The story of john of gaunt and his scandalous duchess reprint by weir, alison isbn. Katherine s mother died in childbirth and her father, shortly after being knighted, was killed in battle. Speaking of anya setons novel about katherine swynford, who was famous as the mistress and later the wife of john of gaunt, weir says it still inspires and moves her and now she has published her own book exposing the scandalous story. Hodder have repackaged anya setons classic under their hodder great reads imprint, and what better choice. In 66, katherine swynford travels to the court of edward iii to be married. Arms of katherine swynford katherine swynford is, arguably, the most famous or infamous of english ladies to have risen so high as to become the first lady of the kingdom, without ever being queen. Katherine, published in 1954 and never since out of print, tells the story of katherine swynford, the mistress and later. She is ancestor to both sides of the war of the roses and managed to survive and thrive in a mans world. This is of course a very fine and entertaining story. A novel rediscovered classics by anya seton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The descendants of katherine swynford and john of gaunt are significant in english and scottish history. Katherine rediscovered classics by anya seton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I have read many books on the war of the roses, usually from a yorkist stand point. 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 had heard it was a rude book and we were teenagers having a silly moment.
In 2003, katherine was ranked 95 in the bbcs big read survey of britains bestloved novels. The story of katherine swynford and john of gaunt is true love that actually happened, how more romantic can you get. She is a very fine writer with excellent attention to detail and historical accuracy, as well the ability to make the characters come vividly alive. Anya setons vivid rendering of the lives of the duke and duchess of lancaster makes katherine an unmistakable classic. Katherine swynford is one of the most remarkable women in history. Katherine by anya seton is the story of katherine roet. I was impressed by alison weirs book,but i always return to my first love and read it over and over. This assignment is both an absolute joy and something of a challenge. Love in the time of green darkness dont judge anya setons reissued biofics by their romance and bad covers. Set in the vibrant 14th century of chaucer and the black death, the story features.
Katherine is a classic, high quality historical romance, in a class with gone with the wind, which i first read a couple of years later, and the diana gabaldon books. Katherine swynford from mistress to duchess history of. 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. Published over fifty years ago, katherine is one of setons most significant works. The naive conventeducated orphan of a penniless knight is dazzled by the jousts and the entertainments of court. Read katherine swynford the story of john of gaunt and his scandalous duchess by alison weir available from rakuten kobo. It will have a general appearance commensurate with its age including age effects to page edges, binding and boards. Katherine swynford scandalous simplified history 50 1403 duration. It tells the story of the historically important, 14thcentury love affair in england between the eponymous katherine swynford and john of gaunt. Anya seton puts lots of romance in her novels and does it well. It is commonly regarded as a prime example of historical fiction, and has been continuously in print since its publication date. It is my favorite book and it can be reread over and over again and still have the same effect on you.
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. Jul 21, 2012 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 had heard it was a rude book and we were teenagers having a silly moment. Kimberlys mention of the plans to film katherine fascinates me. In 2003, katherine was chosen as the 95th best british novel of all time in a nationwide poll conducted by the bbc. Mar, 2006 a great adventure, powerfully told philippa gregory a sumptuous tale of passion and danger in the medieval court, anya setons katherine is an alltime classic. Anya seton s increasingly rare classic historical novel, still as popular today as when it first appeared. I am 78 now and reading your page was like opening a door on my past. Jun 06, 2017 in 2008 weir wrote her own biography of katherine. Katherine, published in 1954 and never since out of print, tells the story of katherine swynford, the mistress and later the wife of john of gaunt, the third son of edward. It let to over a years study in college and two semesters of chaucer.
Anya setons increasingly rare classic historical novel, still as popular today as when it first appeared. Reprint society, 1956 the story of a love affair between katherine swynford and john of gaunt, duke of. Seton published her first novel, my theodosia, in 1941. The rough plot outline for both books is roughly similar, given that they both deal with the same principal characters. 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. Jan 22, 2020 john of gaunt was a son of king edward iii of england. It was published 58 years ago, but could have been published in 2010. Katherine by anya seton and a great selection of related books.
The story covers her life from the year 66 through 96, her forced marriage to sir hugh swynford, and her enduring love affair with john of gaunt, the powerful duke of lancaster. Her story is fascinating, but i must say that anya setons popular novel katherine is a more satisfying read, for all its inaccuracies. Seton takes the real history of katherine swynford and her contemporaries, and wrestles from it a highly entertaining love story that is steeped in. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Katherine, named after its title character katherine swynford, first intrigued me because of its fourteenth century setting. First read katherine by anya seton 30 years ago,and instantly fell in love with the bookand with john of gaunt. Jan 01, 2000 a glorious example of romance in its most classic literary sense. She was an ancestor of henry vii, the first tudor king. Katherine swynford was the governess of the children of john of gaunt, then his mistress, and finally his wife.
Back then it was their equivalent of fifty shades, but by contemporary standards its pretty buttoned up and prim. Sep 29, 2006 love in the time of green darkness dont judge anya setons reissued biofics by their romance and bad covers by margaret moser, fri. Anya seton 1904 1990 was the author of many bestselling historical novels, including the winthrop woman, avalon, dragonwyck, green darkness, devil water, and foxfire. As seton pointed out in her authors note, historical interest in katherine. Beginning almost exactly where my book i serve leaves off, it tells the story of the woman destined to be the ancestress of the tudor family. I understand that even today her books are much in demand and tend to fly off the shelves at used book stores. She also wrote the winthrop woman about puritan new england and heavily influenced sharon kay penman whose here be dragons trilogy and henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine books are some of the best early england historical novels ever written. Prolific author anya seton fictionalizes katherine and her relationship with john in the 1954 whether dramatic or not, having a mistress was commonplace and often changed the course of history. Originally published in 1954, it has become an urtext. Although this book covers a different time period, it is written by the same author and has her great attention to detail, authentic historical facts and a wonderful story. Casting suggestions from the katherine swynford yahoo group for the novel katherine by anya. She never puts in any false history for the sake of the story.
Setons book brings the characters and period to life and weirs sorts out fact from fiction and delves into the. Katherine arrives at the english court through the offices of the queen and is soon married to hugh, duke of swynford, a smallminded, brutal man who offers the dowryless girl the cachet of title. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 500 pages and is available in paperback format. A glorious example of romance in its most classic literary sense. Their four children had been given the surname beaufort and with the approval of king richard and the pope were legitimated as adults by their parents marriage in 93. 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 life of katherine swynford, duchess of lancaster has just hit the bookstores. The classic love story of medieval england by anya.
Anya setons katherine the life of katherine swynford. Pdf katherine book by anya seton free download 500 pages. Katherine is set in the time of edward iii and gives an excellent background for the lead up to the war of the roses. Austin chroniclekatherine 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading katherine. Her novel devil water concerns james, the luckless earl of derwentwater and his involvement with the jacobite rising of 1715. Katherine is anya setons finest book, which is high praise considering her talent. One of these women whose mere presence and bloodline altered royalty was katherine synford. Weir mentions only in passing that katherine synwford was an ancestor of five american presidents, last of all george w. Anya setons vivid rendering of the lives of the duke and duchess of. Anya seton was a careful researcher her father was naturalist and writer ernest thompson seton and she rarely substituted dramatic license in place of the facts.
A great adventure, powerfully told philippa gregory a sumptuous tale of passion and danger in the medieval court, anya setons katherine is an alltime classic. John of gaunt was a son of king edward iii of england. This book is from our pre isbn stock and could therefore be over 50 years old. Anya seton wrote two historical novels with english settings.
Weir combines high drama with high passion while involving us in the domestic life of a most remarkable woman in an. 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. First edition of katherine by anya seton, great book. Anya seton wrote some other good books, but make no mistake this is her masterpiece. Katherine swynford was first the mistress, and later the wife, of john of gaunt, the duke of lancaster. It made such an impression on me that, years later, i bought and read anya setons green darkness, published in 1972, solely on the strength of the authors name. Casting suggestions from the katherine swynford yahoo. This book gave me some insight into the lancastrians. This thread was inspired by a historical novel i am reading, about the life of katherine swynford and her relationship with john of gaunt katherine by anya seton. Casting suggestions from the katherine swynford yahoo group for the novel katherine by anya seton. What about katherine by anya seton, which is based on the life of katherine swynford. Having read anya setons book katherine and being fascinated by the life of john of.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1954, and was written by anya seton. Apparently very little is actually known about katherine, and this biography seems to be mostly derived from the surviving records of gifts that were granted to her and her family by various people, primarily john of gaunt. Even in the solemn stillness of lincoln cathedral, the notice by katherine swynfords tomb reads. 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. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. Dust jacket is absent unless otherwise stated major signs of wear and. She is fortunate in this pairing, although katherine detests her rude husband from the moment she sets eyes on him. Katherine is based on the true story of katherine swynford and john of. Mar 28, 2008 casting suggestions from the katherine swynford yahoo group for the novel katherine by anya seton.
Katherines mother died in childbirth and her father, shortly after being knighted, was killed in battle. I remember staying up all night i was so engrossed, and when the time came for me to go to school the next day, taking the book with me and reading it in class. This is one of my alltime favourite historical novels. Katherine swynford, duchess of scandal history the. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are katherine swynford, edward iii of england. Hodder have repackaged anya setons classic under their hodder great reads.
For katherine is one of the great reads, indeed, one of the great novels, of the twentieth century. The best historical novels five books expert recommendations. Anya seton s vivid rendering of the lives of the duke and duchess of lancaster makes katherine an unmistakable classic. She had been the dukes lover for many years before their marriage. Katherine is the story of katherine swynford, the mistress and eventual wife of john of gaunt, and their children, who were the direct ancestors of the tudors, stuarts, and the modern british royal family. In fact, it is the romance that we see in anya setons novel katherine that first developed my interest in katherine. John, a younger son of king edward iii, was one of the richest and most powerful men of his day. An excellent follow up about katherine is alison weirs mistress of the monarchy, which was inspired by anya seton s novel and includes more recent research into her life, much of which comes from the archives of john of gaunt, duke of lancaster. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Mom named me after katherine because she loved the book and the era so much. Katherine comes to the court of edward iii at the age of fifteen. Katherine is a 1954 historical novel by american author anya seton. Before this book i knew very little about this subject, and now i am wondering how close this book is to historical facts it is well written and seems well researched. Katherine arrives at the english court through the offices of the queen and is soon married to hugh, duke of swynford, a small. This is katherine, of anya setons famous historical book. Anyas first book, my theodosia, the tragic story of aaron burrs daughter, was. Despite its historical inaccuracies, it is an excellent novel worth reading since it gives us an insight into what john of gaunt and katherines deep connection might have been. This book is both a spiritual coming of age tale and a hauntinglybeautiful love story. Katherine by anya seton this is the book with which i vell in love with the real middle ages. The winthrop woman by anya seton deltaqueen50 deltaqueen50. Katherine swynford children and descendants children. 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 ancestors of most of the british royal family.
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