Reviews

Katherine by Anya Seton

louiseelizabeth's review

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

krobart's review against another edition

3.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/04/18/review-1838-1954-club-katherine/

natsavage19's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Historical fiction based on a prominent woman who gave birth to the House of Tudor and Lancaster, peppered with accurate references to 14th century European politics.

lauriestein's review against another edition

3.0

This is kind of hard for me to assess because I know almost nothing about the Plantagenets. The overt psychological interpretation of the characters' actions is definitely straight out of the 1950s and a little over the top. The author has a reputation for exhaustive research, though, so at least I probably learned something. Certainly I had no idea that Chaucer was so well-connected, although looking back it makes sense, I can't imagine just anyone got printed in the 1300s.

amerika282's review against another edition

5.0

Best historical fiction book I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time.

ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition

5.0

People call this book the pinnacle of Historical Fiction and now I 100% understand why. It’s a mix of romance, coming of age and medieval politics which come together to tell a compelling story that only history could right.

I’m pleasantly surprised that despite being published in 1954, most of the information presented about Katherine Swynford is still correct. This really illustrates the amount of research that Seton did for this work and why it’s such a compelling story. Well worth the read if you love historical fiction (and if you’re still unsure on the genre, I’d still recommend it, although it will set impossibly high standards).

donnaadouglas's review against another edition

3.0

'Katherine', based on a true story, follows thw romance between Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III of England. The story begins when Katherine first enters court and bewitches Hugh Swynford, the knight who becomes her first husband, through to her eventual second marriage to John of Gaunt (after her first husband's death, many years of adultery and four bastard offspring).

The book itself is quite long, unnecessarily so, I believe, as within it there's not much action. It's not entirely boring - as a historical romance it's fine - but it's too much icing and not enough dough, too passive for me. It focuses too much on the romance, putting some of the - very interesting - historical events of the time on the sidelines. Not a lot of substance, but too long for a 'holiday read'. Take it or leave it.

boosmummy's review against another edition

5.0

A wonderful book. I really enjoyed the story of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford and of their love in a world where nobility ruled all. Definitely a story I'll read again.

trashlyn_b's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

libraryladder's review against another edition

5.0

I literally couldn't put it down. For the week I was reading it, this book was always either on my person or within an arm's reach so that if there was ever a lull in conversation I could pick it up and disappear behind its pages.