The Affair with John of Gaunt

Catherine’s most significant and controversial relationship was with John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, the third son of King Edward III. At the time, John was a powerful figure in England, one of the wealthiest and most influential men of the period. He was also a widower, having been married to Blanche of Lancaster, who had died in 1369.

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Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial and the Memento Mori

Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial is one of Browne’s most intriguing and philosophical works. Written in response to the discovery of a large number of ancient burial urns in Norfolk, England, the book meditates on the inevitability of death and the human desire for immortality. Browne uses the urns as symbols of the transience of life, considering how hu

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Literary and Philosophical Works

Browne's most famous works are known for their intellectual depth and literary elegance. His writing blends scientific observation with rich philosophical inquiry, often exploring themes of existence, death, and the mysteries of the natural world. His two most important works are Religio Medici (1643) and Pseudodoxia Epidemica (1646). Religio Medi

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