About this title: In her remarkable new book, Weir recounts one of history's greatest love stories: the extraordinary tale of Katherine Swynford, an exceptional woman who became the lover, mistress, and eventually the wife of John of Gaunt, one of England's most powerful medieval princes. 16-page color photo insert.
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Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009-01-27
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: Very Good. Exact ISBN/item shown. Lovely copy in gently read condition--very nearly LIKE NEW. Minor wear to DJ. Tight binding. A beautiful copy! read more
Description: Like New. 2009-Paperback-May contain minor shelf-wear. Otherwise, volume un-read and in "As-New" condition. -Used-Like New-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009-01-27
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780345453235. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Edition: First US Edition; First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: New in New dust jacket. 9780345453235. New stated first U. S. Edition, first printing hardcover and dust jacket in excellent condition. Protective mylar cover.; 1.3 x 9.3 x 6.3 Inches; 416 pages. read more
Edition: First US Edition; First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: New in New dust jacket. 9780345453235. 2009 stated first U. S. Edition, first printing hardcover and dust jacket in excellent condition. Flat signed by author on title page. Protective mylar cover.; 1.3 x 9.3 x 6.3 Inches; 416 pages; Signed by Author. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009-01-27
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: Very Good. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009. First U.S. edition. Hardcover. 392 pp. As new, in nnear fine unclipped dust jacket. Almost no shelf wear. read more
Edition: First American Edition; First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books, N. Y. C., N. Y.
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: As New in As New dust jacket. 9780345453235. Pristine gift condition. Contents are tight, bright and clean, free of any internal markings or personalizations. All books to US destinations include free tracking and are securely packaged to avoid damage. The DJ is protected by a Brodart mylar sleeve.; Art and Photos; 1.3 x 9.3 x 6 Inches; 392 pages. read more
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: Random House Inc
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780345453235ISBN:0345453239
Description: In her remarkable new book, Weir recounts one of history's greatest love stories: the extraordinary tale of Katherine Swynford, an exceptional woman who became the lover, mistress, and eventually the wife of John of Gaunt, one of England's most power... read more
"I've read quite a few biographies by Alison Weir, but this one was very disappointing. Weir is clearly an exhaustive researcher, but what can one do with a personage whose life is largely speculation and gossip in the first place? In a sense, I give the author credit for producing a book in excess of 300 pages based on so few verifiable facts. After a while, I felt annoyed that Weir was only able to write things like: Katherine must have spent that Christmas with her children, or Perhaps Katherine was protecting her Beaufort children, or She might have felt...." I plan to read the historical fiction book Katherine by Anya Seton, addressed by Weir in the Appendix. At least it is not presented as anything but historical fiction, and given the cast of characters that peopled Katherine's life, it promises to be a good read."
"Apart from her stubborn determination to convict Richard III of murdering his nephews, I love reading Alison Weir!
In her latest non-fictional biography of Katherine Swynford, Weir attempts to paint a picture (using very little available factual paint) of the woman who literally changed the course of the British monarchy, and in my opinion, she does a credible job of it. Throughout the 300+ pages, Weir explores the life and times of Katherine Swynford, the daughter of a lowly knight and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the powerful, uber-wealthy son of a king who began a 20+ year affair in the 1370's that culminated in their 1396 marriage and whose descendents became the foundation of the entire British monarchy to this day (not to mention 6 US American Presidents).
A disclaimer is in order here I think: I'm smitten with John of Gaunt, and have loved the story of John and Katherine's love affair ever since reading Anya Seton's novel, Katherine, so I'm admittedly biased in my rating of this book. But I have also read enough Weir (i.e. every book she's ever written!) to know that this writer can turn dry historic fact and make it compulsively readible.
Another disclaimer: if you're expecting a Phillipa Gregory style of book, and like a little history sprinkled in with alot of artistic license a-la "The Other Boleyn Girl", then this book may not be your cuppa. You may also chafe at all the speculating that Weir had to do as to John and Katherine's actions, motives, thoughts and feelings. Sometimes Weir's speculations seem reasonable. Othertimes (as in the case of Richard III), I think she's dead wrong, so really it's a matter of personal taste, opinion and reading enjoyment level as to whether you will like Weir's latest offering. I'm just waiting for her next book..."
By Karon,
Northamptonshire, F2, The United Kingdom
"I am a huge fan of Alison Weir, i love historical fiction and loved both her Innocent traitor and the lady elizabeth-You must read! I have always been fasinated by Katherine Swynford after reading Anya Seatons Katherine as a child. Problem is we know so little about her and as Alison Weir demonstrates in her book there is nothing left behind of her true voice. Such a shame. But still a very interesting historical read. Recommended."
"I actually 'read' the audiobook, starting it on the trip back through upstate New York after dropping a child at camp. I don't know that I would have enjoyed reading this book as much as I appreciated hearing it. The narrative is a summary of the life of Katherine Swynford, who was the 3rd wife of John of Gaunt. They lived during the 14th century. At times the narrative seemed tedious, full of details of the comings and goings - and boy, did they move around. Back and forth between England and the continent, trips to the Holy Land, trips to their many houses, estates and where ever the current king was in court, or into hiding when things got difficult. I was impressed by the number of children some families had. John of Gaunt had about 10 brothers and sisters. I was also impressed by how the children were moved around from family to family. Katherine's mom probably died when she was young, because when she was just 2 she was 'sent' to live with John's family. Just when I would think that I couldn't stand another detail about where Katherine went next, the author would move in another direction and pick up the history of a related person, like a sister (Philippa, who was the wife of Chaucer) or fill in a detail about Katherine's father. The text is very detailed, providing currency conversions to modern amounts, and details about the current status of house and castles that are being described. The final chapters are descriptions of the subsequent family tree that came from Katherine and John's 4 children. This is very difficult to follow in an audio book, and I don't know if it would be easier in written form - because there were an abundance of Johns, Henrys, Thomas, and Joans where were children, aunts, uncles and cousins of the orignal Beauforts of that name; made worse by the fact that many had titles.
All this said, the book kept my interest - and I was sorry when I finished."
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