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The Constant Princess
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The Tudors: Book 1

The Constant Princess (2005) (edit title/settings)

by Philippa Gregory (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

"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... read more

Summary edit see section history

Early in the story, Katherine of Aragon, or Catalina the Infanta of Spain, was sent to England to marry Prince Arthur when she was only an adolescent. Her parents, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, had made the alliance with King Henry of England soon after her birth, to secure... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Early in the story, Katherine of Aragon, or Catalina the Infanta of Spain, was sent to England to marry Prince Arthur when she was only an adolescent. Her parents, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, had made the alliance with King Henry of England soon after her birth, to secure Spain's political position and expand the Spanish Empire. Queen Isabella, Catalina's mother, had demonstrated her use of absolute power in decision-making throughout Catalina's childhood, and thus became a model for her young daughter's life, engagement, marriages and political decision-making. With very limited communication from her family throughout her life in England, Catalina reflects in this memoir on her priorities and objectives in establishing herself as an important member of the British royal family. She comes to some surprising realizations about the strengths and the limits of power, and strengthens her position as a European monarch by changing the face of leadership behind the scenes in England. A must read if you enjoy intrigues on history, leadership, politics and human growth and development.

Characters/People edit see section history

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Knowing that you do not know is to ask humbly, instead of tell arrogantly. That is the beginning of wisdom.”
  • “Tell me a story.”
    Prince Arthur
  • “I love him so deeply, I did not know that I could ever love anyone like this. I can feel myself growing in patience and wisdom, just through my love for him. I step back from irritability and impatience, I even bear my homesickness without complaint. I can feel myself becoming a better woman, a better wife, as I seek to please him and make him proud of me. I want him always to be glad that he married me. I want us always to be as happy as we are today. There are no words to describe him…there are no words.”
    Katherine Of Aragon

First Sentence edit see section history

"There was a scream, and then the loud roar of fire enveloping silken hangings, then a mounting crescendo of shouts of panic that spread and spread from one tent to another as the flames ran too, leaping from one silk standard to another, running up guy ropes and burstling through muslin doors."

Table of Contents edit see section history

PRINCESS OF WALES

Granada
Dogmersfield Palace
Hampshire, Autumn 1501
London, 14th November 1501
Oxford, Christmas 1501
Ludlow Castle, January 1502
Summer, 1502
London, June 1502

PRINCESS-IN-WAITING

Winter 1503
Whitehall, June 1503

PRINCESS AGAIN

Chapter 1504
Greenwich Palace, 11th June 1509

KATHARINE, QUEEN OF ENGLAND

Summer 1509
Westminster Palace, January 1510
Greenwich Palace, May 1510
Spring 1511
Walsingham, Autumn 1513
Blackfriars Hall

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • The Crown: The luxury and oppression of royalty are symbolized with the crown. Catalina was born and raised as a royal, yet the Spanish form and tradition of royalty were vastly different from what she encountered in England.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 6 in The Tudors. (standard series)

Followed by The Other Boleyn Girl.

This book is in Random Synapses: 100 Book Reading Challenge (2011). (community list)
This book is in Tudor Historical Fiction. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Philippa Gregory (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: HARPER COLLINS
Country: Great Britain
Publication Date: November 7, 2005
ISBN: 0007190301
Page Count: 496

Classification edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
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