A glowing first novel that brings us historical fiction in the grand epic manner, beautifully felt and written* It is England, in the fourteenth century--a time of plague, political unrest and the earliest stirrings of the Reformation. The printing press had yet to be invented, and books were rare and costly, painstakingly lettered by hand and illuminated with exquisite paintings. Finn is a master illuminator who works not only for the Church but also, in secret, for John Wycliffe of Oxford, who professes the radical idea ...
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A glowing first novel that brings us historical fiction in the grand epic manner, beautifully felt and written* It is England, in the fourteenth century--a time of plague, political unrest and the earliest stirrings of the Reformation. The printing press had yet to be invented, and books were rare and costly, painstakingly lettered by hand and illuminated with exquisite paintings. Finn is a master illuminator who works not only for the Church but also, in secret, for John Wycliffe of Oxford, who professes the radical idea that the Bible should be translated into English for everyone to read. Finn has another secret as well, one that leads him into danger when he meets Lady Kathryn of Blackingham Manor, a widow struggling to protect her inheritance from the depredations of Church and Crown alike. Finn's alliance with Lady Kathryn will take us to the heart of what Barbara Tuchman once called the calamitous fourteenth century. Richly detailed and irresistibly compelling, The Illuminator is a glorious story of love, art, religion, and treachery at an extraordinary turning point in history.
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Very fine writing, good historical background and information, very appealing characters; be sure to read the next book in this fine duo: The Mercy Seller. Excellent reading.
donna
Apr 28, 2008
Bringing light to a dark world
The opposition to translating the Scriptures into English is the backdrop for this enthralling historical novel. It tells the story of a love shared by Finn,who illuminates manuscripts which are painstakingly copied by hand, and the Lady Kathryn, a recent widow of a loveless marriage. There a lots of supporting characters and lots of action in this well written novel of love lost and found. The author has written a sequel to this novel called Th Mercy Seller which is just as good if not better.
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