The Constant Princess
15 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, February 24, 2007
Katherine of Aragon is betrothed at the age of three to Prince Arthur, son and heir of Henry VII of England. She is raised to be Princess of Wales, and knows it is her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land.
Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival 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. Unexpectedly in this arranged marriage, a tender and passionate love develops.
But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be a queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry.
Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival 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. Unexpectedly in this arranged marriage, a tender and passionate love develops.
But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be a queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry.
Journal Entry 2 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, August 24, 2008
I have planned a ring for this lovely book.
BookRing Guidelines:
• WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BOOK, please make a journal entry. This way we know that it has arrived safe and sound.
• Please PM the next person on the list for confirmation of their mailing address as soon as you can.
• Please try to finish the book within a reasonable amount of time. This will allow us to keep the bookring moving, and avoid having it getting placed on a "to be read" pile for an undetermined amount of time. Also, if you don't like it, don't feel obligated to finish it before sending it on its way.
• When you finish the book, please make a journal entry to let us know when you are finished and that it has been mailed. This way we all know it's traveling again.
• If you are last on the list, please send it back home to me!
Happy Reading!
If you run into any issues, or have any questions, feel free to PM me, voveryte.
Bluemchenblatt - France (int, econ.)
chich - France (int.)
Mallary - France
kalise - Austria (int.ok)
amcamp1644 - South Korea (int.)
Wandering-B - Hong Kong (int.)
maccanena - UK
Bookworm-lady - Spain (EU)
back to me, voveryte
bearyfriend - Singapore
Meg72 - Portugal
Icila - France
teggers - UK
back to voveryte again
BookRing Guidelines:
• WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BOOK, please make a journal entry. This way we know that it has arrived safe and sound.
• Please PM the next person on the list for confirmation of their mailing address as soon as you can.
• Please try to finish the book within a reasonable amount of time. This will allow us to keep the bookring moving, and avoid having it getting placed on a "to be read" pile for an undetermined amount of time. Also, if you don't like it, don't feel obligated to finish it before sending it on its way.
• When you finish the book, please make a journal entry to let us know when you are finished and that it has been mailed. This way we all know it's traveling again.
• If you are last on the list, please send it back home to me!
Happy Reading!
If you run into any issues, or have any questions, feel free to PM me, voveryte.
Bluemchenblatt - France (int, econ.)
chich - France (int.)
Mallary - France
kalise - Austria (int.ok)
amcamp1644 - South Korea (int.)
Wandering-B - Hong Kong (int.)
maccanena - UK
Bookworm-lady - Spain (EU)
back to me, voveryte
bearyfriend - Singapore
Meg72 - Portugal
Icila - France
teggers - UK
back to voveryte again
Journal Entry 3 by 
Bluemchenblatt
from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Thursday, November 6, 2008
Bluemchenblatt from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Thursday, November 6, 2008
I fetched it from the Post Office at some point last week. Thank you! I've started reading it and it caught me right away, but studies first so hopefully it won't stay too long with me.
Journal Entry 4 by Bluemchenblatt from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Friday, November 14, 2008
Bluemchenblatt from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Friday, November 14, 2008
This historical novel has absolutely captivated me and it was very hard to keep focused on studies instead of continuing to read. But work charge being as it is, I've rarely been able to dip into this book - the moments I did, it completely fascinated me, made me grin and cry and wish to be close to my sweetheart.
I was astonished how well Catalina's replies seemed to be adapted to the situation overall, but also always to her current position! The only thing that actually didn't fit, was the -rather abrupt- ending.
I'm curious to read more from Gregory's writing and hope the upcoming readers will enjoy this book as much as I did!
I already have chich's adress and hope to manage to get to a post office soon.
I was astonished how well Catalina's replies seemed to be adapted to the situation overall, but also always to her current position! The only thing that actually didn't fit, was the -rather abrupt- ending.
I'm curious to read more from Gregory's writing and hope the upcoming readers will enjoy this book as much as I did!
I already have chich's adress and hope to manage to get to a post office soon.
Journal Entry 5 by Bluemchenblatt at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bluemchenblatt at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/2/2009 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The Contant Princess took a carriage to Chich.
Aide en français/Deutsche Hilfe/日本語のページ/Polska Strona Pomocy
The Contant Princess took a carriage to Chich.
Aide en français/Deutsche Hilfe/日本語のページ/Polska Strona Pomocy
Journal Entry 6 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Book received today, thanks so much for passing it on Bluemchenblatt! I wonder why it took that long for the book to travel such a short distance;o) Thanks for starting this ring voveryte!I'll finish the book I'm reading right now and will get right on to this one.
Journal Entry 7 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, February 16, 2009
Yet another fantastic read from Philippa Gregory! Once I started this book I just couldn't put it down:)
Thanks again for sharing voveryte:o)
I've already asked Mallary for her address and will send her the book ASAP.
Thanks again for sharing voveryte:o)
I've already asked Mallary for her address and will send her the book ASAP.
Journal Entry 8 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A thousand apologies for not journalling this when it arrived.
I felt sure I had! I have finished reading the book now and I found it really hard to put down.
I wasn't as glued as I was to The Queen's Fool which remains my favourite Philippa Gregory but I have to admit to going to bed early every night just to read for as many hours as possible!
Thanks for including me in the ring. I am now pming kalise for her address and if possible will post it today.
I felt sure I had! I have finished reading the book now and I found it really hard to put down.
I wasn't as glued as I was to The Queen's Fool which remains my favourite Philippa Gregory but I have to admit to going to bed early every night just to read for as many hours as possible!
Thanks for including me in the ring. I am now pming kalise for her address and if possible will post it today.
Released 15 yrs ago (3/16/2009 UTC) at Ginestas, Languedoc-Roussillon France
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to kalise in Austria... enjoy!
On it's way to kalise in Austria... enjoy!
Journal Entry 11 by kalise from St. Florian bei Linz, Oberösterreich Austria on Monday, March 23, 2009
Book arrived safely here in Austria, yippey!! Will get to it ASAP! Thank you, Mallary, for sending it!! :-)
Journal Entry 12 by kalise from St. Florian bei Linz, Oberösterreich Austria on Friday, March 27, 2009
Reading this story from Katherine's perspective was superbly interesting, and even though this is a work of fiction, I learned quite a lot about the era. Like many other people, I suppose, I kept seeing her merely as the rather sallow, plain and prim Katherine who Henry VIII put aside for the more glamorous Anne Boleyn, and I never bothered to think about her life as a Spanish princess before she came to England, as the proud and beautiful daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand, who must indeed have been profoundly homesick for her parents and her home country. I think the writer does a superb job in sketching the princess' early years, palace life in the Alhambra, and then the tremendous culture shock she experiences upon coming to England. That was fascinating reading.
As a character I did not necessarily find her likeable, though, and found it difficult to warm up to her (or to any other character). I don't know. It's great that she's proud and haughty and assertive and aware of who she is and what she plans on becoming - but her repetitive mantra of "I have been raised to become the future Queen of England" - becomes really old by mid-novel, and at this point I started to get somewhat annoyed.
I also thought that Arthur was a thinly sketched character and Henry (Harry) could've had more flesh as well - but I enjoyed reading about him as a sunny, but boisterous and spoiled little boy.
I also would have been interested to read about her life after the divorce. Where did she live? How did she cope? Did she feel completely beaten? Did she bow to the situation, accepting it as "God's will" or did she find empowerment in the knowledge that her daughter Mary was going to be Queen one day (and earn herself the nickname of Bloody Mary...)?
Thank you, voveryte for sharing the book! I will PM the next participant in line and try to move the book on ASAP.
As a character I did not necessarily find her likeable, though, and found it difficult to warm up to her (or to any other character). I don't know. It's great that she's proud and haughty and assertive and aware of who she is and what she plans on becoming - but her repetitive mantra of "I have been raised to become the future Queen of England" - becomes really old by mid-novel, and at this point I started to get somewhat annoyed.
I also thought that Arthur was a thinly sketched character and Henry (Harry) could've had more flesh as well - but I enjoyed reading about him as a sunny, but boisterous and spoiled little boy.
I also would have been interested to read about her life after the divorce. Where did she live? How did she cope? Did she feel completely beaten? Did she bow to the situation, accepting it as "God's will" or did she find empowerment in the knowledge that her daughter Mary was going to be Queen one day (and earn herself the nickname of Bloody Mary...)?
Thank you, voveryte for sharing the book! I will PM the next participant in line and try to move the book on ASAP.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I sent the book to amcamp1644 today. Enjoy!
I sent the book to amcamp1644 today. Enjoy!
Received. Thanks kalise!
Nice, quick read. PMing Wandering-B
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent out today. Enjoy.
Sent out today. Enjoy.
Arrived in today's post. Thanks amcamp1644 for sending it to me and voveryte for sharing with us all!
The book arrived this weekend.
Thanks Wandering-B!
Now looking at the list I am confused. It seems we have skipped two people between Wandering-B and myself. Is there some reason for this? Should I send it to the next in the list, Bookworm-lady, or to Jean-sol or Bearyfriend?
Looking forward to reading it.
Thanks Wandering-B!
Now looking at the list I am confused. It seems we have skipped two people between Wandering-B and myself. Is there some reason for this? Should I send it to the next in the list, Bookworm-lady, or to Jean-sol or Bearyfriend?
Looking forward to reading it.
Journal Entry 19 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, May 18, 2009
Thanks for letting know, maccanena. skipped people will be added to the list again once the shipping preferences are clear.
Please, please, always remember to update the status of the book to avoid misunderstandings as this one. The JE stated that the book was TBR and at the possession of Wandering-B, in the meantime, new people were added while apparently the book was already travelling to maccanena.
Thanks for co-operation!
Please, please, always remember to update the status of the book to avoid misunderstandings as this one. The JE stated that the book was TBR and at the possession of Wandering-B, in the meantime, new people were added while apparently the book was already travelling to maccanena.
Thanks for co-operation!
No problems with international shipping, I will send it to Jean-Sol in Australia.
Expect a PM from me soon!
EDIT: CORRECTION. It seems that after all we will continue the flow as it was and it will go to Australia afterwards. So it will go now to Bookworm-lady in Spain, who I will PM soon.
Expect a PM from me soon!
EDIT: CORRECTION. It seems that after all we will continue the flow as it was and it will go to Australia afterwards. So it will go now to Bookworm-lady in Spain, who I will PM soon.
So sorry to have messed up the shipping order on this ring. I was in a hurry to pass the book along and had already requested the next address. Rather than checking, and evidently without making a journal entry, I just mailed it on. Thanks, voveryte for sharing this with us all - I did enjoy living through this time period and learned quite a lot about Katherine of Aragon.
Finished it! Will be sending it off to Bookworm-lady in Spain monday or tuesday.
I always like when history becomes so amenable, but I think Philippa Gregory's books tend to drag a little. A few pages fewer would have done the book good, in my humble opinion. I enjoyed seeing the conflict of Catalina's desire for all the advancements of the Moors with the traditions and knowledge in England at the time. Also liked the evolution of Catalina's maturity through the book, the events that make her grow as a person, and how in the end she realizes her parents were only human and made mistakes and she has to make her own moral decisions.
I always like when history becomes so amenable, but I think Philippa Gregory's books tend to drag a little. A few pages fewer would have done the book good, in my humble opinion. I enjoyed seeing the conflict of Catalina's desire for all the advancements of the Moors with the traditions and knowledge in England at the time. Also liked the evolution of Catalina's maturity through the book, the events that make her grow as a person, and how in the end she realizes her parents were only human and made mistakes and she has to make her own moral decisions.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to Bookworm-Lady in Spain yesterday.
Enjoy!
Mailed to Bookworm-Lady in Spain yesterday.
Enjoy!
Thank you for sending this on, Maccanena; and thanks for sharing, Voveryte.
(I love the bookmark, not sure who sent it! Thanks!)
I am looking forward to reading this one.
Eva
(I love the bookmark, not sure who sent it! Thanks!)
I am looking forward to reading this one.
Eva
I am currently reading it, and so far enjoying it very much!
I will contact Voveryte for instructions; thanks for sharing!
Eva
I will contact Voveryte for instructions; thanks for sharing!
Eva
This made gripping reading... I won't give it a 9, though, because the first part (Catherine's relationship with Arthur) was a bit long and repetitive for my taste.However, Ms Gregory's works are always a pleasure to read, well researched and page-turners...
There is a controversial theory in this one... I won't give it away, but it goes against all historians' research. I can't say I agree with it, but I understand it makes for a better plot than the naked truth...
However, this book shows an unknown side of this "constant princess": as a war strategist, who even lead troops into battle. We are used to thinking about her as a dowdy, plump queen, reluctant to leave her throne. This allows her to occupy her rightful place in history... controversial therories aside.
Congrats to Kalise, who makes a very accurate analysis of this book, with which I agree!
I've always liked this portrait (see pic) that shows her as a young girl.
I already have Voveryte's address (thanks for sharing!), and the book will soon be on its way to her.
Eva
Journal Entry 27 by 
Bookworm-lady
at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Thursday, November 5, 2009
Bookworm-lady at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Thursday, November 5, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/5/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
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Sent today back to Voveryte.
Thanks for sharing, it is a great book!
Eva
Sent today back to Voveryte.
Thanks for sharing, it is a great book!
Eva
Journal Entry 28 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, November 12, 2009
Received today!
thanks everyone who participated so far! The book is ready to travel some more...
thanks everyone who participated so far! The book is ready to travel some more...
It arrived, thanks. Did someone said this Katherine was that King Henry VIII's wife who was unable to give him a male heir, and thus leading to his affairs with the other Boleyn Girl? I believe it's going to be interesting read from Princess Katherine's point of view. Will start after my other current read.
This is the 2nd Philippa Gregory's historical novel I've read after The Other Boleyn Girl, but one thing reading her books is you never know how much is fiction and how much truth especially for me who do not know much about this History. I enjoyed this better probably because a larger part was written about her love with Arthur; and also her life in Spain being the daughter of Queen Isabella and Kind Ferdinand. Philippa's picturesque description of the Palace in Spain was also very captivating, making me wonder was that place really so beautiful and out of the world. Will be finishing soon, only the last part to go. Meg72 has sent me her add, will drop it off to her next week.
Sending off to Meg72 today. Didn't quite like the last part. I still like best the romance between Catalina and Arthur and how every night he asked 'Tell me a story", and Catalina will talk about her childhood in Spain living in that beautiful palace, and about her parents etc... Actually i pity Catalina for her life in England, and that daughters are being used like goods for political reasons to bridge goodwill between countries.
The book has arrived! I´m still finishing another one, but I hope to get into this story as soon as possible.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Although this book gives a good account of the early years of the Tudor era, I must confess that I got stuck in the middle. The beginning seemed promising, with the description of the conquest of Granada and Katherine´s trip to England. But when the future queen fell in love with Arthur, I felt the story drag along, without going anywhere in particular. The fact that Katherine kept repeating "It is God´s will that I become Queen of England" didn´t help. Instead of seeing her as a determined woman, I thought she seemed more like a spoiled brat, who just couldn´t take no for an answer. They were most problably like that in those days, but I just couldn´t warm up to the characters.
Nevertheless, I always like discovering new authors and I thank you for sharing.
Off it goes to Icila, in France!
Although this book gives a good account of the early years of the Tudor era, I must confess that I got stuck in the middle. The beginning seemed promising, with the description of the conquest of Granada and Katherine´s trip to England. But when the future queen fell in love with Arthur, I felt the story drag along, without going anywhere in particular. The fact that Katherine kept repeating "It is God´s will that I become Queen of England" didn´t help. Instead of seeing her as a determined woman, I thought she seemed more like a spoiled brat, who just couldn´t take no for an answer. They were most problably like that in those days, but I just couldn´t warm up to the characters.
Nevertheless, I always like discovering new authors and I thank you for sharing.
Off it goes to Icila, in France!
Safe at home, thanks Meg 72
As a matter of fact, I was just booking tickets for the Alhambra when I started to read it. How strange !
I liked the book and it helped me to remember this part of history but I think that the author didn't know how to finish the story and was a bit disappointed with the last chapters.
Pming teggers.
I liked the book and it helped me to remember this part of history but I think that the author didn't know how to finish the story and was a bit disappointed with the last chapters.
Pming teggers.
Arrived safe and sound. I am a bit buys with school at the moment but I'll get to it as soon as I can.
I really enjoyed this book, it took a while to read like most novels I attempt while at uni. I enjoyed seeing a part of history in a slightly different way, many people don't know that Henry VIII actually had an older brother and its interesting to look at how that could have affected his ability to rule and the what if's of if Arthur had lived.
Journal Entry 38 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, April 26, 2010
The book is now safe at home and going to rest for a little while until further trips are planned.
THANKS SO MUCH everyone for participating and making this book travel around the world - much appreciated!
THANKS SO MUCH everyone for participating and making this book travel around the world - much appreciated!
I'm just back from Andalucia and was 1n the Alhambra last tuesday where I remembered Catalina and her longing.
Thanks.
Thanks.
A RABCK for an unsuspecting bookcrosser... Enjoy!
Received yesterday, thank you!
Sending to the winner of my book box drawing. I hope you enjoy it!
Holy cow! this book has been all over the world. Thanks so much for sending it to me in the bookbox I won.
