Modern classic
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I first read this novel along with several other Anya Seton books several years ago, but am not sure what happened to my copy. I recently obtained a copy of this book from Amazon are re-reading it.
It is quite simply as it is described on the cover "A modern classic". It tells the story and brings the period to life perfectly. It is not over "slushy" but yet remains romantic. The characters, especially John of Gaunt are not perfect but full of flaws as real people are.
I love people in history like Katherine who during her life would never know the pivotal role she would play eventually becoming the ancestress of three future kings of England. I agree it would make a wonderful film and I am sure people who had never heard of Katherine or read the book would probably think her story and the "happy ending" of her life with the Duke was just fiction, as it is such an extraordinary tale!
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Superbe livre! Gripping love story
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Highly interesting book, i couldn't stop reading it, heartbreaking at times, a gripping story i won't forget.
This book is a jewel. I loved it so much (even though some 100pages of the book made me feel really sad and depressed) The story of a true love,but a love which endure time,violence,gossip,loss,life itself. Katherine appears a Grand woman, she deals with life better than we would now... she lived in a time when women where not equal to men, when they were objects, merely better treated than servants and deprived from any will, still this woman rose from it, not without pain and times of suffering ,but still. Such love is what the little girl inside me always dreamed of...;) i finished it today at the age of 22 but i'm sure i'll still be re-reading it in years.
This book is from what i've gathered quite historically acurate but of course it's still a novel. but still it helps understand the political changes from that time, and of course the fact that it is from THIS woman that the line of great english kings was born.
I've always loved English history it's always been something really appealing to me and this book only gave more strengh to my love of English History in making me look more closely at this period.
I'll never forget this book.
Un livre à lire et relire sans moderation.
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Amazing.............
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This has to be the best book I have ever read. Amazingly descriptive and evocative, it brings the characters and era to life. I read it as a result of it coming up in my list of recommendations om Amazon - I had previously heard of it but rejected it because I have read so many historical novels which were disappointing. Once I read the reviews I changed my mind, bought it, started to read it one morning and literally did not put it down till it was finished. And then promptly started a leisurely re-read one week later. And I anticipate reading it again and again. It just gets better and better.
I agree with the last comment to a degree - this book is crying out to be made into a film - but I for one could never watch it because there is no way anyone could do justice to it!! It would need to be about seven hours long for a start!!
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Katherine
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This was my first read by Anya Seaton and I couldnt put it down - it was excellent. And doesnt John sound sexy! I also like the way Anya Seaton doesnt make Katherine completely perfect - I found her treatment of Blanchette quite disgusting when she was forcing her to get betrothed. She obviously couldnt remember how she had felt when marrying Hugh Swynford and she was lucky enough to find someone she was passionate about.
It would also make a change for someone to make a film of their love story.
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Words can hardly descibe!
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This book is absolutley beautiful, its timeless you can read it time and again without it ever losing the tiniest bit of its magic. After reading this book Katherine Swynford will never leave you, to all that read this book she is the most important and interesting woman in history. Truly the most romantic book of all time all the more amazing for being true. Anya Seton should always be thanked for making sure that katherine Swynfords place in history is secure. The fact that the then out of print "Katherine" made it into the top 100 big reads a few years ago demonstrates how it has touched all that have read it. One of the most fascinting stories in history adding depth to the fascinating man that was John of Gaunt, and it is this love story that is the origins of the Wars of the Roses. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN!!!
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