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I love the Tudor time period and this book was a fun story to go along with the actual events. It makes you wonder and hope that Katherine was truly happy at one point.
In this book the author's attempt to envision her life. His fatal illness is sudden. Gregory builds the case for a steely purposeful woman who affects all the airs of the monarch she aspires to be and exudes its sense of entitlement. She is subject to international games over which she has no control and little access to knowledge. The author describes how Catalina, the child of Spain's powerful co-monarchs, could have developed a belief in her destiny. From this seed, Ms. Who is this woman, whose fame rests on her inability to produce a male heir for Henry VIII. History pays little attention to the emotions of this abandoned 16 year old girl/widow.
Another difficult plot line is the imagined pregnancy and the call to the doctor who is a Moor. His deathbed charge to his wife, while not realistic for the time, does have some novelistic development in how the young couple plans their future reign. Catalina's attitude to Moors would be highly unusual. at all. The first part is credible. Gregory is at her best as she imagines Catalina's thoughts and feelings in the 7 years uncertain wait for Henry VIII.
This is the attitude and the outlook she would have to have to endure her later abandonment.I don't know the evidence on which history rests a judgment that Arthur was too sickly to consummate his marriage, but Gregory doesn't buy it. Arthur is shown to be healthy. I don't know the historical probability of the attentions of Henry VII to his daughter-in-law but the writing (or maybe this plot line) doesn't ring true. After this, the story races to an end.While the whole telling doesn't fully hold together, the book gives a different look at Katherine and posits some interesting ideas as to her character and how she might have interacted with her new English family.
Tudor history is a big part of my life. I make jewelry based on pieces worn on the tv show "The Tudors".
I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory books for quite some time now and own all the books she has written. This particular book gave me a new perspective on Catherine of Aragon.
I thought this book was wonderful. It is a great read for anyone interested in Tudor history.
It showed me more about Catherine besides what happened to her when Henry VII left her for Anne Boleyn. You get to know her as a child, a young woman, a great leader and wonderful queen.
I usually make exact copies of pieces worn by Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon and have definitely gained some inspiration from these books. Anyone who is interested can find me at:[.].[.].
This book was recommended thsi book to me as being a good historical fiction. The first quarter of the book are notes the heroine writes to herself and stories she tells her prince. The problem is how SLOW the book is. I can't let me children read it because of the sex, but even as an adult, I can't call this book a necessary read. It came across as very forced. nothing natural about their interaction.I can't say I'll check out any of her other books.
Every book of Gregory's that I read always keeps me entertained and wanting for more. When I finish one, I cannot wait to pick up the next. Great book.
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