Just Readin'

Not gonna lie, I'm not a big fan of Henry IV. Everyone's always trying to tell me "but blah blah blah Falstaff", "but blah blah blah power politics" and I'm like "eh, cool story bro". But one scene from this play has always fascinated me: Act II, Scene III. This scene is unique in the play, not only is it the only scene to include a woman (at least a woman who actually has lines) but because it gives us a unique glimpse into domestic life and issues of gender. That one speaking female character is Lady Percy, also known as Kate (although her real life counterpart's name was Elizabeth). Kate is a woman in a man's world. As her husband, Henry Percy, Hotspur, famously says: ...this is no world / To play with mammets [dolls] and to tilt with lips: / We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns... -William Shakespeare But what is interesting about Kate is the way she attempts to resist this world centered on patriarchy. She is

So, I recently discovered the novel Katherine by Anya Seton. I don't know what it is, but there's something about historical fiction that was written in the 1950s that's just irresistible. I simply devoured this novel. Seton writes with true mastery and style (rare in modern historical fiction); she has a flair for description, and incorporates fact and fiction seamlessly while adding a deft touch of humor and magic. In case you don't know, Katherine is the best known work of author Anya Seton, a true master work in many respects, and considered a classic by many. The novel follows the story of Katherine Swynford, the mistress of the famous John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Considered one of the greatest true medieval love stories, Katherine was Gaunt's mistress for nearly decades before he married her in what can only be described as a fairy tale ending. This fascinating book tells Katherine's story through war, revolt, heart break, and reconciliation.