In 14th-century Carcassonne, the Inquisitors of the Catholic Church
hunt down the young, beautiful Abbess Marie-Francoise. Following an
apparent miracle performed in the Palace of the Popes at Avignon,
she is regarded by some as a saint but by others as a dangerous
heretic. The church is determined to burn her as a warning to
others that any unorthodox behaviour will not be tolerated. When a
mysterious illness befalls the experienced interrogator, a young
monk, Brother Michel, is forced to hear her confession, the
revelations of which shake his religious beliefs. Even more
shocking are the truths he learns about himself and his adopted
father, the Grand Inquisitor. Set against a background of Languedoc
still reeling from the persecution of Albigensians and Cathars,
this novel records a violent period of medieval history in which
the Catholic church maintained power and wealth by instilling fear
of the unknown in its members. The Race, a loose alliance of
witches, templars and Jews, all gifted with the Sight, the Touch or
the power to dream others' experiences, battle against the
prejudice and persecution which ultimately lead to their horrific
deaths at the stake. The supernatural is a dominant force in this
novel, as Sybille, the inheritor of her mother and grandmother's
Sight and Touch, is initiated into the rights of the Goddess before
assuming the role of Abbess as a cover for her proscribed
activities. Far more horrific is the depiction of the real world:
the plague, leprosy and witchburnings are recorded in sometimes
stomach-churning detail which bring home to the reader the
harshness of the medieval world. Told both through Sybille's own
words and Michel's reflections on his growing desire for her, this
is an engrossing and thought-provoking novel. (Kirkus UK)
'A sweeping historical epic and powerful romantic drama set in medieval France amid plague and war, in the time of witchcraft, and the inquisition.'
Locked in a torture chamber within the walled city of Carcassonne the Abbess Marie Francoisea listens helplessly to the screams of her sisters while she awaits the arrival of the inquisition to take her confession as 'relapsae'. As the worst of heretics, a fiery death awaits her at the stake.
The Grand Inquisitor's scribe, Brother Michel, arrives with his mentor, father Charles, to transcribe her confession, confident that her soul can be saved. But upon meeting the Abbess, Michel is assailed by a sudden, horrifying wave of desire for her: a desire that is both physical, and attended by memories of another man's life; and spiritual: for surely this is the woman he saw with his own eyes perform a miracle outside the Palace of the Popes in holy Avignon?
When Father Charles is suddenly struck down by the plague – by chance or by magic? – Michel finds himself promoted to Father, sanctioned by the Church to examine the witness and hear her confession.
As the Abbess slowly divulges her past, Michel's safe an ordered world is ripped apart. Her tale will shake the very foundation of his belief , while his heart will be trapped between the cleansing fires of Christian purity and the seductive flames of his desire.
Is there truth in her tale? Is there indeed a spiritual Race, within whom lies the true path of compassion; a Race that is being systematically rooted out and destroyed by the Catholic Church? Michel must learn the truth in the world, and in his heart, if he is to save souls including his own.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
