Saralee Says
What do you do if you retire as a librarian and have a love of books and history? If you are Nashvillian Brenda Rickman Vantrease, you write a novel to be praised by critics around the world.
If you are a fan of historical fiction like I am and love authors like Edward Rutherford — London: The Novel (Fawcett) — and Tracy Chevalier — Girl with a Pearl Earring (Dutton) — then you have a great reason to rejoice. Vantrease has joined the ranks of writers who have the gift of weaving stories that blend history with fiction, and The Illuminator (St. Martin’s Press) is so good that she has already signed a contract to write a sequel.
Only religious officials and the very rich had copies of the Bible in 14th century England and other parts of Europe. The Bible and other books were written in Latin and French. England was changing to an English speaking country from a country where the language, writing and rulers were part of the Norman French. The common people had to depend upon the church to tell them what the Bible said.
John Wycliffe wanted to change that and, in reality, was a leading force in pushing for an English translation of the Bible. The chance for everyone to read the Bible threatened the powers that be and it is in this setting that Vantrease sets her story.
Lady Kathryn is a widow who runs her estate in England, Blackingham Manor. She is on the verge of being broke. Her husband was a knight who was killed in a war fighting over which man would be pope.
Kathryn has two sons: Alfred, the heir who is hot tempered, sexually active, and ambitious; and Colin, who is sensitive and spiritually motivated. Between supporting the church and her king, Kathryn is having a hard time producing enough wool to make ends meet.
She takes in a boarder, Finn, who is an illuminator that draws elaborate designs and letters on manuscripts. Finn has a daughter, Rose, and teenage hormones quickly take over the actions of Rose and one of Kathryn’s sons. The consequences of these actions are at the heart of the elaborate and fascinating plot of Vantrease’s first book.
My favorite character, however, is Julian of Norwich, who is said to be the first woman author to write in English. I hope she appears in the next Vantrease novel. Julian of Norwich was a mystic and wrote the Divine Revelations of Love (Penguin Classics).
Larry’s Language
Some things never change. In 14th century England, John Wycliffe, the English religious reformer and anti-tax movement leader, criticized church leadership because of its involvement in politics and secular power conflicted with religion and the teachings of the Bible.
Wycliffe’s speeches read very similarly to current newspaper articles about the inherent conflicts between religion and government. Of course, like so many, Wycliffe’s arguments depended on which book of the Bible was in question and whether he was quoting the Latin version, the Norman French version, the Greek version or the version he wanted to publish in English.
Author Vantrease has avoided these dry academic disputes by emphasizing the fiery religious fights and the personal romantic affairs in The Illuminator, her debut novel about religion, money, sex and power in the English Middle Ages. This book rings with authenticity because of Vantrease’s clever writing style, her detailed historical research, her fascinating fictional characters and her decision to include several real persons known to history lovers for both their warts and their charms.
This is the story of Finn, a radical artist struggling to be a good single parent to his 16-year-old daughter Rose while avoiding the danger of prosecution for religious crimes. It is also the resistance of Lady Kathryn to the male-dominated power structure of the church, society and the royal court and her personal and intimate situation with Finn while their children copy their behavior.
This tale would make a great epic movie because of the intensity and passion of the lovers during a time of upheaval, murders, and a bloody revolution — plus the personal involvement of a brave dwarf and a female mystic.
Join us for our next book club discussion which will feature He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys (Simon Spotlight Entertainment) by Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo and Lauren Monchik.
