"Seton spent several years researching , and her book has been repeatedly commended for its . It has even been listed in the bibliographies of works of historical nonfiction, which is no mean achievement. On the debit side, this has resulted in it achieving more credibility for accuracy than it deserves ... It is important to note that Katherine is essentially a novel, and although its author made impressive and commendable efforts to get her facts right, there are three good reasons why we should not accept hers as a valid portrayal of the historical . First, Katherine is essentially of its own time. Seton's is derived partly from nineteenth-century perception of him ... and partly from Clark Gable's portrayal of in Gone With the Wind: ... one Internet reviewer described John of Gaunt, as depicted in the novel, as the "sexiest hero since Rhett Butler." ... Second, Katherine is as much about Anya Seton as it is about Katherine Swynford. ... The third reason we should be cautious in accepting Anya Seton's portrayal of Katherine Swynford as historically accurate is that Katherine is essentially a romantic novel in the classic sense. ... Threaded through it are the classic romantic clichés of remembered childhood, , cruel conflict, and lonely exile."