A review by just_justine
Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster by Alison Weir

2.0

I can't fault Alison Weir for trying. Katherine Swynford is an interesting figure whose role in history had far-reaching consequences, and her story deserves more notice. I've always felt that Weir has a knack for historical speculation--for taking what historical evidence is available and discussing how it could fit into the broader interpretation. But with Katherine Swynford, all she has to go on are some of John of Gaunt's surviving household records, speculative geographical connections, and a line or two in a few biased chronicles, and it isn't enough. Much of the book felt like either a general explanation of events of the period, a list of annuities granted by John of Gaunt to Katherine, or architectural descriptions of places Katherine once inhabited. To be honest, Weir probably would've been better off making this a biography of John of Gaunt. The relationship between him and Katherine (which is interesting and convincing) could still have been discussed, and Weir would've had a greater opportunity to discuss England under Edward III and Richard II--a very turbulent, interesting period--in the guise of examining John of Gaunt's life beyond Katherine.