|
The Constant Princess | 
| Author: Philippa Gregory
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £3.99
You Save: £4.00 (50%)
New (20) Used (39) Collectible (2) from £0.77
Avg. Customer Rating:  70 reviews
Sales Rank: 524
Media: Paperback
Pages: 528
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1.3
ISBN: 000719031X
EAN: 9780007190317
ASIN: 000719031X
Publication Date: May 2, 2006
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 65 more reviews...
 Amazing read October 20, 2008
This is one of the best PG tudor novels and i couldnt put it down. I love the way it deals with the little known older brother of Henry, Arthur and the way Catalina (Kathrine) is so determined. The way the book is written makes it really hard to not sympaphise with her and if you dont cry in the last chapter you have a heart of stone. The only problem with this is that you cant read it before you go to bed becasue you will HAVE to sat up all night to finnish it!
The Best One? September 9, 2008
I have now read all five of Gregory's novels set in the Tudor court. This was the last one I read and, I think, my favourite. It is the story of Katherine of Aragon, formerly Catalina, the Spanish princess, told mostly from her perspective.
Gregory opens the book with some scenes set in Spain, when Catalina was very young, giving the girl some background and showing how her family and upbringing affected and shaped her as a person and character. Then we move forward to when she comes to England to marry Arthur, Henry VIII older brother and the heir to the throne. Gregory's original take on their doomed marriage is incredibly moving and makes for a very good novel, which wouldn't have been very compelling otherwise. In her version, the pair fall very much in love, after an awkward and slightly hostile introduction, which is understandable due to the pressure, Arthur's nervousness and Catalina's discomfort in this new country.
The young newlyweds spend just a few blissful months in Wales, getting to know eachother and making plans for when they will rule the country together. Of course, they never do. Arthur contracts an illness and dies quickly. Catalina's shock and grief is heartbreaking and very well done. However she cannot mourn in peace, due to the fact that she promised Arthur on his deathbed that she would marry his young brother Henry and become Katherine, Queen of England as she was meant to be, so that she can have to children they planned and protect the country as he wanted.
There are several problems. Henry was barely eleven years old at this time. Catalina is expected to return to Spain as a widow, but there are disagreements about her dowry between her father and her father-in-law, Henry VII. There's also the slight inconvenience that Henry VII desires her and wants to marry her himself. A lot for a sixteen year old girl to handle. But allows for tense, compelling reading.
Although the events in this book happen before those in all the other Tudor court novels, I am glad I read it last. This is because while Gregory describes Catalina's noble determination to become Queen and produce a safe heir for England, I knew her unfortunate and miserable future. I knew that trying to concieve a child would be a nightmarish struggle for her, and her only heir would not be a successful or happy queen. I knew Henry would not make a good king as it is suggested Arthur would have been, and I knew she would die alone, rejected by her husband. So I found Catalina's plight all the more tragic, was able to sympathise even more with her character. A likeable character - strong, brave, with good intentions, and an attitude that develops over the course of the book to become wiser and more understanding.
I would thoroughly recommend this affecting and well-written book, especially if you've read Gregory's other novels.
 Not bad but not great September 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is my second of Gregory's books I have read, the first book I read was 'The other Boleyn girl' which is much better, it's much more structured and had more depth. 'The constant princess' is interesting enough to finish but it isn't a book I would recommend to people.
Very nice filling just the bread was slightly stale!!! July 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At the moment I am going through a Philippa Gregory phase. I simply can't get enough of her Tutor novels. 'The Constant Princess' is my fourth Gregory novel to read but while I enjoyed it I certainly don't think it was as good as her other novels.
The main problem with 'The Constant Princess' is that it lacked the consistency to be found in Gregory's other books. It was a painfully slow-starter. Even leaving aside the tedious first chapter, which describes a battle in Spain (Gregory's first chapter is always a tad contentious but at least we get a look into the way young Katharine was brought up) you easily have to read at least the first 150 pages before this story starts to take off. The first 150 pages are long and dull with far too much description than required and basically no where near enough story and aboveall dialogue. Instead we are forced to endure long accounts of Katharine of Argaon's first marriage to Arthur and how despite a rocky start they came to supposedly passionately love each other. What surprised me is that in her other books Gregory has a fantastic ability to write romance. I don't know what happened to this ability in this book. Instead of breath-taking love scenes and witty one-liners we are instead left with 'Tell me a story' where Catherine tells Arthur tales of her homeland in Spain. Interesting if you have an interest in Spanish culture at that time. Dull if you're after a bodice-ripping read that she usually delivers.
The good news is that this book does pick up it's pace after the first 150 pages (strangely after Arthur's death and the introduction of Henry into the picture) and we can then enjoy the more familiar setting of the Tutor Court but just as Gregory has almost redeemed herself she abruptly finishes the novel almost as if she got tired of writing. What annoyed me was that the birth of Mary was completely ignored in this novel: almost as if Gregory simply assumes we know she has a kid. Furthermore the Queen's later years and the problems she endured by Henry's desire for a divorce are not dealt with at all. Perhaps Gregory felt that her account of the Queen's suffering in 'The Other Boleyan Girl is sufficient to cover that part of Katharine's life.
I should also mention that I liked the way she dealt with Katharine's life most importantly the lie she told. Too many productions take the view point that it wasn't a lie but I found Gregory's representation very credible. Yes it is clear that Gregory is very pro-Katharine. Another author could have used the lie against her and blamed her as being overly-ambitious but Gregory's skill as a writer really makes us love and admire Katharine both as a person and indeed Queen of England. Given that so many productions present Katharine as an old, sour hag of a woman incapable of giving the King a son it is refreshing to read a novel which focuses on the moral dilemma this devoted woman faced and the contribution she made to the history of England: something easily overlooked in movies which prefer to focus on Katharine's failure to provide and heir and being just wife number one.
Other than that I enjoyed reading this novel despite the slow start and hasty finish. Other reviewers have complained about her writing style ie: that of narration and then personal reflection. To be honest I didn't find her style a fault in this book. If anything it helped give a very personal feel to the book although I do agree that at times especially the beginning it was a bit repetitive with all the "It is my duty...it is God's will" etc but I don't find this a reason to fault the book.
To conclude 'The Constant Princess' is an enjoyable read if you can get past the slow start and are prepared for a hasty end. Undoubtedly not as good as her previous works or indeed as romantic I wouldn't recommend reading this book first. Instead I'd recommend starting with 'The Other Boleyan Girl'.
Katherine of Aragon - Queen of endurance and courage! July 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I never thought that the neglected Queen of The Other Bolyen Girl is such a woman with histry and story - the most loving and moving stories. The love depicted between her and Arthur is so deep and tearful, that no one could blame her for holding on to her great lie. Katherine is such a legend! I love this book more than The Other Boleyn Girl.
|
|
|
| |
