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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This should be regarded as a classic of historical fiction. It is a romance story, but it is also so much more - politics and great historical events are here as well, and there is enough there that most readers should be engaged well into the book. |
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“This was my favorite of hers so far! I love the historical fiction! ”
Katie B wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The best historical romance I've ever read!”
ruth c wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Anna Seyton brings the story of John of Gaunt and Katherine de Roen to life with this well researched, well written historical novel. She brings the glory, poverty, richness and squalor of the 14th century England to light with her well written prose. The waves of the black death are not glossed over or dwelled upon but given as a feared part of life then and something that shaped society and the people she gives voice and life to in the book are poeple of that time and day not given modern sensibilities. The romance between John and Katherine has often been shrouded in mystery because of her relative obscurity "base" birth, and the poor treatment she has received by the chroniclers of the time because of the years she was John's mistress. This is a wonderful book bringing to life a true love that began as an illicit romance that spanned decades and heartaches, 3 kings, 2 waves of the black death, and the Peasant Revolt. Not all of the dark ages was dark in the hearts of men and women.”
Hali S wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wonderful...”
Opal C wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Read this years ago, several times. One of my favorites.”
Sarah B wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Well written. The medieval mindset and historical truth really set this book apart. Recommended”
Emma J wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book started out okay and was reasonably interesting. But somewhere around the middle, I just wanted to be done with it already. Mostly all the characters just irritated me and I didn't really care too much about them at all. I was really looking forward to this book because I discovered that my library has a lot, if not all, of Anya Seton's books and I was hoping I'd love them and have quite a few to read, but it wasn't to be. ”
Jennifer J wrote this review Wednesday, November 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“One of my favorite historical books, it tells the story of Lady Katherine Swynford & John of Gaunt's illict relationship that caused a scandal for many years but created a dynasty. Wonderful, dramatic, romantic, I need to reread this again.”
Alicia wrote this review Sunday, November 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“This should be regarded as a classic of historical fiction. It is a romance story, but it is also so much more - politics and great historical events are here as well, and there is enough there that most readers should be engaged well into the book.
Sarah B wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It's very long - 500 pages of teeny tiny font - but the plot skips along and there is little time wasted on unnecessary fluff.
Highly recommended!”
“Excellent historical fiction. The heroine was an little known woman who had much influence in the world of 14th century England. So well researched and written with royalty and serfs and baseborn folks and even the bastards of the Duke of Lancaster who were pretty smart. They too became successful and well known in their world. Most interesting character was Geoffrey Chaucer who was married to Katherine's sister Phillipa. He wandered in and out of the story and wrote his stories for posterity too. Good read.”
EISSPE wrote this review Thursday, September 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
