Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Chicago Review Press (2004), Paperback, 512 pages
Description
Katherine is an epic novel of a 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. Set in the vibrant 14th century of Chaucer and the Black Death, the story features knights fighting in battle, serfs struggling in poverty, and the magnificent Plantagenets - Edward III, the Black Prince, and Richard II - who rule despotically over a court rotten with intrigue. Within this era of danger and romance, John of Gaunt, the king's son, falls passionately in love with the already-married Katherine. Their affair persists through decades of war, adultery, murder, loneliness, and redemption. Anya Seton's vivid rendering of the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Lancaster makes Katherine an unmistakable classic.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I'd long seen this novel, published in 1954, mentioned as one of the great classic works of historical romance in the same breath as books such as Gone With the Wind, Forever Amber and The Far Pavilions and it's based on a true 14th century romance.
It took me a while to get into the book for
What kept me reading though was the picture of the medieval world which was vivid, well-detailed and seemed well-researched. I reveled in being taken to a a tourney and inside a medieval manor with its trestle tables, a leaking thatched roof with rushes on the floor. Eventually--I can even pinpoint where, the scene right after Katherine first gives birth--the love story took fire for me. From plague to peasant revolt, and portraits of figures such as Alice Perrers, Julian of Norwich, John Wycliffe, Wat Tyler and Geoffrey Chaucer, the novel offered up a fascinating historical tapestry. I did wind up totally absorbed in the story and sorry when it was over.
It took me a while to get into the book for
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several reasons. First, the book is written in omniscient, and it bounces between points of views incessantly. I've read writers who can do this expertly and so smoothly you hardly notice--such as Jane Austen, Michael Chabon and Alice Hoffman (and Margaret Mitchell for that matter.) I don't feel Seton is one of them. Points of view were sometimes changed even within paragraphs, which can be confusing, and I didn't settle inside Katherine's head early on enough to get immediately invested. And it seemed at first a rather empty head for the sister-in-law of Chaucer, a commoner who gained the passionate love of a great prince, John of Gaunt, who was a son of Edward III. However, when the novel begins, Katherine is a naive fifteen-year-old coming to court straight from the convent where she was raised. But I also found the way John of Gaunt was portrayed in the beginning rather off-putting as well. He at first feels this instinctive dislike for Katherine because she resembles his wet-nurse, a take hit on again and again in the book I found tiresome. The prose at times seemed stilted. What kept me reading though was the picture of the medieval world which was vivid, well-detailed and seemed well-researched. I reveled in being taken to a a tourney and inside a medieval manor with its trestle tables, a leaking thatched roof with rushes on the floor. Eventually--I can even pinpoint where, the scene right after Katherine first gives birth--the love story took fire for me. From plague to peasant revolt, and portraits of figures such as Alice Perrers, Julian of Norwich, John Wycliffe, Wat Tyler and Geoffrey Chaucer, the novel offered up a fascinating historical tapestry. I did wind up totally absorbed in the story and sorry when it was over.
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LibraryThing member knotbox
“I only know that from wherever it is that we're going there can be no turning back.”
It is absolutely astounding to me that this hasn’t been made into a mini-series yet. It’s a fact that because of Katherine and her illegitimate children, the House of York (and Henry VII) and the Tudors
But for those of you who haven’t come for a summary of Who Dated Who: 1366, you’ll be pleased to hear that this novel is the most romantic biographical story I’ve ever read. It goes beyond the Bildungsroman, carrying us into Katherine’s late life, her time apart from her love and briefly touches on everyone she knew and encountered. If you’re a fan of historical fiction (romantic or otherwise) this is such a great book to read.
It’s only show of being dated is the (wonderfully) chaste descriptions of Katherine’s young passion and consequently of her (what else can you call it?) rape. The other is the dancing around of Richard II’s rumored homosexuality. All other rumors are given life, and considering how close she came to this infamous king... but it’s not important enough to the story in the end.
A little tedious was when the Young Katherine is looked upon with desire by every man she comes across, they all lust for her, in a mild way, and see the purity and innocence in her appearance. It is finally trumped when she meets a man, one whom many would scorn and shun for his appearance, that she knows what it is to be looked at with love by a man who does not desire her. In this same segment, where we meet Lady Julian, a woman who, like St. Hildegard von Bingen was, has not been officially canonized, but is still venerated as a saint. The religious aspects of this novel are well placed and wrought with care for the rest of the novel. As important as religion was then, and how pervasive it was, it cannot be for nought that Katherine’s growth happens with the aid of priests and monks, saints and nuns. Equally so for the revolts of the Lollards and the heretics; the demands of an unruly bourgeois who despise the wanton greed of the bishops and cardinals; this was also the time of the schism of the church, where there were two popes in the world.
Phillipa Gregory (famously the author of several novels about the medieval british royals) gives this book a very pointed introduction on the differences of romance fiction and historical fiction. While this book bears a resemblance to the stories of Tristan and Iseult, Arthur and Guinevere, her point is valid, Katherine’s life, while not shaping landscapes directly, mostly of childrearing and observation, did have a marked impact on British history. She’s often strongly admonished in the classic history texts, her role as paramour and later the First Lady of England, has her brandished as an interloper as notorious as Alice Perrers.
These contrasts of intent, greed versus love, and marriage versus love, are common to historical as well as medieval contemporary stories that explore a world obsessed with true love and empires built by men. The violence that intersperses the sanity and the abandon that pierces through the pious times without plague frame the troubles of Katherine’s life, even this fictionalized account of it. She lives long and sees much, and enjoys the width and breadth of what her world had to offer, even as unhappy as some of it was. I know that much of Katherine’s life is unknown, but there is something very noble about this woman nonetheless, her life is important, even if we don’t know the half of it.
Kudos to Geoffrey Chaucer, by the way, for writing absolutely nothing about his sister-in-law.
I can't believe I haven't said anything about the fantastic narration! Looking over lines of passages from the book, it sounds so much more classical and stodgy than it did when read by the lovely and talented Wanda McCaddon. She's apparently narrated a couple other classics, historicals and romances: I'm on it!
500pp. Fawcett Crest Books. 1954.
23:43. Tantor Media. 25 Mar. 2011.
It is absolutely astounding to me that this hasn’t been made into a mini-series yet. It’s a fact that because of Katherine and her illegitimate children, the House of York (and Henry VII) and the Tudors
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and the Stuarts are not only all Plantagenets but Lancasters as well. So much for the fall of the house of Lancaster!But for those of you who haven’t come for a summary of Who Dated Who: 1366, you’ll be pleased to hear that this novel is the most romantic biographical story I’ve ever read. It goes beyond the Bildungsroman, carrying us into Katherine’s late life, her time apart from her love and briefly touches on everyone she knew and encountered. If you’re a fan of historical fiction (romantic or otherwise) this is such a great book to read.
It’s only show of being dated is the (wonderfully) chaste descriptions of Katherine’s young passion and consequently of her (what else can you call it?) rape. The other is the dancing around of Richard II’s rumored homosexuality. All other rumors are given life, and considering how close she came to this infamous king... but it’s not important enough to the story in the end.
A little tedious was when the Young Katherine is looked upon with desire by every man she comes across, they all lust for her, in a mild way, and see the purity and innocence in her appearance. It is finally trumped when she meets a man, one whom many would scorn and shun for his appearance, that she knows what it is to be looked at with love by a man who does not desire her. In this same segment, where we meet Lady Julian, a woman who, like St. Hildegard von Bingen was, has not been officially canonized, but is still venerated as a saint. The religious aspects of this novel are well placed and wrought with care for the rest of the novel. As important as religion was then, and how pervasive it was, it cannot be for nought that Katherine’s growth happens with the aid of priests and monks, saints and nuns. Equally so for the revolts of the Lollards and the heretics; the demands of an unruly bourgeois who despise the wanton greed of the bishops and cardinals; this was also the time of the schism of the church, where there were two popes in the world.
Phillipa Gregory (famously the author of several novels about the medieval british royals) gives this book a very pointed introduction on the differences of romance fiction and historical fiction. While this book bears a resemblance to the stories of Tristan and Iseult, Arthur and Guinevere, her point is valid, Katherine’s life, while not shaping landscapes directly, mostly of childrearing and observation, did have a marked impact on British history. She’s often strongly admonished in the classic history texts, her role as paramour and later the First Lady of England, has her brandished as an interloper as notorious as Alice Perrers.
These contrasts of intent, greed versus love, and marriage versus love, are common to historical as well as medieval contemporary stories that explore a world obsessed with true love and empires built by men. The violence that intersperses the sanity and the abandon that pierces through the pious times without plague frame the troubles of Katherine’s life, even this fictionalized account of it. She lives long and sees much, and enjoys the width and breadth of what her world had to offer, even as unhappy as some of it was. I know that much of Katherine’s life is unknown, but there is something very noble about this woman nonetheless, her life is important, even if we don’t know the half of it.
Kudos to Geoffrey Chaucer, by the way, for writing absolutely nothing about his sister-in-law.
I can't believe I haven't said anything about the fantastic narration! Looking over lines of passages from the book, it sounds so much more classical and stodgy than it did when read by the lovely and talented Wanda McCaddon. She's apparently narrated a couple other classics, historicals and romances: I'm on it!
500pp. Fawcett Crest Books. 1954.
23:43. Tantor Media. 25 Mar. 2011.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Katherine by Anya Seton tells of the extraordinary life of Katherine Swynford (1350 - 1403), who rose from being a daughter of a lesser knight to become one of the leading ladies of the land. She was married at 15 to Sir Guy Swynford and upon his death was involved with John of Gaunt, the third son
Sticking fairly close to the historical facts that are known about these times, the author has presented a story of a remarkable woman who springs to life as the story progresses. A survivor herself of the plague, this terrible disease plays an important part in her story as again and again it erupted. She herself nursed John of Gaunt’s first wife when she was stricken and died from the disease.
I had previously read Katherine when I was much younger so I opted to listen to an audio version of this story as delivered by Wanda McCaddon. This was a great choice for me as this reader did a fantastic job and I was totally absorbed for the full 23 hours and 44 minutes of the story. And what a story! Jousts, wars, disease, revolts, pilgrimages along with a love story that goes through many changes in their years together. From the first passionate kiss, to years of separation, to the gentle companionship that developed in their later years these two appear to have been meant for each other. John of Gaunt was not an easy man to love, but Katherine was one of the very few people that he gave his full trust to and he was rewarded by her steadfast love. Anya Seton is a master at historical fiction and Katherine may well be her finest work, reading this book again was a great reading experience.
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of the Plantagenet King, Edward III, and bore him four children. Upon the death of John’s second wife, although they were now into their forties, John married Katherine, making her the Duchess of Lancaster. Their children were legitimized and both Kings Edward IV and Richard III from the House of Lancaster as well as Henry VII from the Tudor line were descendants. Another interesting occurrence was the marriage of her sister to Geoffrey Chaucer, who became both a friend and a confidant of Katherine’s.Sticking fairly close to the historical facts that are known about these times, the author has presented a story of a remarkable woman who springs to life as the story progresses. A survivor herself of the plague, this terrible disease plays an important part in her story as again and again it erupted. She herself nursed John of Gaunt’s first wife when she was stricken and died from the disease.
I had previously read Katherine when I was much younger so I opted to listen to an audio version of this story as delivered by Wanda McCaddon. This was a great choice for me as this reader did a fantastic job and I was totally absorbed for the full 23 hours and 44 minutes of the story. And what a story! Jousts, wars, disease, revolts, pilgrimages along with a love story that goes through many changes in their years together. From the first passionate kiss, to years of separation, to the gentle companionship that developed in their later years these two appear to have been meant for each other. John of Gaunt was not an easy man to love, but Katherine was one of the very few people that he gave his full trust to and he was rewarded by her steadfast love. Anya Seton is a master at historical fiction and Katherine may well be her finest work, reading this book again was a great reading experience.
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LibraryThing member OneMoreChapter
One of the best books I've ever read. I wish I could read it fresh all over again. Truly deserving of the word "classic."
LibraryThing member KatySilbs
Katherine Swynford life's is interesting, in part, because of her notable descendants; Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Edward IV, Catherine Parr, etc. She was also the sister-in-law of Geoffrey Chaucer. One gets a sense, as well, of some of the issues in the War of the Roses, with its roots
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essentially set down by Edward III. The few facts known about Katherine provide a wonderful outline for a capable author to embroider upon. Seton does a credible job of it. Written in 1952 before the era of the short attention span, the book explores each stage of Swyford's life. Seton had good historical knowledge of the period and used it to provide texture and context of the overall story. I enjoyed reading this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member feeling.is.first
Katherine by Anya Seton is gateway historical fiction/romance for many avid readers, myself included. As a young teenager, I devoured this book [did I read it a dozen times?]. It's been a few years since I re-read Katherine, and perhaps the writing would not stand up to my matured judgement. All of
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my understanding of the chronologies and relationships of the royal houses of England come from reading books like Katherine. The passionate relationships provided momentum to understanding feudalism, the complex alliances and relationships, and the triggering events of history. Show Less
LibraryThing member BobH1
Like other reviewers, I read this as a youngster, borrowing it from my brother. Until now, if I'd been asked to list my top 25 books, Katherine would have been on the list. I was fascinated by the story, by the history, by the people - people who are beacons of English history, Chaucer, John o'
When I saw it as a paperback as a "BBC Big Read", I thought I must have it in my own library and re-read it. It’s a handsome volume but a disappointing re-read. It has not aged well, being a bit stilted and with awkward prose, one that comes to mind and can be found easily – its on the penultimate page:
“- I don’t know - Katherine; I have a foreboding – there’s danger ahead.” … “It may be so, darling,” she said slowly … “there was no promise that we would not be tempested and travailed …”
There’s only so much of that I can take, and its less than 580 pages. Sorry Katherine, I’ve much to be grateful to you for, but you’ve dropped off my “all time top” list.
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Gaunt, the Beauforts. It’s the book that made me interested in history. When I saw it as a paperback as a "BBC Big Read", I thought I must have it in my own library and re-read it. It’s a handsome volume but a disappointing re-read. It has not aged well, being a bit stilted and with awkward prose, one that comes to mind and can be found easily – its on the penultimate page:
“- I don’t know - Katherine; I have a foreboding – there’s danger ahead.” … “It may be so, darling,” she said slowly … “there was no promise that we would not be tempested and travailed …”
There’s only so much of that I can take, and its less than 580 pages. Sorry Katherine, I’ve much to be grateful to you for, but you’ve dropped off my “all time top” list.
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LibraryThing member Kasthu
This book is more than just a good romance. It is an all-time classic. I am a younger reader, and so I don't have fond memories of the first time this book came out; but I'm glad that they brought Katherine back into print. It is one of those books that all lovers of historical fiction should read,
The story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt is set against a backdrop of chivalry and heroic adventure during the 14th century. I thoroughly loved this novel; there are parts of it that still stay with me two months after reading it. Whenever I read historical fiction, I always look to see whether the author has done her research- Anya Seton most definitely did hers.
I decided it doesn't matter whether or not you love the heroes of this book- they were real people, and that's what makes this book so much more vibrant. Thats what I loved most- I felt that I actually knew these characters, had actually sat down at a meal with Katherine Swynford or gone hunting with Prince John. The author Geoffrey Chaucer has become mythical in the annals of English literature; however here he becomes humanized, a real person with a wife and children of his own. I was absolutely amazed by it.
Another great thing about this book is that the author never mentions what will happen in the future for these people (even though she, and the reader, obviously know). Anya Seton simply let the story take itself along. For example, at the end of Katherine, Richard III is a little boy, newly crowned king. Even though historians have protrayed him as a tyrant, Seton never lets on that this is what, in fact, he will become. Richard seems like a lost, lonely little boy trying to fill shoes that are too big for him.
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not simply for the history, but because this is an elegantly crafted novel; unarguably one of the very best I've read in a long time. This novel is a great introduction to the works of Anya Seton.The story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt is set against a backdrop of chivalry and heroic adventure during the 14th century. I thoroughly loved this novel; there are parts of it that still stay with me two months after reading it. Whenever I read historical fiction, I always look to see whether the author has done her research- Anya Seton most definitely did hers.
I decided it doesn't matter whether or not you love the heroes of this book- they were real people, and that's what makes this book so much more vibrant. Thats what I loved most- I felt that I actually knew these characters, had actually sat down at a meal with Katherine Swynford or gone hunting with Prince John. The author Geoffrey Chaucer has become mythical in the annals of English literature; however here he becomes humanized, a real person with a wife and children of his own. I was absolutely amazed by it.
Another great thing about this book is that the author never mentions what will happen in the future for these people (even though she, and the reader, obviously know). Anya Seton simply let the story take itself along. For example, at the end of Katherine, Richard III is a little boy, newly crowned king. Even though historians have protrayed him as a tyrant, Seton never lets on that this is what, in fact, he will become. Richard seems like a lost, lonely little boy trying to fill shoes that are too big for him.
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LibraryThing member Smiler69
The Katherine of the title is Katherine Swynford (1350-1403), an important figure in English history as she is the ancestress of many royal figures, and also, incidentally, sister-in-law to Geoffrey Chaucer, who married her sister Philippa. There are few known facts about what kind of woman
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Katherine was, which gave Seton plenty of leeway to turn her into a beautiful, strong-willed woman. Married off at a young age to a knight she actively disliked, she nonetheless caught the eye of John of Gaunt, of the House of Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Lancaster, the third son of King Edward III. They were lovers over a great number of years and had 4 bastard children, named Beaufort, and eventually married in 1396, three years before the passing of the duke. While their relationship is at the heart of the novel, it is much more than a romance novel, as Seton does a wonderful job of bringing the 14th century vividly to life with rich detail, and putting the story firmly in the context of important historical events. Strongly recommended for fans of historical fiction. I listened to the audio version which is very well narrated by Wanda McCaddon, aka Nadia May. Show Less
LibraryThing member misticat57
One of my favorite books of all time! I noticed another review where someone else claimed Katherine as an ancestress...me too. It was fascinating to read about her knowing that I am a descendent.
LibraryThing member lindymc
Love story of Katherine Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt, a son of King Edward III.
After being widowed, Katherine becomes his mistress and bears him several children. Eventualy she becomes his third wife, their children are legitimized, and become the ancestors of the Tudor royal line.
This
Interesting side note: Geoffrey Chaucer was married to Katherine's sister, Philippa.
After being widowed, Katherine becomes his mistress and bears him several children. Eventualy she becomes his third wife, their children are legitimized, and become the ancestors of the Tudor royal line.
This
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period of English history includes the Black Death, the Peasants' Revolt, and the intrigues and in-fighting among the uncles of the young king Richard II.Interesting side note: Geoffrey Chaucer was married to Katherine's sister, Philippa.
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LibraryThing member LibraryLou
A wonderful book about a young girl coming to court and finding her place there. A really good read, and now up there with my favourite books.
LibraryThing member aeolvey
Loved it! I couldn't put this one down until I had finished it!
LibraryThing member diwms
I LOVE THIS BOOK. I have read it several times over the last 30 years and can truthfully call it my favorite book.
LibraryThing member jwelch
I first read this book when I was eleven and it started my passion for the medieval world.
LibraryThing member minntown3
This dear lady was one of my ancestors. Anya Seton does a marvelous job making us know Katherine so well.
LibraryThing member bollix
Well-written with compelling characters.
LibraryThing member sarams
An interesting tale, with a lovely romance. That being said, I thought it excellent that Katherine stayed true to her first husband until his death. It gave some insights to the role of women in this period. And unlike the traditional romance, this book followed Katherine through most of her life,
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in ups and downs. Show Less
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
Well researched, well written, a great piece of historical literature. Though it's a romance, it's not drippy or soppy, and it has enhanced my knowledge of history in a way a textbok could never have done.
LibraryThing member amerynth
I'll say right off the bat, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, especially about the British royals like the Plantagenets (since there is such rich and interesting history -- were any of the men not huge letches? -- to make the actual stories very interesting.) All that said, I did mostly
The novel is loosely based on the life of Katherine Swynford, a commoner who catches the eye of John of Gaunt, whose father and nephew were king of England. Standing between them is John's marriage to the queen of Castille (and Katherine's marriage to Hugh Synwford too.) They carried on with their affair anyway and Katherine bore John four children, starting the Beaufort line that would eventually become the Tudors when they sat upon the throne of England.
There isn't a whole lot known about Katherine herself (in fact, I was led to this book by Alison Weir's nonfiction book about Swynford, which relies on scant evidence like household records to recreate her life story.) Seton does a good job of giving Katherine an interesting and complex character, who makes missteps, doubts herself and behaves in a realistic sort of way.
Seton's prose is often overwrought and she occasionally gets quite bogged down in the details of 14th century life (or at least how she imagined it to be.) Despite that, she creates a story with enough charm and intrigue to keep it interesting most of the way through.
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enjoy Anya Seton's "Katherine."The novel is loosely based on the life of Katherine Swynford, a commoner who catches the eye of John of Gaunt, whose father and nephew were king of England. Standing between them is John's marriage to the queen of Castille (and Katherine's marriage to Hugh Synwford too.) They carried on with their affair anyway and Katherine bore John four children, starting the Beaufort line that would eventually become the Tudors when they sat upon the throne of England.
There isn't a whole lot known about Katherine herself (in fact, I was led to this book by Alison Weir's nonfiction book about Swynford, which relies on scant evidence like household records to recreate her life story.) Seton does a good job of giving Katherine an interesting and complex character, who makes missteps, doubts herself and behaves in a realistic sort of way.
Seton's prose is often overwrought and she occasionally gets quite bogged down in the details of 14th century life (or at least how she imagined it to be.) Despite that, she creates a story with enough charm and intrigue to keep it interesting most of the way through.
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LibraryThing member cannelle777
This is a wonderful beautifully written and historically informative love story. I'm happy I purchased the paperback so I could read along with the audio version when necessary. The narration was choppy and had many distracting background noises that disrupted the beauty of this descriptive tale of
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14th century trial, longing, angst, joy and love between Katherine Swynford and the Duke of Lancaster. Show Less
LibraryThing member rbtwinky
What an enjoyable book! Seton masterfully transported me to 14th century England and kindled my interest in a part of British history about which I had known nothing. What more can one ask of historical fiction? Engaging characters and a page-turner story? Check! The love story came across a bit
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over-romantic, albeit plausible. It's so much more likely that the relationship was fraught with politics and power alla Alice Perrers. Still, the romanticism didn't mar my enjoyment of the immersive setting nor did it seem to affect Seton's portrayal of the happenings of the late 14th century. I've been dreaming in medieval England for days. Show Less
LibraryThing member annbury
A really terrific historical novel. The setting, 14th century England, is vividly recreated, and the story is compelling. I loved this when I first read it, and I love it still.
LibraryThing member mh525
Kaherine Swynford and John of Gaunt's relationship is the central plot.
LibraryThing member nkmunn
A pleasure to read. Evenings and even some mornings spent with this book were a treat.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1954
Physical description
500 p.; 8.33 inches
ISBN
155652532X / 9781556525322
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