My Review: Whoo baby! And we thought our generation invented sex, lust, and lechery! Our mamas read this paean to the ripped bodice and flung codpiece with, I feel morally certain, cool detachment and a keen analytical eye for its prosody. Because our mamas didn't *ever* think about s-e-x or l-u-s-t, now did they, because that would be ewww. Thus we have Katherine growing up in a convent (for which there is no evidence) and marrying Sir Hugh Swynford in 1367, five years later than she probably did in real life. They have two, not four, children, and Sir Hugh – for whose loutish character there is, again, no evidence – is murdered, a fictional assertion that is still accepted as fact by some, so great is Seton’s reputation for veracity. This is the book that made me fall in love with historical fiction. It's based on the true story of the 14th-century love affair between Katherine de Roet and John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. Women desire six things: They want their husbands to be brave, wise, rich, generous, obedient to wife, and lively in bed.

Katherine by Anya Seton - AbeBooks Katherine by Anya Seton - AbeBooks

The story begins with Merewyn & Rumon's time at the court of Edgar & his son Edward (roughly 970-80 AD). The secret of Merewyn's non-royal birth is a deathbed vow that Rumon carries only by accident; he's a petulant, sanctimonious whinger who thinks entirely too much of his worth to God's creation. Merewyn was more likable, though something of a dim bulb, so she doesn't have much personality besides providing a bookmark for various historical settings. Eventually she's captured by a shipload of Vikings -- one of which turns out to be her blood-father -- and is forced to settle for life on Iceland. Despite her misgivings, she grows fond of her father & marries his foster son, Sigurd, then moves with them to Erik the Red's colony in Greenland. A historical novel based on events that occurred in the 10th Century in England, Iceland, and Greenland, Avalon did not live up to my expectations of Anya Seton. The plot of a bit plodding and fairly unsophisticated. However, I did enjoy getting a glimpse of this time period, which is not one that is encountered that often. I now have a better understanding of how the very important Norman conquest came to be and why the Normans came to sit on the throne of England. While the plot sounds simple, the time and setting were not. There was a plague going on. There were peasant riots. War. Political battles. Katherine suffered many trials in her life -- this is not a romantic comedy. Indeed, I was so captivated by the story and the details in Seton's writing were so vivid that I felt as if I had been transported to medieval England. I also found it really perplexing that the serfs were anti-nobility, but pro-king. I mean, by all means, make all men equal, but that should include the king, to me. It's just strange that their animosity was aimed at those who, yes, had power over them, but completed glanced off the king which had power over those who had power over them. I think that was their mistake... they wanted to stop the abuses perpetrated against them, over-taxation, slavery, cruelty, and poverty, but put their faith in a young king who knew nothing but his own power and entitlement. And that hurt them, badly. Nobody can live a continuous lie and find serenity. I can see that you are not at peace with yourself.”But for those of you who are still Katherine virgins, here is a summary of the plot. In 1366, Katherine Swynford travels to the court of Edward III to be married. There she meets and falls in love with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of the king, himself also married. Through the vicissitudes of war, plague and infidelities both obligatory and voluntary, and despite their families, their love survives. Late in life, they are finally free to marry and legitimise their bastard children. Their eldest son, John, was the grandfather of Henry VII. Oh, and I almost forgot, Katherine’s sister, Philippa, was the wife of one Geoffrey Chaucer. Katherine says, "The poll tax is hard on folk, no doubt, but wars must be paid for, Hawsie. Why must they show so much hatred?"

Anya Seton - Book Series In Order Anya Seton - Book Series In Order

Only years later did the lovers meet again after much pain and turmoil and spend three years of marriage before John of Gaunt's death. Based on this novel, I'm not sure why Anya Seton has such a reputation as a great historical writer. This book was dull and not-at-all exciting. One of the biggest things going for the book is John of Gaunt, Katherine's love interest. For those of you who have read Twilight, he is a rival of Edward's, at least in my mind. The best part is that John was a real person! This book takes you through Katherine's adventurous life. She starts off as a naive 15 year old from a convent and by the end of the book, her posterity is well on its way of becoming the future royalty of England.Seton describes the window-dressing in too much detail but doesn’t describe the historical context in enough detail. Relevant events in the lives of the main characters, political upheaval, they’re just glossed over and not properly explained. Katherine, we’re told, takes no interest in political matters. She exists in a bubble of love and domestic bliss with John of Gaunt and doesn’t question what goes on outside that bubble. When John’s father is ailing and the heir to the throne is still a child, John takes an ever greater role in government, and faces opposition which keeps him occupied and stressed. Katherine sees this merely in terms of “he doesn’t love me any more because we don’t spend as much time together!”, whilst, when we do get inside John’s head, his hardline tactics with the populace are explained as “there was this boy once who told me I was a changeling and I must prove myself to everyone!” Really?! Serious matters of the time – with, undoubtedly, potential for epic drama in a novel – reduced to a grown man nursing a boo-boo and a woman whose life revolves around his love and attention? Urgh. I guess this is where the book is more of a romance novel than a historical fiction, but really I was expecting better.

Katherine by Anya Seton - Goodreads Editions of Katherine by Anya Seton - Goodreads

Katherine is a beautiful young commoner. John of Gaunt is the King’s son. Their love is thwarted at nearly every turn: by marriages, by duty, by social norms and the dictates of their own consciences. In spite of this, their love remained strong and steady throughout their lives, whether they were together or apart.Overall, Merewyn had a very interesting life. She was with the King and Queen. She met family and traveled. Looking down at my review from before, I didn't find Rumon 'odd' this time. Merewyn did have some happy times in her life. I would urge any readers to please include Phillippa Gregory’s introduction. While the information is general it is specific to Anya Seton and the prolific Georgette Heyer and to historic fiction and will be an interesting way to begin. Seton was one of my entrees into historical fiction in the mid sixties. Avalon represents the view on paganism and mysticism that presented when she did her research, and she is true to the material, as it would then have been seen. Katherine is first pressured into marriage to the boorish and brutish knight, Hugh Swynford. She gains the friendship and gives her loyalty to Blanche, John of Gaunt's first wife. After the deaths of Blanche and Hugh, so begins the passionate liaison between the flame haired beauty Katherine, and the charismatic Duke of Lancaster and player in the power of England's politics of the time. John is haunted by malevolent slander of being a changeling while he determines to revenge himself on those behind this false charge. Katherine of course was dogged by the charge of the time often levelled against beautiful and passionate women, of harlotry.

Avalon by Anya Seton | Goodreads Avalon by Anya Seton | Goodreads

Anya Seton was one of the leading writers – mostly women – who dominated the discipline of historical fiction after the second world war, and whose critical and popular acclaim continued until the late 1950s when fashions in literature changed. 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 Chronicle I'm so glad to have finally read this one! It has been on my TBR list for approximately 45 years -- since high school!! Okay, then how about the writing? We may know what happens but the author can sprinkle the story with good prose and keen insights to keep us reading. First published in 1954, Katherine is a historical fiction classic, the retelling the affair between John of Gaunt – the Duke of Lancaster, son of Edward III, uncle of Richard II, father of Henry IV, grandfather of Henry V – and his children’s governess, Katherine Swynford. From this union sprung the Beauforts and, ultimately, the Tudor dynasty. This relationship is given a romantic gloss in Anya Seton’s retelling.I just want to say “wow” to describe this book. So many emotions have been stirred up with this great work. This whole, magnificent epic is based on a true story. Either Katherine Swynford, her beloved John of Gaunt, or both (because she gave him 4 - 4 - kids as his mistress), gave rise to the royal lines that include Kings Henry IV, V, VI & VII, Richard III, Edward IV, a Queen of Scots, every sovereign of Scotland since ages ago (sorry, my google is down or I'd sound way smarter right now) and every sovereign of England in the last 400 years. Meanwhile, my branch of our family tree includes an overweight cat. This was a father's day present last year from my younger daughter, she bought it for me partly because we live in Avalon (though not necessarily the one sought by Rumon in the novel), partly because my office window overlooks the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and partly because she was at the time attending a school named for St Dunstan. With all these connections I had an immediate affinity with the story but that of itself would not have been sufficient should the writing be poor or the characters unbelievable. Fortunately I found this one of the best historical novels that I have read - and I've read quite a few.