Katherine

Description: 'A great adventure, powerfully told' (Philippa Gregory) A sumptuous tale of passion and danger in the medieval court, Anya Seton's Katherine is an all-time classic. Katherine comes to the court of Edward III at the age of fifteen. The naive convent-educated orphan of a penniless knight is dazzled by the jousts and the entertainments of court. Nevertheless, Katherine is beautiful, and she turns the head of the King's favourite son, John of Gaunt. But he is married, and she is soon to be betrothed. A few years later their paths cross again and this time their passion for each other cannot be denied or suppressed. Katherine becomes the prince's mistress, and discovers an extraordinary world of power, pleasure and passion. Review: A great adventure, powerfully told Philippa Gregory Miss Seton's enthusiasm for both character and period is infectious. Katherine emerges a glowing, vital figure Daily Telegraph Anya Seton takes us into other worlds, making us live for a few hours on a grand scale Women's Journal Perhaps the greatest gifts Anya Seton brings to her historical novels are the zest of her narrative, the life she breathes into the most insignificant characters, and the atmosphere of the era she evokes around them Books and Bookmen Brilliant historical construction Evening News Wonderful historical novels Alison Weir Author Biography: Anya Seton was born in New York City and grew up on her father's large estate in Cos Cob and Greenwich, Connecticut, where visiting Indians taught her Indian dancing and woodcraft. One Sioux chief called her Anutika, which means 'cloud grey eyes', a name which the family shortened to Anya. She was educated by governesses, and then travelled abroad, first to England, then to France where she hoped to become a doctor. She studied for a while at the Hotel Dieu hospital in Paris before marrying at eighteen and having three children. She began writing in 1938 with a short story sold to a newspaper syndicate and the first of her ten novels was published in 1941. Her other novels include GREEN DARKNESS, THE WINTHROP WOMAN and AVALON. She died in 1990.