Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Sutton Publishing Ltd (2006), Hardcover, 256 pages
Description
Katherine Swynford - sexual temptress or powerful woman at the centre of the medieval court? This book unravels the many myths and legacies of this fascinating woman, to show her in a whole new light.Katherine was sister-in-law to Geoffrey Chaucer and governess to the daughters of Blanche of Lancaster and John of Gaunt. She also became John of Gaunt's mistress - a role that she maintained for 20 years - and had four illegitimate children by him, from one of whom Henry Tudor was descended. In a move surprising in the fourteenth century, John of Gaunt eventually married her, making her Duchess of Lancaster and stepmother to the future king, Henry Bolingbroke. But who was this extremely well-connected woman?In this fascinating book, Jeanette Lucraft treats Katherine as a missing person and reconstructs her and her times to uncover the mystery of the 'other woman' in John of Gaunt's life.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
I probably would have enjoyed this more if I had known what to expect. This is NOT a biography of Katherine, but rather a book about why such a biography can't be written, and an attempt to try to show what conclusions can be drawn from the meager records available.
LibraryThing member Medievalgirl
As I'm studying Women in the Later Middle Ages, I thought this book would come in useful. I had seen some negative reviews of Alison Weir's book, so (perhaps unfairly) avioded it and opted for this one which has a more academic tone.
I knew of Katherine of course as the long term mistress, and
Yet other aspects of Katherine's life and career are explored, revealing many things about the expectations of the Medieval noblewoman and female courtier, and also as a wife and mother. The details of her background as well as she and her reatives 'connections' prove interesting- her sister was married to Geoffrey Chaucher for instance.
The later chapters on Image management and piety and saintly approprations are probably of more specialized interest, but do help to set Katherine in context. It appears that what was controversial was not her having been a mistress (as many noblemen kept mistresses) but that the Duke of Lancaster married her, and officially raised her to the status of Duchess- and that this was accepted by the King and other relatives.
This books does present quite a sympathetic view of Gaunt, as loyal, a generous patron, and the epitome of 'Good Lordship' to his retainers, as well as genuinely caring for Katherine and her children. Gaunt has I believe been subject to some bad press for his negative traits. On top of the wave of the recent resurgance of interest in the Yorkists, particualrly Richard III, he is in danger of being cast as 'the enemy' as the progentior of the Lancastrian Dynasty.
This would be a savage irony indeed, as the Yorkist Kings were, in fact, also descended from him and Katherine through their Maternal grandmother, Joan Beaufort.
Her brothers also get a mention. The first generation of Beauforts were an interesing lot- one was know for his generosity and pious bequests- but later generations have an unfortunate historical reputation as the 'baddies' and enemies of the Yorkists. Perhaps this book can go some way towards challenging that.
A short, but informative book, well worth a read- (even if one questions the reason for the inclusion of the last chapter largely devoted to recounting Saint's lives, and with whom said said was popular) if you don't mind the more adademic style. As with any history book, one does not have to agree with everthing the author says, but most points seem to be well argued and evidenced- and the intention revealing the figure of Katherine as she was seen by her contemporaries seems to have been achieved.
I knew of Katherine of course as the long term mistress, and
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later wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and the mother of his Beaufort children, and so ultimately, a progenitor of Henry Tudor. After reading this, I think it could be said I have a newfound- admiration (though perhaps not respect) for Katherine- though her position as is mistress engaged in long-term adulterous relationship cannot be ignored, and can scarcely be admired. Yet other aspects of Katherine's life and career are explored, revealing many things about the expectations of the Medieval noblewoman and female courtier, and also as a wife and mother. The details of her background as well as she and her reatives 'connections' prove interesting- her sister was married to Geoffrey Chaucher for instance.
The later chapters on Image management and piety and saintly approprations are probably of more specialized interest, but do help to set Katherine in context. It appears that what was controversial was not her having been a mistress (as many noblemen kept mistresses) but that the Duke of Lancaster married her, and officially raised her to the status of Duchess- and that this was accepted by the King and other relatives.
This books does present quite a sympathetic view of Gaunt, as loyal, a generous patron, and the epitome of 'Good Lordship' to his retainers, as well as genuinely caring for Katherine and her children. Gaunt has I believe been subject to some bad press for his negative traits. On top of the wave of the recent resurgance of interest in the Yorkists, particualrly Richard III, he is in danger of being cast as 'the enemy' as the progentior of the Lancastrian Dynasty.
This would be a savage irony indeed, as the Yorkist Kings were, in fact, also descended from him and Katherine through their Maternal grandmother, Joan Beaufort.
Her brothers also get a mention. The first generation of Beauforts were an interesing lot- one was know for his generosity and pious bequests- but later generations have an unfortunate historical reputation as the 'baddies' and enemies of the Yorkists. Perhaps this book can go some way towards challenging that.
A short, but informative book, well worth a read- (even if one questions the reason for the inclusion of the last chapter largely devoted to recounting Saint's lives, and with whom said said was popular) if you don't mind the more adademic style. As with any history book, one does not have to agree with everthing the author says, but most points seem to be well argued and evidenced- and the intention revealing the figure of Katherine as she was seen by her contemporaries seems to have been achieved.
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LibraryThing member sloopjonb
An example of that well-known genre, the thesis worked up into a book. Kind of interesting for what it says about the status of medieval women, but very dry. TL:DR - nobody knows jack about Katherine Swynford herself, here's some ideas of what she *might* have been like.
Subjects
Physical description
256 p.; 9.21 inches
ISBN
0750932619 / 9780750932615