Catherine of Terre Belle

About the Book

France, 1300. The revolutionary concept of romantic love promises to change civilization, but is challenged by the Church, which views women as “the beginning of sin and the root of all evil.” The Church decrees that a wife can lie with her husband only for procreation, and that she must take no pleasure in the act. Troubadours sing odes to 17-year-old Catherine, the sublimely beautiful daughter of a wealthy baron. Even though granted the uncommon boon of an excellent education, the frivolous Catherine opines, “The only geometry that concerns me is my figure.” Unwilling to enter an arranged marriage, she astonishes herself by falling in love with Charles, a peasant who dubs himself “a thief and a poet.” The death of her father shatters her life of adoration and privilege. She becomes a pawn of the king of France, who forces her into a marriage for political purposes. Subjected to cruelty and humiliation, Catherine vows to regain her freedom and re-establish control over the estates stolen from her. She defies the social and religious conventions of the era in a desperate struggle to reclaim her lost splendor. Charles uses his loot to purchase a knighthood, then proves his valor in battle. He loves the robust Jeannette -- and Catherine. The women become fierce rivals, but gradually develop a grudging friendship, founded in their common willingness to challenge propriety. The offbeat love story unfolds against a backdrop of one of the most significant but little-noted events in world history, the momentous duel between crown (King Philip the Fair) and cross (Pope Boniface VIII). At the peak of his prestige, Boniface establishes 1300 as the Holy Year of Jubilee, the first such celebration in history. However, the pope’s avarice and cunning lead to disaster. Charles is deeply involved in the intrigues that unseat the Roman Pontiff and forever change the course of European affairs. The overlapping loves of Catherine, Jeannette and Charles are complicated when Jeannette has a baby. The lovers are determined to resolve their dilemma once and for all time -- but how? From pagan dances in the churchyard to the excitement of Champagne trade fairs to tournament jousting, Catherine of Terre Belle abounds with colorful anecdotes that capture the pageantry and spirit of medieval France. This twist-filled historical romance is populated by unforgettable characters swept up in a maelstrom of forbidden passion and religious upheaval.

About the Author

After a 30-year career in journalism, corporate communications and speechwriting, Kenneth Warren Jones turned his research skills and long-time interest in history to a new endeavor: Catherine of Terre Belle is his first novel. A past winner of the Jacksonville University play writing contest, Jones has several screenplays circulating in Hollywood. He lives in California’s picturesque Napa Valley.