Retro Reads discussion

For any useful web resources or books on Katherine Swinford, John of Gaunt and 14th century England.

I'm not actually reading any of these since I'm keen to avoid spoilers, but for those who already know the book or the history this is a Wikipedia entry on : Katherine Swynford

And one for John Gaunt

An excellent overview of British history in the Middle Ages from the BBC

This looks like good web site devoted to British Monarchs

A couple of terrific books for more background reading: In a Dark Wood Wandering: A Novel of the Middle Ages is set in Europe in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century is Barbara W. Tuchman's magnificent social history of Europe in the Middle Ages.

I've seen A Distant Mirror recommended several times, but not In a Dark Wood Wandering, which is also a great title.

I loved both but I found Katherine more emotionally satisfying.

I tend to always prefer well-researched historical novels!

Allegedly John of Gaunt's armor on display at the Tower of London. Six feet nine inches!

John of Gaunt and his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster. Sketch of the effigies on their tomb. John was buried next to Blanche at his own request.

A later painting of John of Gaunt made 200 years after his death.

I especially love the sketch of the effigies - they look like real people.

Hana wrote: "Allegedly John of Gaunt's armor on display at the Tower of London. Six feet nine inches!
"
Sadly, according to the Alison Weir bio of Katherine, that armor dates to the mid-sixteenth century and was made in Germany. So definitely not John's...

Marissa wrote: "Hana wrote: "Allegedly John of Gaunt's armor on display at the Tower of London. Six feet nine inches!
"
Sadly, according to the Alison Weir bio of Katherine, that armor dates to the mid-sixteenth ..."

That's ok - I was having trouble picturing him as 6'9"!

Hana wrote: "A later painting of John of Gaunt made 200 years after his death.

"

Although this picture has John as dark & Seton has him as fair...

Reading Katherine & John's biographies on Wikipedia...so the characters of Blanche/Blanchette & another daughter, Margaret were combined?

& a question - I thought Seton was Catholic herself, but can't find anything online to back it up. Anyone know?

Ok I looked up online & Seton's mother was a practicing Thesophist. Her parents divorced & Seton herself was twice divorced. So Catholic (for that era) unlikely.

Seton's father's story also interesting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_...