The Constant Princess

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The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory...just my kind of book!  This historical novel fictionalizes the true story of Catherine of Aragon, Princess of Spain and Queen of England.  You may know her as Henry VIII's first wife.  After reading this book, you'll know she was much more than that.

 Not only do I love historical fiction, I love Gregory's writing style.  She has a way of making her characters seem almost modern.  The choices they make, although made hundreds of years ago, are understandable.  Although the time was different, many of the decisions are the same as what we must make on a daily basis.  Do we betray someone's trust?  Should we accept an apology?  Could we possibly do more damage to a situation by doing nothing than acting?  Gregory personalizes the characters so that I, the reader, finish a book and have a better idea of not only the past, but an insight into the personalities of the famous and infamous.   I've enjoyed each book she's written.  The author is best known for her novel, The Other Boleyn Girl (which I looooooved!) and the movie made shortly after. 

Back to this book:  So far, I've come to know Catherine of Aragon as a child raised in a strong household.  Her mother, Isabella, was a warrior and brought up her youngest daughter to be brave in the face of adversity or change.  This young girl was called the Queen of England from the moment she was betrothed at the age of three.  Despite her privileged youth, she grew to be a devoted wife and mother, humble and chaste.  She was a devout Catholic and held fast to her faith despite King Henry's lack thereof.  She was beloved by the English people and lived a long life, faithful to her very unfaithful husband for the duration. 


If you like learning about the past while enjoying a complex story , you should pick up one of Philippa Gregory's books.  Here's an excerpt (or two) from the book that helps explain why I enjoy her writing so much... 
(From page 3:  description of the Spanish camp burning... I thought this was a powerful way to open the book.  Especially when you learn a few pages later that this "attack" was an accidental fire caused by a misplaced candle in one of the Spanish tents.  The Moors thought the Spanish had gone crazy and were burning their own camp.  

"1491:  There was a scream, and then the loud roar of fire enveloping silken hangings, then a mountain 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 bursting through muslin doors.  Then the horses were neighing in terror and men shouting to calm them, but the terror in their own voices made it worse, until the whole plain was alight with a thousand raging blazes, and the night swirled with smoke and range with shouts and screams." 


(From page 20:  description of the Alhambra bath at Granada.  This is just one of the breathtaking scenes Gregory paints of the Alhambra.  The reader gets to experience the princesses' first night in the Moorish castle.  To think that Catherine's mother and father captured Granada and forced the Moors to leave and this is how their daughters are treated.  Wow!   


"We bathe in the hammam, standing stock-still while the servants lather us all over with a rich soap that smells of flowers.  Then they pour golden ewer after golden ewer of hot water over us, splashing from head to toe, to wash us clean.  We are soothed with rose oil, wrapped in fine sheets and lie, half drunk with sensual pleasure, on the warm marble table that dominates the entire room, under the golden ceiling where the star-shaped openings admit dazzling rays of sunlight into the shadowy peace of the place.  One girl manicures our toes while another works on our hands, shaping the nails and painting delicate patterns of henna.  We let the old woman pluck our eyebrows, paint our eyelashes.  We are served as if we are sultanas, with all the riches of Spain and all the luxury of the East and we surrender utterly to the delight of the palace.  It captivates us, we swoon into submission, the so-called victors.  "


I'm passionate about reading talented authors.  A good author can have you reading passages over and over again and loving the words more each time.  And as you can tell, I happen to like Philippa Gregory's writing very much.  :)


Hope you can find an author you enjoy as much.  
Happy Reading!
RC