The Bottom Line
- The Constant Princess reads easily and quickly but is also a substantial, interesting novel.
- Gregory is a skilled writer who creates complex, sympathetic and flawed characters.
- The Constant Princess is similar to Gregory’s previous novels, and is less engaging.
Description
- The Constant Princess begins life as Catalina, Infanta of Spain, betrothed to the Prince of Wales.
- At 15 years old she moves to England to be married, and misses the culture and climate of Spain.
- When her marriage doesn’t make her queen, she plots to retain power for the sake of her family.
Guide Review - The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory - Book Review
The Constant Princess is strongly informed by historical events, but is more engaging and exciting than most historical novels. At it’s heart, The Constant Princess wants to be a love story about the Spanish princess and her first husband, and her efforts to keep a promise she makes to him. Also romantic are Catalina’s detailed descriptions of the palaces, clothing and culture that defined her childhood in lush, exotic Spain.
Fans of Gregory’s previous novels will find that The Constant Princess satisfies in all the usual ways—a strong and role-defying female lead, royal intrigue, geopolitical plotting, and romantic love tales mixed with gossipy affairs. At the same time, though, this novel covers much of the same ground as previous ones, and is somewhat less satisfying.
