Seton researched the lives and times so well if you are studying british. Seton takes the real history of katherine swynford and her contemporaries, and wrestles from it a highly entertaining love story that is steeped in relevant historical detail. A great adventure, powerfully told philippa gregory a sumptuous tale of passion and danger in the medieval court, anya seton s katherine is an alltime classic. Katherine swynford is the subject of numerous novels, including anya setons katherine, published in 1954.
The story of john of gaunt and his scandalous duchess, is worth. When i was 12 my mother brought me the book katherine by anya seaton, some of it i did not understand, but the history of it was to me wonderful. Katherine is a 1954 historical novel by american author anya seton. Anya seton puts lots of romance in her novels and does it well. This book is both a spiritual coming of age tale and a hauntinglybeautiful love story.
Katherine swynford is the subject of numerous novels, including anya seton s katherine, published in 1954. Katherine swynford was a commoner, and portrayed as a bewitchingly ethereal beauty. Katherine swynford is one of the most remarkable women in history. Jan 01, 2000 katherine is an epic novel of a love affair that changed historythat of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster, the ancestors of most of the british royal family. The first edition of the novel was published in 1954, and was written by anya seton. The naive conventeducated orphan of a penniless knight is dazzled by the jousts and the entertainments of court. See more ideas about john of gaunt, plantagenet and british history. Anya seton was the pen name of ann seton chase, an american author of historical romances, or as she preferred they be called, biographical novels.
John of gaunts enduring relationship with his mistress, and later wife, katherine swynford is a passionate and sometimes turbulent medieval love story that anya seton brings to life in this book. After watching dragonwyck, we start imagining who would play who if setons famous novel was adapted to. A glorious example of romance in its most classic literary sense. Seton researched the lives and times so well if you are studying british history this book will give you a wonderful context for understanding the tones and textures of chaucers england. Katherine swynford, duchess of scandal history the. The story of john of gaunt and his scandalous duchess alison weir. I read anya seatons book about catherine swynford many years ago. Having read anya seton s book katherine and being fascinated by the life of john of gaunt, i was eager to read alison weirs book about katherine swynford. While weirs book does not have the intimacy of katherine, by anya seton, it is more accurate.
Katherine by anya seton 1991, hardcover, reprint for. Historical tapestry casting suggestions for katherine during our anya seton season. Written in 1954 it predates much of the modern popularity for historical fiction but can easily hold its own against any modern author of this genre. It is commonly regarded as a prime example of historical fiction, and has been continuously in print since its publication date. I first read katherine by anya seton when i was and it still works its magic on me. Jun 20, 2010 historical tapestry casting suggestions for katherine during our anya seton season. Katherine swynford was the governess of the children of john of gaunt, then his mistress, and finally his wife. I was not aware that joan of kent was buried in stamford, in. In 2003, katherine was ranked 95 in the bbcs big read survey of britains bestloved novels. Katherine swynford from mistress to duchess history of. Anya seton wrote some other good books, but make no mistake this is her masterpiece. Summary set in chaucers england, where knights still adhere to courtly love for their ladies fair, and squires serve their beloved masters with unparalleled faithfulness, katherine depicts the story of.
Not just an oldfashioned love story, it is an emotional assertion of the self and a vivid exploration of the individual experience of its heroine. Having been raised in lincolnshire i have seen her tomb in lincoln cathedral. She never puts in any false history for the sake of the story. However, i was disappointed, not by the massive amount of research the author put into her subject, but by the fact that i finished the book feeling i knew little more about katherine. Katherine comes to the court of edward iii at the age of fifteen. This classic romance novel tells the true story of the love affair that changed history that of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster, the ancestors of most of the british royal family. Shes a trustworthy authoress and youll be perfectly safe in her hands. Anya seton 19041990 was the author of many bestselling historical novels, including the winthrop woman, avalon, dragonwyck, green darkness, devil water, and foxfire. John of gaunt and katherine swynford, chaucers sisterinlaw, fall in love in the 14th century. The book was published in multiple languages including english.
All the kings and queens of england since her time have descended from john of gaunt. The life of katherine swynford, duchess of lancaster, alison weir tells the true tale of katherine swynword. The story of john of gaunt and his scandalous duchess, is worth reading. Having read anya setons book katherine and being fascinated by the life of john of gaunt, i was eager to read alison weirs book about katherine swynford. See more ideas about history, john of gaunt and british history. I was completely invested in katherine and john of gaunt as historical characters and as individual people. Katherine, the story of katherine swynford, the mistress and eventual wife of john of gaunt. Katherine is set in the time of edward iii and gives an excellent background for the lead up to the war of the roses. The story of john of gaunt and his scandalous duchess isbn 0224063219 and jeannette lucrafts historical biography katherine. Katherine by anya seton book 95 this classic novel tells the most romantic love story in british history the true tale of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster. John of gaunt was a son of king edward iii of england.
Katherine swynford is a women from history that is often overlooked but this book puts her right at the centre and what a wonderful read it is as a result. The third reason why we should be cautious in accepting anya setons portrayal of katherine swynford as historically accurate is that katherine is essentially a romantic novel in the classic sense. Free download or read online katherine pdf epub book. I write what i write, historical romance set around the court of edward iii, because. Anya seton 1904 1990 was the author of many bestselling. Setons book brings the characters and period to life and weirs sorts out fact from fiction and delves into the. Katherine swynford, alison weir girl with her head in a book.
Katherine was voted into the top 100 in the bbcs the big read in 2003, and its popularity is such that, on the sign by katherine swynford s tomb in lincoln cathedral, it says this is katherine, of anya seton s popular historical book. Seton stated that the book developed out of her love. Seton stated that the book developed out of her love for northumberland. Jul 21, 2012 i have read both, along with jeannette lucrafts katherine swynford. Swynford is also the subject of nonfiction work, such as alison weir s 2008 biography katherine swynford. Katherine by anya seton meet your next favorite book. Jan 22, 2020 katherine swynford was, through the children she had with john of gaunt before their marriage, an ancestor of the beaufort family, key players in such british historical events as the wars of the roses and the rise of the tudors. This classic romance novel tells the true story of the love affair that changed historythat of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke. Katherine by anya seton book 95 this classic novel tells the most romantic love story in british history the true tale of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster, the ancestors of much of the british royal family. Anya seton 1904 1990 was the author of many bestselling historical novels, including the winthrop woman, avalon, dragonwyck, green darkness, devil water, and foxfire. But during that same period, she also wrote a littleknown shorter novel entitled the mistletoe and sword. Katherine swynford scandalous simplified history 50. I cannot imagine how someone could find the story of katherine swynford and john of gaunt boring. I am 78 now and reading your page was like opening a door on my past.
The cathedral library holds annual katherine swynford study days that are regularly sold out. Jun 06, 2017 in 2008 weir wrote her own biography of katherine. Set in the vibrant fourteenth century of chaucer and the black death, the story features knights fighting in battle, serfs struggling in poverty, and the. Anya setons vivid rendering of the lives of the duke and duchess of lancaster makes katherine an unmistakable classic. I was totally loving the classic prose of anya seton, and winged through the first half of the book as katherine became the loving mistress to john of gaunt, and thus the famous ancestor of.
Not only was this an enjoyable read, but i also learned a great deal about 14th century british society. Anya seton, author of the bestselling katherine and the winthrop woman, was at her peak when she penned those two novels in the mid1950s. Katherine is the subject of a famous historical fiction book of the same name by anya seton, and here shes the subject of a scholarly biography. Katherine is an epic novel of a love affair that changed historythat of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster, the ancestors of most of the british royal family.
Katharine swynford is the girl who married a prince and started not just one dynasty the tudors but a legacy. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 500 pages and is available in paperback format. It tells the story of the historically important, 14thcentury love affair in england between the eponymous katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster, the third surviving son of king edward iii. Set during a number of historical events such as the the peasants revolt, it is well written and researched and gives a good background to these. I visited katherine s grave in lincoln and atop the marble effigy was the note, this is the katherine of anya seton s book katherine. Anya seton katherine pdf may 11, 2020 while in a very silly mood nearly a decade ago, myself and a friend bought katherine by anya seton for 75p from a market stall because we. I must have read katharine by anya seton 56 times the last being a couple of years ago. This classic romance novel tells the true story of the love affair that changed historythat of katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of lancaster, the. After watching dragonwyck, we start imagining who would play who if seton s famous novel was adapted to the screen. I write what i write, historical romance set around the court of edward iii, because of anya setons book, so there is no question it is among my all time favorites. Katherine is based on the true story of katherine swynford and john of gaunt from 14th century england. John, a younger son of king edward iii, was one of the richest and most powerful men of his day. Pdf katherine book by anya seton free download 500 pages. I have read both, along with jeannette lucrafts katherine swynford.
I visited katherines grave in lincoln and atop the marble effigy was the note, this is the katherine of anya setons book katherine. Anya seton s vivid rendering of the lives of the duke and duchess of lancaster makes katherine an unmistakable classic. Apr 03, 2008 movie trailerstyle treatment of anya seton s classic novel. Anya seton wrote two historical novels with english settings. Within this era of danger and romance, john of gaunt, the kings son, falls passionately in love with the already married katherine. Aug 15, 20 i was totally loving the classic prose of anya seton, and winged through the first half of the book as katherine became the loving mistress to john of gaunt, and thus the famous ancestor of many of the royal line. She is ancestor to both sides of the war of the roses and managed to survive and thrive in a mans world.
Anya seton 19041990 was the author of many bestselling historical novels. I was impressed by alison weirs book,but i always return to my first love and read it over and over. First read katherine by anya seton 30 years ago,and instantly fell in love with the bookand with john of gaunt. Katherine swynford was also sisterinlaw to geoffrey chaucer. Katherine was voted into the top 100 in the bbcs the big read in 2003, and its popularity is such that, on the sign by katherine swynfords tomb in lincoln cathedral, it says this is katherine, of anya. Swynford is also the subject of nonfiction work, such as alison weirs 2008 biography katherine. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are katherine swynford, edward iii of england. Mar, 2006 katherine swynford is a women from history that is often overlooked but this book puts her right at the centre and what a wonderful read it is as a result. Katherine was well researched and told for a historical novel, but this book goes far deeper. She was an ancestor of henry vii, the first tudor king. Their affair persists through decades of war, adultery, murder, loneliness. I was not aware that joan of kent was buried in stamford, in the tomb of thomas holland, although there is nothing left in the present day.
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