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The writing style reads very much like a romance novel from the 1950's or 60's with characters who seem over-simplified and shallow, rather like how you might tell a story to a small child (except for excruciating detail in just about every other way- down to what each and every serf and shepherd are wearing). And he is rich.
So if that's what appeals to you in a novel, this may be something that sets your heart on fire. And she is pious.
Many people adored this book, as evidenced by all the 5 star reviews, but I was not one of them. They are both good-looking.
If you are hoping for more, look elsewhere. It took a real effort of will to trudge through this drawn-out emotionally dry and dusty tale.
I never really understood what drew Katherine and John together because they aren't written as especially engaging or likable characters.
But most importantly, this book is a great read. His place in history is ambiguous--he was always suspected of wanting the throne for himself, and indeed his son eventually ended up capturing it.Seton, not unexpectedly, gives us a picture of a gorgeous, skilled, intelligent man, who pledged loyalty to his King and kept the promise. The history is accurate in broad outline. But it all turns out fine in the end, of course.
Don't let the fact that this book is 50 years old dissuade you--it's one of the best historical novels I've ever read. As I began, I suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that I'd read this book as a teenager--a very long time ago. Interestingly, Katherine was Chaucer's sister-in-law, and it's possible Chaucer used her as a model for his own work. It tells the tale of John, Duke of Lancaster, and his third wife Katherine, during the 14th century.
Seton writes well, and manages to convey a sense of the English spoken at the time while still making it totally understandable. But I kept reading anyway--it's that good. Factual details about Katherine's life are scarce, but John, sometimes known as John of Gaunt, was a key player in England at the time. Katherine is a beautiful, gracious woman, who suffers through many years of being scorned by the Court because of her "irregular" relationship with John and her status as a commoner.
The writing is great, however, very discriptive and enjoyable. I did love the ending, with Katherine finally marrying her long time lover, and discovering the fate of her daughter who had disappeared years ago, something I correctly predicted before it happened. Since this was written in the fifties you don't get the raunch that love stories nowadays have, but it was good none the less. The characters themselves are very in depth and realistic, and the time spent with each one is appropriate. I'll recommend this book to all my friends, and to anyone who reads this review. The story, for me, began too slow and ended too fast, with so much time passing inbetween that you had to be caught up with nearly every chapter, or every "part" so that sometimes you were left confused and wondering. That was why I gave it four stars.
It is a mix of a heroine that you love, pity and are sickened with due to her own wants and desires. I was unable to put this book down. It is a wonderful story about how we can all lie to ourselves when what we want is morally wrong and what can happen as a result. This is a fantastic story of the birth of the Tudor family. It is also a story that truly tells how love conquers all.
What a great love story. It's been months since I read it, and I still think about it every day. I have read many historical novels about the medieval and renaissance periods and this is the best. I couldn't put the book down.
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