Series: Book 1 in the The Tudor Series series
Rating: ****
Tags: Fiction, Historical fiction, Britain, Lang:en
Summary
Splendid and sumptuous historical novel from this
internationally bestselling author, telling of the early life
of Katherine of Aragon. We think of her as the barren wife of a
notorious king; but behind this legacy lies a fascinating
story.Katherine of Aragon is born Catalina, the Spanish
Infanta, to parents who are both rulers and warriors. Aged
four, she is betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and is
raised to be Queen of England. She is never in doubt that it is
her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land.Her faith is
tested when her prospective fahter-in-law greets her arrival in
her new country with a great insult; Arthur seems little better
than a boy; the food is strange and the customs coarse. Slowly
she adapts to the first Tudor court, and life as Arthur's wife
grows ever more bearable. But when the studious young man dies,
she is left to make her own future: how can she now be queen,
and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother,
the sunny but spoilt Henry. His father and grandmother are
against it; her powerful parents prove little use. Yet
Katherine is her mother's daughter and her fighting spirit is
strong. She will do anything to achieve her aim; even if it
means telling the greatest lie, and holding to it.Philippa
Gregory proves yet again that behind the apparently familiar
face of history lies an astonishing story: of women warriors
influencing the future of Europe, of revered heroes making deep
mistakes, and of an untold love story which changes the fate of
a nation.