Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1833 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

From Publishers Weekly
As youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs and crusaders King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina, princess of Wales and of 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 (after some initial sourness) as 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 extracts a promise from his wife to marry his younger brother Henry in order to become queen anyway, have children and rule as they had planned, a situation that can only be if Catalina denies that Arthur was ever her lover. Gregory's latest (after Earthly Joys) compellingly dramatizes how Catalina uses her faith, her cunning and her utter belief in destiny to reclaim her rightful title. By alternating tight third-person narration with Catalina's unguarded thoughts and gripping dialogue, the author presents a thorough, sympathetic portrait of her heroine and her transformation into Queen Katherine. Gregory's skill for creating suspense pulls the reader along despite the historical novel's foregone conclusion.
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Review
"In her addictive new novel, [Gregory] turns her eye to Katherine of Aragon, a princess who became Queen of England -- all by dint of a well-kept secret."

-- Marie Claire

"Gregory's story is as ambitious as its main character...."

-- Entertainment Weekly

"Gregory makes the broad sweep of history vibrant and intimate."

-- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author
Philippa Gregory is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance. A writer and broadcaster for radio and television, she lives in England. She welcomes visitors and messages at her website, www.philippagregory.com.

Kate Burton appeared as the title character in The Constant Wife for the Roundabout Theatre. Her Broadway credits include starring roles in Hedda Gabler (title role, Tony nominated), The Elephant Man (Tony nominated), and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Her film and TV roles include Celebrity, The Ice Storm, Swimfan, Grey's Anatomy and Rescue Me.

Customer Reviews

The Constant Princess
I thought this was a very good book with a lot of historical information in it.

Good but sometimes repetitive
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 others
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.