This novel highlights the life of Queen Katherine of Aragon prior to her infamous marriage to Henry VIII of England. We first meet Katherine as a young girl in Spain, who adores her parents the powerful Queen Isabella of Castille and King Ferdinand of Aragon. Always at her mother’s side, Katherine becomes accustomed to the strategies of war, and brutal fighting in the name of God. With her early betrothal to Prince Arthur, Henry’s older brother, Katherine grows up in Spain with the dreams of one day becoming the powerful Queen of England and learns from her mother the constant dedication it takes. When the time comes to marry Arthur, the two join forces to reign over the English empire. Sadly, a terminal illness takes Arthur from Katherine just 5 months into their marriage and this is when Katherine falls out of the court's favour. Katherine remains constant to her self-fulfilled prophecy and eventually marries Henry and does indeed become the Queen of England. As usual, Gregory fills this story with relevant historical references, while infusing the story with romance and intrigue.

I enjoyed this book and read it before the "Other Boleyn Girl". It put the history in accurate order. I enjoyed it as much as the "Other Boleyn Girl."

I was not amused by this book. I'd say one star at most. The text jumped back and forth between italicised and normal print, something I find pretensious and laboured. But, most of all, I dis-liked this author's in-your-face arrogance in laying out the contents of Katherine's mind in diary form. This amounts to "tell" rather than "show." and I found it tiresome in the extreme. The diary was repetitive and without interest - but it went on and on for 500 pages and I found myself skipping frantically ahead for anything of interest. Alas, a nusrse book craftily disguised. If you want a female story that really rings true try Bronte's Jane Eyre.

Fascinating historical fiction. I was ingtrgued with the contrast between the eating habits of Spain and England at the time.

Great story of Kathrine of Aragon! You always hear of her later life, during the whole Ann Boleyn situation and never her early life. I love the thought that she did everything for her first husband, kept her promise to him even though it cost her in the end. Could be my favorite Philippa Gregory book!

Not my favourite Philippa Gregory novel, but a great read all the same!

This is a very intriguing story about Katherine of Aragon when she was Catalina, Infanta of Spain. Other stories about her life focus more on Anne Boleyn and her rise to power, rather than Queen Katherine's early years. I found the love story between Catalina and Arthur to be very sweet, yet tragic. The novel shows Katherine for what she truly was: the strong, warrior daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, not just the neglected yet stoic wife of King Henry. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tudor story.

I really enjoyed this book. Gregory, with historical accuracy, examines the life of Catherine of Aragon. Gregory does a great job in bringing the tale to life. Like all her historical novels, this one is a winner.

Learned a lot from this book. Although it is historical fiction, felt Gregory was very true to the history but the characters were likeable and rounded out with enough creativity. I read it while waiting for the book "The Other Boleyn Girl" to come in, and happy it turned out this way because it provided additional insight into that second book in the series.