You may be familiar with Martin Luther’s reform efforts and eventual break from the Roman Church in the 1500s…
But these earlier reformershad less success and paid a terrible price:
John Wycliffe, a cleric who translated the Bible into English in the late 1300s (His followers became known as Lollards)
Jan Hus, a preacher in Prague in the early 1400s who championed Wycliffe’s ideas in Bohemia.
Why?
The Mercy Seller, Brenda Rickman Vantrease’s 2007 novel, immerses readers in the cultures in which Wycliffe and Hus lived (England and Bohemia, respectively). After reading it, I understood in a visceral way why the beliefs and reforms that Wycliffe and Hus proposed were doomed to fail in their times and locations.
Because Anna was raised with the teachings of Jan Hus in Prague, she must flee and undertake a dangerous journey, both physical and metaphorical, to find safety and a new life.
Without a guide, this young woman struggles to know whom to trust. The people she encounters challenge her view of the world, as her perspective challenges theirs.
This compelling story of courage, betrayal, persecution, and character growth also gives readers a window into an era far removed from ours.
Characters:
Some were easy to root for, others easy to hate, some evoked both emotions
Gabriel/VanCleve—title character, an English priest assigned to sell pardons/indulgences; his background and many-faceted career become central to the story
Anna—protagonist who grew up in Prague, raised with Lollard beliefs by her grandfather, Finn; she learns his trade but must flee Prague after religious persecution begins
Finn—copyist of writings of Wycliffe and gospels of the New Testament, fled from England to Prague to escape persecution of Lollards
Abbess Kathryn—leader of the abbey at Saint Martin’s that specializes in copying texts, both sacred and secular
Brother Francis—Gabriel’s spiritual father and mentor
Little Bek—abandoned handicapped boy; Anna mothers him
Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham—member of House of Lords; he and his wife use their wealth in generous ways, among which are supporting the Lollard community and the copying of religious texts into English
Prince Hal (Henry V of England)—friend of Cobham’s during their military years; torn between his need for Archbishop of Canterbury’s blessing of his coronation and his friendship with Sir John Oldcastle
Archbishop Arundel—aged, declining leader of Roman Church in England; determined to root out heresies and heretics from England
Strengths:
Characters—three-dimensional, their arcs reveal clear change; the author shows us their flaws as well as (for some) their heroic qualities
Heroic theme—self-sacrifice for one’s beliefs
Plot—fascinating threads connect the characters, including multiple generations; plot twists that keep readers on edge
Settings—portrayals of the several settings provide telling details to immerse readers
Weakness:
Alternating points of view between characters from scene to scene can confuse readers until they get their bearings.
Content review:
Readers should anticipate a few scenes of physical intimacy, but not of a graphic nature, as well as descriptions of executions in this time period.
My recommendation:
If you enjoy an exciting story of strong-willed individuals whose religious convictions lead them to risk and sacrifice their lives, and whose interactions shape their characters, I highly recommend The Mercy Seller.
Reader, can you recommend novels set in the world of John Wycliffe or Jan Hus?
If you had to choose between obeying your king or risking everything by staying true to your convictions, what would you do?
That’s the agonizing decision Jehan (Jean Pierre) Bondurant must make at the age of 18, after 11 years of captivity in a Dominican priory.
The Muse of Freedom takes place during the reign of France’s King Louis XIV, who spared no effort to rid his kingdom of any threats to his power. Though he was known as the Sun King, his policies were anything but sunny for many of his subjects. His dragonnades (troops) terrorized the Huguenots (French Protestants) whose faith called them to obey God instead of the king, breaking up their families and killing many.
Before writing The Muse of Freedom, author Jules Larimore explored his family’s genealogy. Now he crafts a deeply-researched novel (that he labels as historical fiction) in which his ancestors’ lives and choices play a major role.
Characters:
In spite of Larimore’s natural sympathy for his ancestors, his nuanced portrayal of Protestants and Roman Catholics avoids one-dimensional characters.
Jehan (Jean Pierre) Bondurant – conflicted protagonist inspired by the author’s ancestor born in 1677, perhaps a descendant of Jewish refugees persecuted in Aragon who eventually had to convert to Catholicism or flee to avoid further persecution
Amelia – female protagonist who strongly influences Jehan; she’s a sage-femme (wise woman) healer whose life history has brought her to embrace universalist beliefs, rather than either the Roman Catholic or Protestant faith.
Lucrèce – childhood friend of Jehan, she married his cousin André while Jehan lived in the priory; she helps Jehan adapt to life outside the priory
Curé Gellion – parish priest; Jehan’s nemesis who tormented him during and after his years in the priory
Prieur Chabert – Jehan’s tutor during his years in the priory; a more tolerant and sympathetic face of French Catholicism
Children of God – breakaway Protestant group that held clandestine assemblies to evade persecution by French king’s dragoons; they did not always choose pacifism in response to persecution
Strengths:
This novel uses beautiful description to show the complex background of the people of Cévenoles, in the Languedoc region of southern France, as well as the conflicting forces tugging at Jehan and his countrymen.
Weakness:
The slow pace of plot development demands patience on reader’s part.
Content review:
The novel contains numerous references to violence.
The Muse of Freedomwill appeal to readers with an interest in the era of France’s Sun King (Louis XIV) who desire a fuller picture of how he obtained and maintained his absolute power, and especially to those ready to challenge themselves with the question, “What would I do if I were in Jehan’s situation?”
Reader, can you recommend other novels whose characters must choose between loyalty to their rulers and their faith?
Bethia,a sympathetic young girl with old-fashioned beliefs?
or
Will,her obnoxious brother who sacrifices everything (including the well-being of his family and town) for his new faith?
Fortunately, you don’t have to make that choice when you read In The Castilians, the first novel in VEH Masters’ series, The Seton Chronicles. Both characters play major roles in this novel based on the dramatic siege of St. Andrews Castle, Scotland, in 1546.
The author tells a suspenseful story, keeping readers engaged as they observe how members of the same family and their neighbors respond very differently to the Protestant Reformation. Family divisions result, and even the siege of the town’s castle.
Masters vividly describes the dilemmas of the main characters, and I couldn’t put this novel down as I worried about their fates.
Both become trapped:
Bethia can’t escape the restricted, vulnerable life of women of her era
Will suffers through the siege of the castle because of his strong convictions
I appreciated the balanced treatment of Protestant and Catholic characters—neither were vilified because of their religious beliefs— and I was fascinated to learn that John Knox, the Scottish reformer, actually played a role in this story. In addition, the period details brought the story to life, but didn’t overwhelm me.
Initially, I struggled to glean the meaning of a few Scottish words from their context, but the glossary (near the end of the ebook), solved the problem.
(Content rating: no nudity, some fight scene violence, one scene of attempted sexual violence)
My recommendation:
I highly recommendThe Castilians to readers who enjoy strong characters, mild romance, and an exciting story that immerses you in a key era of Scotland’s history. (By the way, this novel is on sale on Amazon Kindle this week!)
Readers, have you enjoyed other novels about Scottish history? Please share them!
I’m pleased to feature the author of The Castilians, VEH Masters, who answers questions about this novel and her writing process.
Keep reading for the inside story!
My own writing news:
I’m revising the draft of my latest historical novel, (working title is Lucia’s Odyssey; it’s the sequel to Lucia’s Renaissance). I hope to publish it later this year.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH VEH MASTERS:
What drew you to focus your novel on this moment and event in the history of St. Andrews?
I grew up on a farm just outside St Andrews, Scotland, and went to school in the town. It’s a very dramatic place – you can’t miss the ruins of the cathedral – but the castle is tucked away in a corner so I wasn’t really aware of it. Our history teacher, Miss Grubb, took us a visit when I was twelve.
I was fascinated to learn about the siege of 1546 especially when we crept down the siege tunnel dug then and peered into the bottle dungeon where the murdered cardinal’s body is said to have been kept, pickled in salt. And when I heard that the men who took the castle by force and held it for over 14 months against all comers called themselves the Castilians I remember feeling this shiver of excitement and thinking, that’s a perfect title for a book.
How did you discover details of that time and place?
Lots and lots and lots of research. It helped that I could visit the town regularly and use the university library. I was sure someone must have written a book on the history of the siege as it’s quite an important moment in Scottish history of the 1500s – but I guess we have so many important moments historians are spoilt for choice. So I had to piece together what happened. I kept delving back into source books to understand why they did what they did; there were so many different layers to the story and I really wanted to get it right.
Did you discover surprises while researching this novel?
Plenty of surprises…
I hadn’t understood how down the middle of events King Henry VIII of England was, as he tried to bludgeon Scotland into accepting a marriage between the infant Mary Queen of Scots and his son Prince Edward. The men holding the castle were supporting Henry – many of them receiving pensions from him. He called them his assured Scots (the phrase makes my blood boil!).
And the Earl of Arran who led the government troops trying to get the Castilians out was nicknamed Whiffle-Whaffle…because he could never make up his mind.
And then there are lovely wee details such as Cardinal Beaton travelling with his four-poster bed (and much other baggage) wherever he went.
How much did you have to deviate from history to create a satisfying story?
I followed the historical events faithfully. Of course, I had to imagine what it would’ve been like for my characters, Bethia living in the town while the siege was going on, and her brother Will in the castle for 14 months and how stinking the castle would be and short of food. I had great fun with some scenes such as when the Castilians are excommunicated by the Pope – it was referred to as the Great Cursing.
What were the most challenging aspects of writing this novel?
Making sure I didn’t make some error with the events. St Andrews is a university town and I kept imagining some academic picking it up and tossing it away in disgust. I was fortunate that Dr Bess Rhodes, whose period this is, read the book and joined my online launch.
What did you enjoy about writing this novel?
I had to be very self disciplined to get it written. The best moment was when I held the finished print book in my hand. I love it when readers write to me about the book – and some even made suggestions which I incorporated into the next in sequel. And that first 5 star review, from a generous American reviewer, prepared to look at an unknown writer’s work, was magical.
What do you hope readers will take away after reading The Castilians?
I hope most of all that people will find it a cracking good read, be immersed in the story and cheering for Bethia and Will.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
I set out to write one book but when I finished it more than one person asked me what’s happens next to Bethia and Will…so thesequel The Conversos is out now, and third in series will be released later this year. All thanks to Miss Grubb and her history lesson!
PS I love a good blether with my readers so please do get in touch.
PPs There are Book Group Questions for The Castilians and The Conversos available to download from my website https://vehmasters.com/
Thank you, VEH Masters, for sharing your writing journey with us!
What would you do if you were a David in a small nation, facing down a Goliath, a giant enemy who appeared to be coming to destroy your town and kill everyone you loved?
Would you try to reason with him, run, hide, or fight?
The Dutch people confronted this dilemma in the last half of the 1500s:
Many of the Dutch had left the Roman Church. Now they followed the teachings of Jean Calvin. They were desperate to keep their freedoms—religious and political.
Emperor Charles V, the Dutch ruler, didn’t interfere with their religious diversity
When Philip II, Charles’s son and a fanatical member of the Roman Church, took overin 1555, he showed the Dutch no tolerance and sent in Spanish troops to consolidate his power.
How did the Dutch respond?
Depending on their ages, occupations, and religions:
Some tried to negotiate with the Spanish
Some fled as Spanish armies approached
Some fought, on land or sea
Dutch Sea beggars were viewed by some as patriots, by others as pirates, and yet by others as a combination of both (similar to Francis Drake in England).
This month I discuss Cecelia’s novel, Sea Beggars. It not only entertains but can help us reflect on how such choices impact the lives of individuals and nations.
Readers, what would you have done? Would you judge the characters as heroes or villains?
Were the Sea Beggars brave freedom fighters or evil pirates? The answer to this question will determine if you view this novel’s characters as heroes or villains.
This novel immediately sets readers in the midst of big trouble, as the vastly under-armed Dutch struggle for independence from the Western world’s dominant military power, Spain, and its ally, the Roman Church.
What’s the magic of this story? Author Cecelia Holland skillfully portrays how ordinary people cope with war’s brutal consequences—in this case, how Spain’s domination dramatically changes the lives of the (fictional) van Cleef family members, each in a unique way. The story follows and builds upon each character’s journey through the tumultuous era.
In particular, the transformation of the youthful characters especially kept me hooked—the daughter, Hanneke, a bright girl who chafes at the restrictions she faces due to her gender, and the son, Jan, who rebels against his father’s approach to life, viewing it as too conservative. I found this novel hard to put down as I became invested in the characters’ fates.
I recommend Sea Beggars to readers who enjoy a well-crafted historical novel with lots of action, accurate to history (except when noted), with period details, and don’t mind some battle scenes, violence, and a bit of sex (all true to the era).
How would you describe the current mood in your part of the world?
In many places, today’s theme might be division rather than unity.
Is our time unique?
Over the centuries, internal divisions accelerated the decline of many powerful civilizations—ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, China’s Shang Dynasty, the British Empire, among many others.
Today’s book review focuses on France, with a riveting novel, The Brethren, (first of 13 in the Fortunes of France series) painting a picture of how religious and political conflicts between Catholics and Protestants led to decades of religious wars, many deaths, and the dissolution of French national unity.
To help our nations avoid these pitfalls, may we treat our neighbors with love and respect, whatever our differences!
Readers, what ways have you found to show compassion to your neighbors?
Pierre de Siorac, the second son of a fervent Protestant father and no less devout Catholic mother, tells the story of his Protestant (Huguenot) family in Périgord, France. Through his adolescent eyes and the difficult choices he, his family members and household face, readers see how the religious conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots threaten to tear France (and Pierre’s family) apart. This novel shows the very real impact of religion on the lives of common people as well as elites in 16th-century France—for instance, converts to the Huguenot faith lost 50 holidays (celebrating Roman Church saints) each year.
The Brethrenbegins a saga about France’s history. Although the novel’s rich background is closely based on facts, the author labels it as historical fiction, allowing him to fictionalize the family at the heart of this story. The author’s detailed portrayal of life details, history, and religious practice lays the groundwork for the French religious wars and their aftermath.
Clearly-drawn characters with strong, distinct perspectives and goals breathe life and emotion into this novel, drawing readers through decades of shifting policies of rulers, military commanders, clerics and lay religious leaders.
I recommend The Brethren to readers who enjoy an expansive story that transports them to a bygone era, and I look forward to reading the next volumes of this saga.
My rating: Life in this era was often messy and violent, so readers shouldn’t be surprised to encounter violence and intimacy outside marriage in The Brethren.
What do you think of when someone mentions France?
The Eiffel Tower, fantastic cuisine, stylish clothing, or romantic movies?
What about a breeding ground for the Reformed branch of the Protestant Church?
How can this be? France is a Catholic nation.
Jean Calvin, a Frenchman, was a key figure of the Reformed (as opposed to the Lutheran) branch of the church that broke away from Roman Catholicism. He fled to Geneva, Switzerland, for his own safety.
Believe it or not, hundreds of Protestantchurches sprang up throughout France, and as much as 10% of France’s population considered themselves Huguenots (Reformed Protestants) before persecution began in earnest.
But kings, popes, and powerful families wanted to stay in control, so 36 years of religious wars resulted, followed by more Huguenot rebellions.
Eventually, the Catholic French kings prevailed, and surviving Protestants had to flee or hide their beliefs.
The City of Tears, (The Burning Chambers Series Book 2) an engaging new novel by Kate Mosse, takes place during that volatile period of French history.
Although this was a difficult time for Protestants in France, it’s a very exciting story that I found difficult to put down. Here’s why:
Plot—A wonderful weaving of historical events with emotional arcs, this is a riveting story of a family’s struggles through two decades of France’s religious wars.
Setting—The fully-created world made me feel like I was there, with details about life and locations, but it wasn’t overloaded with description.
Characters— I loved the strong, three-dimensional characters. but I wished I could prevent some unfortunate choices by the heroes. I could sympathize even with the villains.
I haven’t yet read Burning Chambers (Book 1 in this series), but hope to soon so I can fully understand the backstory of City of Tears.
I would give City of Tears a moderate rating, as it includes significant violence (fitting for that time) and fade-out love scenes.
Readers, imagine yourself as a resident of France during this time period. Whatever your beliefs, how would you have responded to religious conflicts—fled, helped your neighbors, hidden your beliefs?
