![]() ![]() ![]() The love-story between Katherine and John which began as an affair and ended in marriage is both wonderful and uplifting and the tale ends on a poignant note, offering what could have been a woeful story a fitting and heartfelt finish. 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. She takes the reader through the turbulent times of the 14th century and the vast amount of research she must have carried out in order to write this book is evident throughout the novel. 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. One of the few examples of historical fiction that made the BBC’s poll, Katherine was published in 1954 and tells the story of 14th-century love affair in England between the eponymous Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and third surviving son of Edward III.ĭespite my very limited knowledge of 14th century England, I was immediately drawn into the medieval backdrop of the tale which Seton creates through her rich description and characterisation. At number 95 in the BBC Top 100 it’s one that I had never previously heard of – indeed even my most bookish of friends reacted with a blank stare when I told them what I was reading. So it was a week or so ago that I decided to finally give it a go. ![]() It has since remained unread on my bookshelf, along with many others I am yet to read. I bought Katherine by Anya Seton a couple of years ago, way back when I first decided to read by way through the BBC Top 100. ![]()
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