Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory


Betrothed at the age of three, Catalina has been groomed since birth to be Queen of England. Raised by her parents Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, to always place duty and country first, Catalina comes to England at the age of 15 to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales. Catalina is confident, ambitious and highly intelligent, and is herself a master of intrigue and political expediency. But soon, widowhood at young age of sixteen, she finds herself alone in the labyrinthan Tudor court of Henry VII, mocked and penniless, and a pawn caught between two countries. Now she must rely on her own intelligence, skills, and ambition, to survive the intrigues of her parents, her court and even her husband to become Queen Katherine of Aragon.

This book provides an intriguing and detailed look at the Tudor monarchy amid the geopolitical realities of Europe in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The author combines extensive research with a clear and captivating writing style to create a superb picture of this amazing and extraordinary woman.

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