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Summary: A truly unforgettable read.
Review: This was my first experience in the historical romance genre, and to date, I have never come across another quite like it, although Avolon and Green Darkness came close. I have read it countless times since high school in 1970. The reader does not experience Seton's characters and their experiences through his/her own eyes, but are allowed priviledged passage inside her books to laugh, love, cry and bleed, through her devastating characterizations. She raises long forgotton ghosts to their proper place in history
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Summary: Katherine by Anya Seton
Review: It's not just a historical novel, or a romance, or a story about a woman who overcomes Ñ although it contains elements of all-of-the-above. The story is something else altogether. "Katherine" is a spiritual novel, and I have never thought of myself as a particularly spritual person. The knights in shining armor are, of course, glorious. The descriptions divine. But Katherine's growth as a human being is described so sensitively, so realistically, I sometimes wonder if Ms. Seton traveled back in time witness Katherine's life. Read it
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Summary: Still great after all these years!
Review: Anya Seton's characters, from the Royal Plantagenets, Katherine and Chaucer to the peasants, monks and nobles, are marvellously brought to life in medieval England in this most wonderful book. I first read it 15 years ago and have only recently got my hands on a copy to reread. I am still a devout fan of Ms. Seton's writing. For those who have enjoyed Katherine, I would suggest getting Ms. Seton's other books; Green Darkness, The Winthrop Woman and my all time favourite, Avalon
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Summary: Historical Novel set in late 14th Century England
Review: This is an outstanding novel by Seton. The research is excellent and in addition to writing a very good story those who love history will truly enjoy this book. Detailed desrciptions cover architecture, fashion, medicine, religion and of course the political system of the time. The story is about an actual women whose father was knighted in Belgium and thus became affiliated with the court of Edward III and his son John of Gaunt. This is truly a fabulous book and is full of historical information. I learned a great deal about this period of history from this book
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Summary: Reading this book began my love affair with history.
Review: I read this book as young teenager and have truly never forgotten it. It marked the beginning of a lifelong fascination with history and medieval English life. Though it's been over 30 years since I read "Katherine", the characters still remain fresh and vivid in my mind, as does this rich and fascinating period in English history. A book like this makes history come alive for young people; they can smell, taste, feel, and almost touch life during a period that still influences English and even American culture, though those who formed it are long since dust and memories. I would recommend this book to anyone
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Summary: I was named after this book!
Review: My mother first read this book as a late teenager, and fell in love with it--the characters, the history, the writing style, etc. She named me after Katherine, and presented the book to me when I was thirteen--I have since read it five times. The novel transports you back to the late fourteenth century, into a time immediately before the chronicling of history really began. It brings clarity to a fuzzy image of the period. Not only is this book the least painful way to learn about this era, it also brings it alive with a vividness not often seen. This time period, so often snubbed by historians as just another unimportant century in the Middle Ages, has its share of important characters and events: Geoffrey Chaucer, the Peasant's Revolt, the Black Prince, etc. Seton does well in portraying a time colored by intrigue and revolutionary change. It paints a portrait of England directly before its transition into a world power. All told as a subtext of a great Romance and historical drama. A wonderful portal to another time.
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Summary: Led me to study medieval England in college!
Review: I first picked up this book when I was 11. A beautiful novel that brings medieval England to life,it also connects many historical figures. Geoffrey Chaucer, who was Katherine's brother-in-law, is portrayed as talented and humerous and a little befuddled by life. Perhaps the most interesting part for me was seeing just how connected the royal houses were. John of Gaunt's decendents formed the houses of York and Stuart and the kings of Portugual (with first wife), the kings of Castile and Leon (with second wife), and the house of Tudor (with Katherine). All his life John sought a crown, and his relationship with Katherine suffered for it. Yet, his descendents came to rule Europe! A fun, and rewarding book
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Summary: Katherine
Review: I read this book in the late '50s. I remember it as one of the best books I ever read and was so sad when the book was finished. I have always recommended it to my friends even though it was a difficult book to find. Now that it has been re-released I look forward to reading it again. The details of living in those days was detailed and as accurate as I have ever read. I lived with Katherine all of the days I was reading about her life. It is a wonderful book.
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Summary: Fabulous historical drama/romance
Review: "Katherine" is Anya Seton's finest book, which is high praise considering her talent. She is a very fine writer with excellent attention to detail and historical accuracy, as well the ability to make the characters come vividly alive. This is of course a very fine and entertaining story. There is our heroine Katherine, with all of her trials and tribulations, and who finds herself unexpectedly thrust into a turbulent life with a turbulent royal family! It is interesting to note that through the children she had with John of Gaunt, she is a direct ancestress of all of ruling Kings and Queens of England from that time on (and a great many members of European royal families as well)! Katherine made her mark on history in many, many ways. This is an utterly charming and beautiful book. I was about 12 when I first picked it up and was immediately enchanted by the writing, the adventure and the history, and return to it time and time again. The book is peppered with other interesting historical characters - for example Geoffrey Chaucer was married to Katherine's sister, and appears from time to time full of wit and stories. So read it for yourself, and introduce it to a young lady in your life. You could not bestow a finer gift.
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Summary: Wonderful but Not Really Accurate
Review: I read this book when I was about 18 years old and I adored it. Her style is lovely. She really captures many things that I can imagine jolly old England looking, smelling and being like. But after reading a few biographies of Chaucer, most historians believe that Phillipa, the sister of Katherine was possibly also Johnn of Gant's lover and had at least one child by him prior to hooking up with Katherine. It has been written that Chaucer married Phillipa at the bequest of John of Gant and mentored the family during his life.
Many of the characters are historically well-captured, Miss Seton wove an interesting tale around the information she was able to learn at that time. The problem is that there isn't much information about Katherine herself, and the uppercrust Brits still seem to regard her with a bit of dismissal and distain. Sad, too, since the children of these two people provided the later Tudor dynasties with all sorts of interesting relatives.
Nevertheless, the book is very enjoyable.
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