The Love Knot: A Novel Of 14th-Century England Featuring Geoffrey Chaucer

by Catherine Darby

The hypocrisies and infidelities of the privileged class in fifteenth-century England are explored in a novel featuring sisters Philippa, married to the brilliant yet troubled poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Katherine, pressured into a passionless, high-society marriage

Genres: Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Pseudonym for Maureen Peters

Maureen Peters was born in Caernarvon, Wales, on March 3, 1935, and was married and divorced twice; she has two sons and two daughters. In addition to biographical fiction, historical romances, and mystery novels written under her own name, other noms de plume include Veronica Black, Catherine Darby, Levanah Lloyd, Belinda Grey, Elizabeth Law, Judith Rothman, and Sharon Whitby.

As Catherine Darby, Maureen Peters wrote books that were sold as Gothics, such as the 12 books in the Falcon Saga, but were really what Sarah calls "dark family sagas." Or more precisely, she describes their plot lines this way: "Themes of illicit passion, family rivalry, witchcraft, revenge, and even reincarnation permeated the novels…"

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short historical novel is about Philippa Roet, who married Geoffrey Chaucer and was also the sister of Katherine Swynford. While the novel certainly was interesting and did bring up some issues about the way infidelity is seen differently depending on who the participants are, I was ultimately unsatisfied with the novel. Events in the book did not quite line up with the historical facts that I know. Darby also posits an affair between Philippa and John of Gaunt that preceded his long-term liaison with her sister Katherine, which I did not find convincing.

[Cat. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subtitled "A Novel of 14th Century England Featuring Geoffrey Chaucer." Interesting picture of the Royal Family 700 years ago. They were behaving just as disgracefully, or more so; and very believable. Not sure how many of the characters were fictional. Pretty good potboiler.

[Jams · Rating 1 out of 5]

CHEATERS!!!!