Customer Reviews

Daughters of the Grail

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I maintain that Dan Brown, who wrote the Da Vinci Code, got all his ideas from this book. Not that's bad, since this a great book with many intriguing ideas. I just wish everyone who was so thrilled with the Da Vinci Code would read this for comperason...

This book tells the story of Bridget, who is a descendent of Mary Magdalene and Jesus's brother, and is living in southern France in the 1200's. Because she is constantly being sought and attacked by the Catholic Church she hides out with Templar nights and Cathers, a religious sect of the time who believe in a god of light. Bridget is a pagan worshiper of the goddess, but she believes in Cather ideals of being kind to one another.

Bridget knows she must have a daughter to carry on her line. She chooses a man, Raoul de Montvallant, who is all ready married to father her child. They have one night of passion and Bridget moves on to give birth to a girl, Magda. Meanwhile, Raoul's wife Claire is captured by Simon De Montfort (the elder, not the one who lived in England and rebelled against Henry III) and raped by him. She gives birth to a young boy who is raised by Montfort's spiteful wife and monks. He is named Dominic.

Dominic and Bridget's daughter Magda are meant to be together. But as the Crusade against the Cathers gathers strength and traps hundreds of faithful, among them Raoul, Clair, Bridget, Magda and Raoul's and Clair's son (from before she was raped) in a mountain stronghold. It's up to Dominic to save his beloved...and the bloodline that is the Holy Grail.

This book is thrilling, romantic, very intelligent and informative and by far the best of Chadwick's novels I have read to date. It is out of print, but not difficult to find at all and well worth the effort to locate.

It was a new month, and that means I got to pick out another title of Elizabeth Chadwick's to read. (I am trying very hard to pace out my enjoyment of her novels so that I neither get burnout, nor run out of something new of hers to read.) This month's selection was her novel about the Albigensian Crusades of the early thirteenth century, Daughters of the Grail.

And I'll freely admit it, I tend to be rather skeptical of stories that blend the whole 'holy grail' bit in with history. I've read so much on the topic over the years that the subject holds absolutely no interest for me whatsoever. Still, the novel was by Elizabeth Chadwick, and happy experience have taught me that she's a damn fine writer, and knows her craft very well.

When the novel opens, young Bridget is with her dying mother Magda in a cave high up in the Pyrennes mountains of France. Southern France at this time is being ravaged by religious controversy between the Catholic Church and the breakaway Cathars. The Cathars are pacifists, with beliefs that diverge wildly from the norm -- they believe in equality, that women could preach, that the world was in reality sinful and ruled by the Rex Mundi, a spirit of evil. But the secret that Bridgt and her mother have, that would rock all of Christianity to its very origins -- if they remain alive to carry it into the future. Madga makes Bridget promise to remain alive and bear a child, and to seek help from the Cathars who will aid her.

Wandering with two Cathar companions, Bridget meets Raoul de Montvallant, a young knight, on his wedding day to the beautiful Claire. They notice one another, and while Bridget is aware of both his strength and beauty, she does not act on her own desire. And Raoul is very much in love with his young wife. Beyond the happy events, a larger storm is about to descend, where the Catholic church is about to declare war on fellow Christians, and unleash a time of brutal barbarism.

The third player in this drama is a baron in northern France. He is a brutal man, rigid in his beliefs and behaviour, and skilled in warfare. Simon de Montfort is an ambitious man, wanting more power and lands under his control and determined to win fame for himself and his liniage. When the word comes that the Church is to hunt out Catharism and crush it out, he gladly goes to war.

Raoul and Claire, despite their love for each other, find themselves separated by fate and coping with devastating losses. Bridget is able to continue on. And the Cathars are facing death and terrible retribution for their beliefs. In the next generation, we see their children carry on their story, culminating in the tragedies of Montsegur.

In all honesty, I tend to avoid novels that try to blend mysticism and history, finding them much too overwrought for me to suspend my rather skeptical nature. But as I read, I found this story actually enjoyable. Bridget is a woman of great sensitivity, using her gifts for healing with compassion, even when it may mean future danger for herself and others. And Chadwick's presentation of the Cathars has them make sense, and shows quite a bit of their customs and lifestyle, both of which would have been outright heresy to most of the medieval world. But most compelling was the story about Simon de Montfort -- to modern minds he is a vicious, barbaric man, and I found him to be one of the more loathsome villans in history.

As always with Chadwick, her writing style is vivid and flows well, carrying the reader quickly along as the lives of these four people intertwine, along with a healthy dose of the mystical world. While I'm not a big fan of the entire controversy about Mary Magdalene, this is one of the better versions of the story.

Along with the novel, Chadwick discusses some of her ideas in an afterword, and reveals some of the facts behind the story as well as giving a list of further books to read on the subject of the Cathars and religious dissent in thirteenth century France. I would also suggest Zoe Oldenbourg's novels about the same time period and topic, especially Destiny of Fire.

Four stars. Recommended.

This is really one of the best books I have ever read. It's not Gone With the Wind or the Far Pavilions, but it's pretty darn close. So much of the historical fiction I read is centered in England, Scotland and Wales, and I enjoyed reading about this period in history in southern France and about a religion I knew nothing about (having not yet read The DaVinci Code).

This was an exciting tale of Cathars, Knights Templar, evil priests, Bridget and her daughter Magda - descended from Mary Magdelene, all battling the Roman Catholic Church that is bent on destroying them, and finishes with a heart-stopping page turning, can't put it down until it's done finish. It always astounds me the evil that men will do in the name of "god", and that it continues to this day.

I had found this book used in the US last year, and the first time I read it I knew nothing about Simon DeMontfort (the second) and what he tried to accomplish for England before his tragic end. Although I know the part he plays in this novel, with his illegitimate half brother Dominic, is just a story, it was nice to see some glimpses of him in a minor role as a young boy and then a young man. To learn more about this incredible man, please read Sharon Kay Penman's Falls the Shadow.

As always with Chadwick's books, the way she brings the medieval period to life in such a graceful and effortless way, be it the sights, sounds, smells, food, clothes and battles is just awesome. Five stars.

I have no idea why this book is listed in two different places on Amazon. But it is, so here is my review, which can also be found on the other "Daughters of the Grail" page.

I maintain that Dan Brown, who wrote the Da Vinci Code, got all his ideas from this book. Not that's bad, since this a great book with many intriguing ideas. I just wish everyone who was so thrilled with the Da Vinci Code would read this for comparison...

This book tells the story of Bridget, who is a descendent of Mary Magdalene and Jesus' brother, and is living in southern France in the 1200's. Because she is constantly being sought and attacked by the Catholic Church she hides out with Templar nights and Cathers, a religious sect of the time who believe in a god of light. Bridget is a pagan worshiper of the goddess, but she believes in Cather ideals of being kind to one another.

Bridget knows she must have a daughter to carry on her line. She chooses a man, Raoul de Montvallant, who is all ready married to father her child. They have one night of passion and Bridget moves on to give birth to a girl, Magda. Meanwhile, Raoul's wife Claire is captured by Simon De Montfort (the elder, not the one who lived in England and rebelled against Henry III) and raped by him. She gives birth to a young boy who is raised by Montfort's spiteful wife and monks. He is named Dominic.

Dominic and Bridget's daughter Magda are meant to be together. But as the Crusade against the Cathers gathers strength and traps hundreds of faithful, among them Raoul, Clair, Bridget, Magda and Raoul's and Clair's son (from before she was raped) in a mountain stronghold. It's up to Dominic to save his beloved...and the bloodline that is the Holy Grail.

This book is thrilling, romantic, very intelligent and informative and by far the best of Chadwick's novels I have read to date. It was out of print, but has been reprinted which will definitely help more readers get to know this amazing novel. If reading this makes you interested in the Cathers, there are many other books out there (fiction and non) about this quite amazing, forgotten religion, which I've always seen as a little bit of a blend of the best parts of Christianity with paganism.

Read this, and then, if you must, read the Da Vinci code. I swear he got all of his ideas from this book.

Five stars.

Elizabeth Chadwick brings the Albigensian Crusade, and the demise of the Cathars at the hands of over-zealous Catholics, to life. The book opens in Languedoc during 1207 and closes in England in 1245. It covers the crusades lead by Simon de Montfort, the 5th Earl of Leicester, who died in 1218.

The story covers two generations of Cathars. It centers around the lives of Bridget (a woman who claims to be descended from the Magdalane), Raoul (Catholic in name, but sympathizes with the Cathars) and Claire (Raoul's wife who later becomes a Cathar). Later, it introduces other characters important to the story - Magda (Bridget and Raoul's daughter), Dominic (Claire's son, resulting from her rape by de Montfort) and Guillaume (Claire's and Rauol's son).

The horror of de Montfort's zealotry is what sticks in my mind most after reading the book. The relentless cruelty with which he pursued the Cathars seemingly knew no bounds. Those who read Sharon Kay Penman's Falls the Shadow will come to understand where the Simon de Montfort (son of the 5th Earl of Leicester) of that story got his religious views.

Woven lightly into the Cathar-Catholic story is the thread of the Magdalane and the bloodline of the Holy Grail. This is very much a secondary theme. It provides the only avenue for a happy ending.

A definite 5-star read!

The Middle Ages is Elizabeth Chadwick's home away from home. A British author, her website notes that she does research through participation in reenactments of Medieval life. Having suffered way too much from anachronistic novels, I always grab one of her books with pleasure knowing that her Middle Ages is deeper than wall paper on the computer screen.

This book is a multigenerational novel (don't be put off) dealing with the events surrounding the suppression of the Cathars by the Catholic Church in 13th century Languedoc. However, the author concentrates on the lives of a mother and daughter who stand outside both the Cathar and the Catholic religions, the keeper of a treasure that their family has been guarding down the ages.

Because of the connection between the England and France (remember Normandy and the Aquitaine), this inevitably draws in some nobles who also are also well known figures in English history. An entertaining historical novel with touches of fantasy.

Elizabeth Chadwick has a string of excellent historical novels behind her. Much of her research is carried out as a member of a medieval re-enactment society called Regia Anglorum. Many of her books could I suppose be called historical romances, but certainly not in the Mills and Boon mode. Her books are well written historical fiction that may or may not have a romantic attachment woven into them. Her books are not directed at a male or female audience, they are for everyone with a love of historical novels.

This novel takes place in thirteenth century France. Bridget a direct descendant of Mary Magdalene is part of an unbroken female line who have kept alive a legacy of wisdom for over 1,000 years. But the powerful Holy Catholic Church has vowed to destroy Bridget for using her healing gifts and supernatural talents.

Bridget, while trying to avoid the clutches of the church knows that she has a duty to continue the bloodline and this leads her to Raoul de Montvallant, himself a Catholic. But when the churches religious intolerance becomes unbearable it forces Raoul to become a rebel. Then Simon de Montfort the powerful Catholic leader exacts a frightful vengeance . . .

So I have known about Elizabeth Chadwick and her HUGE following for a while now, but it was only recently that I caved and decided to give her a shot. Despite all my mates telling me how brilliant she was, I am ashamed to admit my expectations were not high. For some reason I just don't like the 'standard/typical' authors for this genre, an example being Anya Seton. A friend whom I trust completely strongly recommended that I try Daughter's of the Grail, and I concede that my prior prejudices were totally unfounded. This woman is a LEGEND.

Daughter's of the Grail centres on the living female descendants of Mary Magdalene. Mother and Daughter for generations have lived solitary existences, using their exceptional gifts to protect their lineage and heal the sick and weak. Our main characters are Bridget and her daughter Magda, who travel around the country whilst being chased by the Roman Church, who wish to destroy them as heretics- but mainly because they pose a great threat to the Church and its beliefs/ideologies. Many characters are introduced to us along the way; some are fictional and some are based on true historical figures, and the reader gets to see how all of their lives are entwined throughout the book.

Chadwick has effortlessly weaved fiction with fact as she chronicles the lives led by Bridget and Magda. Her knowledge of the period is exceptional, right down to her knowledge of military equipment (which she explains in minute detail). Chadwick writes with confidence throughout the book, and despite all the historical detail never loses sight of her plot. Her characters are all three dimensional and unique, and are so alive they jump off the page. Clothes, food, smells and sound come alive in vivid detail and provide a truly unique reading experience.

My review scarcely does this book justice- how to describe the emotions one feels throughout the duration of this book? The fear, the suspense, the love, the joy, the pain- the unbelievable feeling of "Oh My God"? The gorgeous sights and sounds of Medieval life passing by? The textures of the clothing, the cold and the hot of the weather? Chadwick is an exceptional story teller, and this book should be read by everyone. I am battling the clock to get all her books before they go out of print- trust me, I will succeed. Daughter's of the Grail has surpassed my expectations entirely and has become one of my all time favourite books. Elizabeth Chadwick is a Legend, move over Philippa Gregory- there is a new Queen of historical fiction.

5 stars.

In this powerful tale set in the 13th century Elizabeth Chadwick reveals a time fraught with spiritual intolerance. Not unlike our circumstances in modern times, we witness a religious entity hijacked by zealots bent on wiping out those whom they brand heretics -- at any cost. In the thirteenth century it is the Roman Catholic religion which has been gripped by this chronic disease of humanity.

Branding their Cathar cousins as religious outcasts the pontiffs of the Roman Catholic church are enraged by the southern French Aristocrats who view the apolstilstic nature of these people as harmless. Intent exterminating this branch of the Christian faith, armies of black coated Friars spend years infiltrating these more liberal minded lands identifying and preaching persecution that is reaching a crescendo by the middle of Chadwick's chronicle.

When the vicious Friar Dominique Bernard discovers a secret line of women living among the Cathars who's miraculous abilities must either label them Saints or witches -- branded witches they are. His life's work becomes his obsession of not only wiping out the heretical Cathars, but wiping out what is left of this mystic line.

As acclaimed descendents of the grail bloodline the main characters, Bridget and her daughter Magda, epitomize that which we would expect of such kin. Using their healing abilities to assist both peasant and nobles, they interact with prominent historical figures of the time period invoking passion and curiosity in all whom their path crosses.

Romance and adventure are not absent from this tale as we re-live the persecution and inevitable extinction of a gentle, devout, people.

Although this book was originally published in 1993, this is a first read for me on this author. This is a compelling story for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, and adventure.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and this is one of my favourite novels, on par with The Mists of Avalon and The Pillars Of The Earth, if not in scope (this one is only 500 pages long) then in literary experience.

Set in 13th century France, Daughters of the Grail tells the story of the Cathar faith, a spiritual movement of Christian origins that opposed the corruption, violence and materialism of the Catholic Church. As the Cathar movements gains momentum, the Catholic leaders organize a bloody crusade (now known as the Albigensian Crusade) to wipe out all "heretics".

Bridget, a powerful healer and psychic descended from Mary Magdalene, is at the heart of the story. Her role is to carry the on the spiritual blood lineage (the Holy Grail) and pass on her healing talents, while evading persecution by the Catholic Church. Other characters include Luke, a Templar Knight, Raoul, a noble Cathar sympathizer, Claire, his wife, Friar Bernard an over-zealous Catholic and Simon de Monford, the vicious crusade leader. All characters are intertwined in a delicious web of drama and adventure, sprinkled with a few romantic sub-plots.

On her website, Chadwick describes how she uses social re-enactment to immerse herself in a specific period of history - this is evident in her writing. The descriptions are so vivid, the characters so believable and the details so engrossing, you forget you are reading fiction.

Buy it second hand or order it from Amazon UK - it's so worth it!