The Constant Princess

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

    


    The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory is another great read!  This is the story of Catherine of Aragon also known as Catalina, Infanta of Spain and the Princess of Wales.  She has know this title her whole life and always knew she would become Queen of England.

     At a very young age Catalina, Infanta of Spain, knew she was going to be Queen of England.  She had seen war and known that woman can fight on the battle field and win wars.  Catalina, Infanta of Spain, was betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales.  She knew that one day she would have to leave her family and travel to England to become the Princess of Wales and eventually become the Queen of England.

    When she leaves her home to move to England she is out of place in a strange land with a strange language.  Arthur, Prince of Wales is not what she had expected and their relationship is off to a rocky start.  After some troubles and a fight for power between the young couple the fall madly in love with each other.  They are inseparable, yet no one knows this.  Arthur's Grandmother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, ran the Tudor court and told the young couple when they could be together.   This did not stop the young couple from being together and planing their future and the future kingdom.

   Arthur is stricken with an illness that ultimately takes his life, leaving Catalina alone in a strange land with nowhere to go and a deathbed promise to keep to her husband.  She must tell the ultimate lie and stick to it.  The battle over who gets to keep Catalina becomes quite petty.  King Henry VII does not want to send her back to Spain, due to her dowry not being paid in full and her parents seem to not want her home.  This little battle over where Catalina will end up is both a blessing and a curse for the young Princess.

   Catalina is forced to live in poverty by the King.  She sits in a little home with a small amount of ladies to care for her.  In this time she is trying to work out her plan to keep her promise to her late husband.  She was born to be the Queen of England and she is going to die trying, nothing will stop her from doing God's will.

    King Henry VII is left a widow and needs to take a new wife, when he comes up with a plan to keep the dowry owed by the Spanish and Catalina.  He plans to take her for his new wife, but this will not work for the young Princess.  She wants to be Queen of England, she was born to be Queen of England.  After some more time waiting in poverty, her chance finally comes.

   King Henry VII passes away and leave his second son, Henry, Prince of Wales, the throne.  King Henry VIII honors his betrothal to his brother's widow.  He marries Catalina, Infanta of Spain, making her the new Queen of England.

    Queen Katherine has a long road ahead of her, she must keep her young husband in line and she must produce a son.  Not only does she have these tasks ahead of her, she must also fight to make the England that she and Arthur had dreamed of.

   This was a fantastic read about Katherine, Queen of England, first wife of Henry VIII.  Many know how this history ends, Philippa Gregory gives us a little more on Katherine, Queen of England.  Katherine of Aragon was a strong woman, she was even stronger than we thought.  A must read for anyone interested in the Tudors.

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
 

   The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a must read.  This book is filled with strength, courage and the power to move people.  This book is powerful and will last for generations, this book will be a classic just like To Kill A Mockingbird.

   The three main women in this story tell the story and form the core.  Skeeter is an idealist white woman who has just come home from college.  She finds that her black maid, Constantine no longer employed at her house.  Skeeter is looking to find the truth about what happened to her.  Her best friend Hilly is the town socialite, who wants everyone to follow in her footsteps.

   Aibileen a loving black maid who works for one of Skeeter's friends.  Aibileen has a great big heart and loves the white child, Mae Mobley, she cares for.  The only thing that Aibileen wants more than anything is to teach love and have things be better for the children growing up.

   Minny is a black maid who used to work for Hilly's mother.  She is a smart mouth, back talking woman who would like to take on the world.  Minny loses her job, thanks to Hilly, she comes to work for Cecilia, a woman who apparently does not see the racial divide.

   Together these three women team up and write a book about what it is like for the help to work for white women.  Skeeter is the main person behind this project and it brings these three women together in a way that you could not imagine in Jackson, Mississippi in the 60's.   They also have some help writing the book from several other black maids who decide to tell their stories, both good and bad.  Risking their lives they write this book and form a unique bond.  Letting the secrets of the town come out for all the country to know.

  The Help is a must read for everyone.  It's funny, heart warming, and empowering.  I could read this book again and again.  Plus you might want to know about the "Minny Pie".

Daughter of York

Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith

   Daughter of York is another amazing story by Anne Easter Smith.  Anne Easter Smith does a wonderful job of telling the story of another of England's strong and intelligent women.  Daughter of York is the story of Margaret, the daughter of York and who becomes the Duchess of Burgundy.

   Margaret's story begins after her father was killed in battle, she wakes from a nightmare with her mother by her side.  That's where the nightmare of her life is about to begin as well.  She must learn to become the woman of the house and take on more responsibilities.  Her mother Cecily, from Queen by Right, guides her into the great women she will become. 

   Margaret's brother Edward becomes King of England and now holds Margaret's fate in his hands.  He promises to find her a wonderful husband but at the same time he has to do whats best for England.  After the first few years on the throne he decides to wed Margaret to the Duke of Burgundy.  Margaret must leave her family and leave England to sail to France.  Heartbroken and lost she finds herself far from home and friends.  She takes comfort in the few ladies sent with her to tend to her.  Her most beloved lady by her side.  

  Margret's life is full of strength and courage and the patience to guide those around her as well as her brother across the sea.  She faces love, heartache and disappointment along the way, yet stays strong.  Anne Easter Smith has done it again.  This book was another amazing read and again kept me reading to the very last page.