Norwegian novelist Jacobsen folds a quietly powerful coming-of-age story into a rendition of daily life on one of Norway’s rural islands a hundred years ago in a novel that was shortlisted for the 2017 Man Booker International Prize. Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction.

It also seemed unlikely to me that even the most constant heart would cling, as she did, to a memory that had an endurance of six months and occurred at the tender age of fifteen. I also found the idea that she wavered in her religious views and came to think of the Moors as equal, if not superior, to her own countrymen untenable. She is known to have fought for Catholicism to her death and the attitude toward the Moors would have been far too modern a view to have made sense in her time. It is, in a word, an anachronistic invention to propound a modern view. I think this may be the end of the Philippa Gregory Tudor Series line for me. I know that TOBG and TQF weren't the best novels in the world, but I actually was somewhat interested in their stories and mildly entertained. "The Constant Princess" I found to be a "constant bore". I struggled to get through parts and couldn't even muster the will to look up the amazing Queen Katherine on Wiki. Maybe if you like Queen Katherine or Philippa Gregory or are just wanting historical (romance) fiction lite, you will enjoy this. If that doesn't apply to you, I recommend avoiding. I know that, at the time, Catalina said this, she was in despair, but I would have thought that a devout Christian would realize that earthly father =/= heavenly father (because the earthly father is DUH human and fallible!). There are ways to do the "God has forsaken me" without drawing this odd conclusion. The novel begins in 1491 Grenada as the Moors raid the military camp of Queen Isabella of Castile. The young Infanta Catalina watches with adoration as her warrior mother gathers her army and puts out the flames caused by the night raid. Upon her mother’s return, Catalina assures her mother that Ficou noiva de Artur, filho de Henrique VII, aos 3 anos e foi treinada desde criança para ser Princesa de Gales e Rainha de Inglaterra.

Sibling Rivalry: Arthur and Harry. In addition to Arthur being the Blue Oni to Harry's Red Oni, Arthur is annoyed that Harry has written love letters to Catherine in Arthur's name. Harry is envious of Arthur being the heir to the throne, and also wants Catherine. NOTE: I'm no historian, so if you want to see how historically accurate this book is, you might want to seek another review.

But you all know the *rest of the story* so I'll not rehash it one more time, I'm just here to discuss the reading experience. Whether or not Katherine and Arthur consummated the marriage or not is a subject of debate and despite my previous conviction that Katherine spoke the truth about it during "The King's Great Matter", I was willing to keep an open mind (kind of). However, I didn't buy into the twu wuv fowever between Arthur and Catalina, nor did I buy into Henry VIII's portrayal as a bit of an ignorant dolt with no business sitting on the throne of England, Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Lina leaves for the Ottoman Empire and Catherine of Aragon retreats with her daughter to live away from the royal court. The author does well in exploring the young Katalina's emotions and the power play in the English court. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Nielsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output.Story: (3) This story had its ups and downs, and I mean that in the most serious and sincere way. There was parts of this book where I was addicted and couldn’t wait to see what happened next, and parts where I completely lost interest. (“Tell me a story”..says Arthur to Katherine. Yes please, Philippa Gregory! PLEASE tell me SOMETHING ENTERTAINING!)

While Mary Tudor did grow old and bitter as queen, the Real Life Mary Tudor was quite kind and caring as a princess. She was treated like dirt as a little girl and had everything and everyone she loved and cared for taken away from her. While it is true that she did execute 300 Protestants as queen, at the same time most academic historians agree that there is more to her story then that. Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Meg Tudor for all her frustration with her husband is crushed when he dies in battle, she tearfully describes him as the father of her sons and "her best friend".Sixteen years after her historic victory over the Scots, Katherine is summoned to face another battle -- a fight against the dissolution of her marriage during a papal legate sitting. Why, even under this intense scrutiny, does Katherine remain steadfast in her lie that she was a virgin when she married Henry? What final impression does this scene give you of Katherine of Aragon? Note: If you liked The Other Boleyn Girl and want more history read this. If you didn't like The Other Boleyn Girl, but want to learn more about the History, do a little research on the internet and skip this. After Arthur's death, Lady Margaret Pole suggests that perhaps God wills that Catalina accept her fate as Dowager Princess. "He does not," Catalina responds. "I shall insist on what is mine. I know what is my duty and what I have to do" (164). Why is Catalina so certain that it's God's will she become Queen of England? Is this conviction a result of her faith, her upbringing, or something else? Like Father, Like Son: Or, rather Like Mother Like Daughter. In both The White Princess and the one occasion she's seen on a horse in this series, Elizabeth of York does not ride side saddle, as would be custom for a woman. When she leaves for Scotland Margaret is not riding side saddle, just like her mother. Decadent Court: The Tudor court is potrayed this way, even more so then the Spanish and French royal courts.