This is the story of John of Gaunt and the impact that he had not only on his own times, but on the history of the western world as well. Seldom does one man impact so much. It is the time when parliamentary democracy was being forged in the 'Good Parliament' (against the duke of Lancaster's strenuous opposition). When the 'Back to the Bible' philosophy that would lead to the Protestant Reformation was being shaped by John Wycliffe (and spread under the sheltering influence of John of Gaunt's arm). Fourteenth century England was where a man took a stand and the world changed directions. It was also the time when Katharine Swynford's brother-in-law, Geoffrey Chaucer, was painting the word-pictures of his times that endure to this day.
'Although Book Two in the trilogy is about John of Gaunt, and covers the years of his separation from Katharine, I never lost Katharine. I always knew where Katherine Swynford was, and what she was thinking'. Readers Focus Group
In many ways the history of both England and America has depended on the decisions John of Gaunt made, and the actions John of Gaunt took during his life time. For more than six centuries, the royal families of England (Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart...) have descended from him, and no fewer than six U. S. presidents (including George Washington and James Monroe) would descend from the love affair John of Gaunt had with his beautiful enigmatic mistress, Katherine Swynford, the woman history has forgotten! The love affair that changed the world has largely been overlooked, even though not only kings and presidents can be traced back to John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford, but also the very first seeds of the Protestant Reformation can be tracked to John of Gaunt's door and the support the mighty Duke of Lancaster gave to John Wycliffe.
This is the story of what happened behind the scenes. It covers the actions of a small group of men who formed a Lollard (Protestant) underground which changed both the history of the western world and Church History. It was a period in history where the Wycliffe Bible, the Blackfriar's Council, and the formation of a Lollard underground involved both John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford in extremely dangerous times.
Love, Honour and Royal Blood also brings to light John of Gaunt's relationship with the two principal players in this great drama of church history: John Wycliffe and William Courtenay (Archbishop of Canterbury).
The cultural revolution which swirled around John of Gaunt, his relative Geoffrey Chaucer, his friend John Wycliffe, and the love of his life Katharine Swynford, is the untold story of the 'Back to the Bible' theology which changed the world and started the Protestant Reformation.
This is John of Gaunt's story.
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