and used that to make rather a lot of assumptions about her relationships with Arthur and Henry. The lie, of course that her marriage to Prince Arthur was never consummated, and therefore provided grounds for a dispensation from the Pope allowing her to marry his brother Henry. What Philippa Gregory calls Katherine’s lie, is perfectly credible – it could have been a lie – it would seem unlikely mayb...more Philippa Gregory has taken the question of Katherine of Aragon’s (Cataline, Infanta of Spain) lie and used that to make rather a lot of assumptions about her relationships with Arthur and Henry. The lie, of course that her marriage to Prince Arthur was never consummated, and therefore provided grounds for a dispensation from the Pope allowing her to marry his brother Henry. What Philippa Gregory calls Katherine’s lie, is perfectly credible – it could have been a lie – it would seem unlikely maybe that it wasn’t – but the relationship that Philippa Gregory has created between Arthur and Catalina is less believable, and I suspect there is no historical evidence for it. In this novel Catalina/Katherine is portrayed as an enormously ambitious woman, quite coolly plotting her future, and continually harping on about her “god given right to be Princess of Wales/Queen of England. This is maybe not an image of Katherine we are used to, so often she is portrayed as the wronged woman who suffered much. It took me a while to adapt to this portrayal of her – I wonder if historically this is an accurate portrayal of her, as I know so little about K of A I can’t say. Whether accurate or complete fiction – it makes for a great novel. Philippa Gregory has given voice to Katherine in her partial use of some first person narrative – which I am not sure was convincing – although hugely readable, I haven’t met many 16th century Spanish royals but I don’t know if they would have sounded like the woman in this novel. However if P G had made her sound totally authentic- the novel would have been unreadable which is why I wonder at the author using the first person device - it seems unnecessary. Also the ending is peculiar - we jump 16 years at the turn of the page and it all seems a little abrupt really. I know I am being critical - I did enjoy it honest : )

Wow this is a long review for me – but this book gave me a lot to think about. I love and am fascinated by this period in history – such a colourful and brutal time, I will almost certainly be reading more Philippa Gregory as amazon reviews suggest that this is a long way away from her best.(less)

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Dec 02, 2008 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

And she hits *another* home run. This novel, alternating between an omniscient voice and the narration of the Princess Katharine, is all about the persistence of the young princess over many years to become Queen of England. This novel offers a very sensible explanation for why later in life, this queen thinks that she can outlast the formidable Anne Boleyn. And it shows the early charms and weaknesses of Henry VIII, before he became the obsessed, monstrous ruler of his later years.

The other eve...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Amberly Reilly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I started reading historical fiction awhile back and have come to love it. This is the third series/author that I've tried under this genre. If you wiki this author you will find that the books were not written in order so you have to look at the author's suggestive reading order. This wasn't her first book but it is the first she suggests you read in her Tudor series. I have to say that I loved the main character in this book and I loved her even more as I kept reading the series. I had only br...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Catherine's first marriage	7	77	Jan 17, 2013 06:12pm
Graphic Love Scenes	13	163	Feb 27, 2012 06:43pm
Eh....	4	89	Mar 19, 2008 03:12pm
interesting	4	47	Jan 22, 2008 06:08pm

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The Constant Princess (The Tudor Court #1)

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