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 Freedom will 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?