“A glorious example of romance in its most classic literary sense: exhilarating, exuberant, and rich with the jeweled tones of England in the 1300s.” —Austin ChronicleKatherine 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 fourteenth century of … vibrant fourteenth 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.
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This is the best way to learn history.
An entire woman’s life intermingled with history. Life experiences spanning decades, from birth to death. An Historical romance, but not necessarily romantic. Women with life experiences would appreciate this more than teenagers or young women. Anya Seton’s style is more along the lines of Sharon Kay Penman for historical, or Daphne DuMaurier for …
I loved this book when I read it in high school (many years ago), and so I read it again recently, and I loved it again. The book is based on the love affair and ultimately marriage between the royal Duke John of Gaunt and a commoner, Katherine Swinford, who starts out married to one of the duke’s knights. She is brought into his household to …
I read this book many years ago when I was a very young woman. It has remained my all time favorite among many other wonderful books. I have read it several times over the years and it never looses it’s place in my heart.
Excellent historical fiction, medieval setting.
I LOVE this book!!! It’s one of my favorite books over and over again, I read it yearly. Anya Seaton’s description of Kathrine, Duchess of Lancaster and a woman whose lineage is still in the British Royal Line.
I have read this twice – when it was first out (I am 85) and then recently. This author has done fantastic research concerning this female character. This really happened. It would make a great movie. I named a daughter Catherine after a favorite aunt but spelled her name with a K because of this book.
Since retirement I have dabbled in …
I love reading good historical fiction and this is one of the best!
Wonderful, realistic and informative.
This has been a favorite book for decades. My paperback copy looks well loved. I like that it is based on historical characters. This is a must read book.
Fictional account of Katherine Swynford’s life. Although some content may be created to form the story line, this is a wonderful story. This is the book that started my love of British history.
Amazing, hard to put down
Because of this wonderfully wrought book, I have and have read all of Anya Seton’s books. Two years after I’ve read them (having read many other books in between), I read them all over again. Seton’s writing is rich in history; vivid in characterizations and their situations, and thoroughly satisfying. If you enjoy historical fiction, I …
What a high standard in historical romantic fiction! Anya Seton set the bar that other authors in the decades since have aspired to emulate. A pretty every girl orphan in 14th century England who ends up in the thick of the aristocracy and Canterbury Tales author Geoffrey Chaucer for a brother-in-law! I loved this book as a teen and have never …
I first read this book many years ago, loved it then and now. Based on real life characters. Very realistic and a great view into middle ages in England. Great characters you grow to like. This is a book I could and have re-read several times. A real keeper.
Love story interspersed with history.
I love reading this book. I have been reading Katherine once every couple of years since I found this book in high school. I’ve been out of high school for 46 years. I love the Plantagenet & Tudor eras.
I’ve loved this book since I was a high school student.
Seton is a fabulous author. I always enjoy her books.