Alison Weir Talk: Katherine Swynford
Alison Weir Talk: Katherine Swynford at Rook Lane Arts Centre, Frome
About the show
Join bestselling author, historian and novelist Dr Alison Weir for a vivid portrayal of the remarkable medieval duchess Katherine Swynford in this enthralling talk about her life.
Learn about Katherine's extraordinary story as passionate lover to John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, her courtly influence and why many of her contemporaries considered her enigmatic, intriguing and even dangerous. Upon becoming a knight's orphan, Katherine was adopted by Queen Philippa's household, beginning an education and lifestyle accustomed to the Royal Court, not ordinarily accessible to someone from her level of society. She later became sister-in-law to Geoffrey Chaucer, a witness to the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 and named a Lady of the Garter.
Having famously rescued Katherine from the footnotes of history, Alison will peel back meticulously researched layers of her story to reveal an astute, influential medieval woman.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear Dr Alison Weir's gifted storytelling in person and deepen your understanding of Katherine Swynford's extraordinary life and legacy, previously written out of history.
This talk will include a 20-minute interval, 15-minute audience Q&A and book signing in partnership with Hunting Ravens Bookshop. A broad selection of Alison's books will be available to purchase, including her latest spellbinding Tudor novel The Boleyn Secret, newly released in paperback in February 2027.
Featuring - Alison Weir
Alison Weir is the biggest selling female historian in the UK. Alison Weir's first book, 'Britain's Royal Families', was published in 1989. She has since written a further fourteen history books, including 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII', 'Elizabeth the Queen', 'Eleanor of Aquitaine', 'Katherine Swynford' and 'The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn'. Alison has also published three historical novels, Innocent Traitor, The Lady Elizabeth and The Captive Queen.