Katherine (novel)

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Anya Seton's Katherine is a historical novel based largely on facts. It tells the story of the historically-important love affair between the titular Katherine and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and third surviving son of King Edward III. The novel begins with Katherine's arrival at court after years of a convent education and ends shortly after her marriage to the Duke in 1396.

In 2003, Katherine was ranked 95 in the BBC's Big Read survey of Britain's best-loved novels.^[1] It is commonly regarded as a prime example of historical fiction.

[edit] Plot summary

Katherine tells the true story of Katherine de Roet, born the daughter of a minor Flemish herald, later knight, who has no obvious prospects, except that her sister is a waiting-woman to Queen Philippa, wife of King Edward III, and the fiancee of Geoffrey Chaucer, then a minor court official. By virtue of this connection, Katherine meets and marries Sir Hugh Swynford of Lincolnshire and gives birth to a daughter, Blanchette, and a son, Thomas. After Hugh's death, Katherine becomes the mistress of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and bears him four children out of wedlock. She is also appointed official governess to the Duke's two daughters by his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster, and helps raise his son by Blanche, the future King Henry IV.

[edit] Criticism and historical background

The novel is considered well-written and carefully-researched. It diverges comparatively little from known history, though it does contain some necessary conjectures. Seton provides the reader with an accurate view of medieval England, life at court, the lives of women in the 14th century, and intelligent glimpses of Chaucer, Katherine's brother-in-law. In addition, Katherine is one of the few texts that includes writings by the Blessed Julian of Norwich, considered one of England's greatest mystics, whose Revelations of Divine Love was the first book written in English by a woman. Katherine is also considered one of the greatest examples of a historical-fiction love story ever written. In a poll conducted in the 1990s by Ladies Home Journal, the novel ranked among the top-10 all-time best love stories.

Katherine Swynford was a significant figure in English history. Apart from being the direct ancestress of all members of the British royal family since Edward IV, who was her 4th great-grandson, she also gave Henry Tudor his tenuous claim to the English throne. Queen Elizabeth II is only one of Katherine's many direct descendants via her liaison and four children with John of Gaunt.

[edit] References