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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.

Average Customer Rating:

I really wanted to like this book!!

Customer Rating:

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 Wonderful	Customer Rating:
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.

Historical Fiction about a character rarely delved into...

Customer Rating:

A good novel, good characters... well written. The historical facts lack some of the excitement in Henry's later marriages, but this fluffy piece of historical fiction is entertaining. This is a less juicy tale, and sometimes that less scandalous historical fiction leaves you numb with the lack of action. You take a deep breath and as the novel wraps up make a mental note to read a more factual account of the events. There is something to be said about how quickly her recent novels are coming together. Her earlier works were disturbing, probing and eerie... as she plants her characters in history there is a change of tone.

The Constant Princess	Customer Rating:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was just a juicy story, full of drama, backstabbing, heartache & romance. I liked Catalinas character, she was a strong woman, very naive at first, but determined. I like the love story between her and Arthur. I will be reading more of Philippa Gregory novels.

One of Gregory's better novels

Customer Rating:

Since there is a lot of buzz going around regarding Philippa Gregory's new novel ('The Other Queen,' scheduled for release on 9/16/08), I thought I'd post a quick review of one of her earlier novels, 'The Constant Princess.' While there's been a lot of non-fiction books written about Henry VIII's first wife, Katherine of Aragon, there hasn't been too much written in the historical fiction arena, other than as a minor character in other novel's about Henry, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, or Mary I. This well-written novel is written from the perspective of Katherine herself. It begins with her childhood as the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand and tells the story of her betrothal to Arthur, the eldest son of Henry VII and heir to the English throne. A beautiful love story emerges between Katherine and Arthur as they grow up together and Katherine is raised in the English court in preparation for her future role as Queen of England. I don't want to give away any spoilers for those who are unfamiliar with Katherine's story beyond this. It's enough to say that her life took many unfortunate turns and she was very much alone in a foreign and hostile country far away from her family who eventually abandons her, too. She relied on her faith to endure and sustain her through some horrific circumstances and maintained her dignity throughout. This novel is never boring or slow....it keeps your attention and draws you into Katherine's world. She is a very sympathetic character and inspires admiration for her perseverance and dignity. I highly recommend this novel if you're just now discovering Philippa Gregory.