Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Innocent Traitor and The Lady Elizabeth and several historical biographies, including Mistress of the Monarchy, Queen Isabella, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Life of Elizabeth I, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She lives in Surrey, England with her husband and two children.
"Weir brings alive the brilliant beauty whose descendants would sit
on the British throne."—USA Today
"For those interested in the rarified realms of medieval British
royalty, its trappings, intrigues, excesses, cruelties, and sex
scandals, Alison Weir's latest excursion will be
gratifying."—Star-Ledger
"One of history's greatest love stories . . . Swynford's colorful
life played out against a backdrop of court life at the height of
the age of chivalry."—Wisconsin State Journal
"Weir has accomplished a seemingly impossible task [in writing a]
biography about a woman who left behind not a single image and not
a single written word. . . Weir's meticulous and scholarly research
has unearthed details that help bring Katherine to
life."—Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
"Quite beguiling . . . Bowled over by this tale of true love, Weir
recaptures its glow in a fluid, artfully assembled
narrative."—Kirkus Reviews
"The historical research is meticulous and seamlessly integrated
into the narrative. The result is a story of a real woman with
virtues, flaws, and an altogether fascinating life." —Historical
Novels Review
Veteran royal biographer Weir (Eleanor of Aquitaine) resurrects the life and times of the remarkable woman who was mistress and eventually the wife of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, third son of the charismatic and accomplished king of England, Edward III. Through John and Katherine Swynford (1350-1403) descended centuries of British sovereigns, including Queen Elizabeth II. Weir makes use of meager contemporary sources to build a convincing case for an intelligent, poised and talented woman who flouted convention and took control of her destiny in a male-dominated age. After the death of her first husband, one of John's knights, Katherine embarked on an illicit and notorious liaison with John, married to the queen of Castile; the connection survived separations and calamities, and she bore him four children. Repentant in the wake of the Peasants Revolt, John broke off the liaison, but after his wife's death, he risked censure to marry her, making her stepmother to the future Henry IV. Weir's well-researched, engrossing and perceptive biography gives a gutsy beauty her due while vividly describing the age of chivalry and its many players, including Katherine's renowned brother-in-law, Geoffrey Chaucer. 16 pages of color photos. (Jan. 27) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
"Weir brings alive the brilliant beauty whose descendants would sit
on the British throne."-USA Today
"For those interested in the rarified realms of medieval British
royalty, its trappings, intrigues, excesses, cruelties, and sex
scandals, Alison Weir's latest excursion will be
gratifying."-Star-Ledger
"One of history's greatest love stories . . . Swynford's colorful
life played out against a backdrop of court life at the height of
the age of chivalry."-Wisconsin State Journal
"Weir has accomplished a seemingly impossible task [in writing a]
biography about a woman who left behind not a single image and not
a single written word. . . Weir's meticulous and scholarly research
has unearthed details that help bring Katherine to
life."-Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
"Quite beguiling . . . Bowled over by this tale of true love, Weir
recaptures its glow in a fluid, artfully assembled
narrative."-Kirkus Reviews
"The historical research is meticulous and seamlessly
integrated into the narrative. The result is a story of a real
woman with virtues, flaws, and an altogether fascinating life."
-Historical Novels Review
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