From the moment of her birth, Katherine (Catalina) of Aragon, daughter of the well-known Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella, has known that her destiny is to be the Queen of England. Upon coming of age and marrying Arthur, the Prince of Wales, she is pleased to find love in a marriage born of her parents’ political tactics, and that she and her husband share the same dreams and ambitions for the land they will eventually rule together. However, her happiness is short-lived when she tragically loses Arthur to illness. A deathbed promise and a colossal lie result in her marriage to Arthur’s younger brother Harry (eventually the infamous Henry VIII), but unless she can produce an heir to his throne, her position is still insecure. The book seemed to end rather abruptly, and the later, still important, events in Katherine’s life are merely glossed over. However, it is still a rich, enjoyable read.

posted Jan 26, 2007 at 12:00PM

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