Friday, June 26, 2015

Currently Listening: The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory

The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory
Obtained From: Audible
Why I chose this one: I am currently obsessed with the Tudor ruling of England. We are watching the Tudors and I must admit this is the most fascinated I have been by historical fiction in awhile.
Date Started: 6/25/2015

About The Constant Princess:
"I am Catalina, Princess of Spain, daughter of the two greatest monarchs the world has ever known...and I will be Queen of England."

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.


Thoughts So Far
I am loving this book.  The narrator is wonderful and the story has captured my interest right away.  I love Catalina and how sure of herself she is.  I love her romance with Arthur so far and look forward to more intrigue and seeing how this all plays out.

If you haven't watched The Tudors (it's on Netflix streaming), it starts with Henry losing interest in Catherine and the battle to make Anne Boleyn legitimate as his wife.  So it''s interesting to find out more about Catherine's history and what has led up to the start of The Tudor tv show.  I look forward to reading/listening to the whole series (The Tudor Court) by Phillipa Gregory, and if the rest start like this one I know I will be enthralled.