The Constant Princess

Author:  Philipa Gregory

Publisher: Touchstone, a division of Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: 2005
Pages: 393
ISBN No.: 978-0-7432-7248-3
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub Genre: Romance
Reader’s Annotation:
The story of Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII is a portrayal of splendor, intrigue, and betrayal as played out in the Tudor Court in the late fifteen century.
Summary:
The book is a first-person account of the life of Katherine of Aragon, wife of Henry VIII of England.  As the youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs and crusaders King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina, (Katherine's Spanish name) Princess of Wales and Spain, was promised to the English Prince Arthur when she was three. She leaves Spain at 15 to fulfill  her destiny as queen of England, where she finds true love with Arthur and they plot the future of their kingdom together. Arthur dies young, however, leaving Catalina a widow and ineligible for the throne.Before his death, he makes his wife promise that she will marry his younger brother Henry in order to become queen, have children and rule as they had planned.  This will only be successful as long as Catalina must denies that Arthur was ever her lover. Catalina uses all her feminine wiles to reclaim her rightful title.
Evaluation:
This fictionalized account was very well researched and beautifully written. The reader gets a glimpse into Catalina and her fiercely loyal personality. She was the daughter of two of history's most powerful monarchs and was a warrior queen herself.  This book makes one wonder how different our world would be today if only Arthur had lived, or if Katherine had a son who lived, or if Henry had been faithful to her. Of course, these are all what-ifs and a question as to how the past 500 years of Tudor impacted moments of European history remains.  The brutality and cruelty of this period of history is also a fascinating counterpoint to Katherine's piety and the pageantry of her reign.
Why I Would Include It:
I love anything "Tudor" and this Philippa Gregory is I think her best.  There have not been many books, to my knowledge, written about Katherine of Aragon and her story gives us a different perspective and another royal to become acquainted with.
Rating: 5
Read Alikes:  Other Philippa Gregory books for your reading pleasure: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Other Queen, The Virgin's Lover, and The Queen's Fool.

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