Customer Reviews

The Secret Supper

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Javier Sierra originally published this book in Spain in 2004 as 'La Cena Secreta' and it rapidly became a best seller in Europe. At last it is translated into English by Alberto Manguel as THE SECRET SUPPER and the book is bound to find its way onto the bestseller list rapidly! It is a tightly woven, suspense driven, elegant story of a secret that lay hidden in the Leonardo Da Vinci's painting 'The Last Supper', that secret threatening to undo to status of the Catholic Church in the 15th century.

Sierra is a scholar as well as a fine novelist and his previous investigative works on the Templars, the mystical nun Maria Jesus of Agreda as well as his thought provoking book on the Inca king Arahualpa's missing treasure serve him well as background in writing a credible novel about a controversial subject. Yes, the world is still reeling from the scandal of 'The Da Vinci Code', and some readers my think that here is yet another round of data about Christianity that is slipping along the success d'estime of that work. But be aware that this novel is wholly different and for this reader is far superior in the final resolution of the intial premise.

The year is 1497 and Javier Sierra accompanies us back in time to an era when the wealthy leaders of the communities of Milan and Florence and Rome had an unimaginably huge impact on the course of the great Roman Catholic Church. In Milan the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is being renovated under the guidance of the Duke of Milan. But Pope Alexander VI is concerned that heretical elements favoring the threatening schism within the Church will be established in the politically important and highly visible sanctuary. Among the many intrigues surrounding Milan's new structure is the one concerning the popular painter Leonardo Da Vinci whose painting of The Last Supper is found to exclude the holy icons of the Grail and the Eucharistic Bread. The painting also is found to include known heretics as models for some of the disciples who look away from the Christ figure, one suggestive of Leonardo himself. How the Pope's investigators and the perpetrators address these issues and the places of secrecy revealed by the gradually unfolding discoveries serves as not only an informative survey of history, but also a fascinating, immensely readable suspense thriller that keeps us riveted to the book until the final page where the ultimate secret is revealed.

If Alberto Manguel's English translation is sound (and since it was sanctioned by author Sierra himself it must be), then we have every reason to believe that here is a very important writer entering the English-speaking marketplace with one fine novel! Whether the reader is looking for a book of historical fiction, a novel of 15th century intrigue, or simply a fresh view of Da Vinci and of a new author, THE SECRET SUPPER is bound to please. The book design by Atria Books is splendid and enhances the reading experience. Graciously for those whose historical background needs some refurbishing, the book includes a 'Cast of Characters', outlining in a very readable fashion all of the 'players' of the period (Botticelli, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Ludivico Sforza, Pope Alexander Vi, etc) and for many, reading this terse glossary would be a fine way to begin this novel's woven tapestry of history. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, March 06

Readers will not want to dismiss this novel out of hand as "yet another da Vinci book," for The Secret Supper is truly an entity unto itself, a well-written, incredibly provocative thriller of dazzling proportions. The product of three years of extensive research, The Secret Supper purports to solve an intriguing, centuries-old mystery, a mystery most of us had no idea even existed. Can it be that Leonardo da Vinci hid a secret, heretical message inside his celebrated painting of The Last Supper, an open secret that only those with eyes to see could identify as an anti-Roman Catholic missive in no less a holy place than the Dominican Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie?

I think most readers will be amazed to learn that they have never truly looked at this most familiar work of art. Certainly, as Sierra shows us, there are strange qualities if not outright anomalies in the painting. Why are there no halos above Christ and his disciples? Why do you see no representation of the Eucharistic bread or the Holy Grail? Why are two of the disciples looking the other way, seemingly ignoring Jesus' fateful revelation that He is to be betrayed by someone at that very table? And why, for goodness' sake, is Peter clutching a knife behind his back? Sierra soon leads us to additional oddities: the disciples bear the images of heretics, Judas Thaddeus is represented with Leonardo's own face, Simon's face is modeled on the Greek philosopher Plato, a knot on the tablecloth is indicative of Mary Magdalene. These are just a small sample of the issues Sierra raises about The Last Supper over the course of his incredible novel. And, just so you know, he does have answers awaiting you at the end of the novel, including the secret message and its significance as discovered by the author. You may or may not believe Sierra's conclusions about the painting and Leonardo himself, but, my goodness, it's more than worth your time and consideration. True or not, this certainly makes for one humdinger of a story, one that will completely captivate those with any interest in history, a good puzzle, and/or the history of Christianity (and, specifically, the Roman Catholic Church).

Set in 1497, during the final weeks of Leonardo's work on The Last Supper, The Secret Supper mixes historical characters with those of the author's own creation to reveal the mystery of the painting. The narrator is the fictional Friar Agostino Leyre, a Dominican Inquisitor sent to Milan for two purposes: to identify the anonymous insider who has been writing letters to Rome claiming that Leonardo's The Last Supper contains a secret message that brands him a heretic, and to discover what that hidden message actually is. The anonymous source, who calls himself the Soothsayer, has provided a seven-line puzzle that will identify him, and this is basically all that Leyre has to go on initially. During his stay at Santa Maria delle Grazie, he comes into contact with a variety of men, both inside and outside the Church, eventually including Leonardo himself, who provide him with tantalizing new clues about both subjects of his investigation. He also, of course, has the actual painting to study in its almost-completed state. Leyre's investigation eventually takes him places he would never have dreamed - but I won't go so far as to reveal any of those details. Suffice it to say that the sources of information Sierra draws upon in putting all of his historical pieces together are incredibly broad and exceedingly impressive (and, I should note, all of the ancient books referred to in the novel did actually exist). It makes for uncommonly powerful suspense as you join Friar Leyre in pursuit of the secret mystery at the heart of everything - Sierra calls this an "investigative novel," and so it truly is.

The Secret Supper is a bit more challenging than your typical novel. Those unfamiliar with the history of the Catholic Church may face a bit of a learning curve, as many of the key themes center on the symbolic rites and history of the Roman Catholic Church, and I'm sure non-Catholics will find some of the heretical notions addressed here less significant than those of the Catholic faith. In addition, the reader will doubtless encounter a number of historical figures they are completely unfamiliar with - but the author has provided a most helpful description of each of them at the back of the book. The one recommendation I do have for the reader is to have a reproduction of Leonardo's The Last Supper at your disposal, as you will surely want to refer to the complete painting on numerous occasions.

This is not a novel for those who want a quick thrill, an easy read spiced with action and sex (though those elements are there). This is a novel concerned with great and intriguing questions, art and scholarship.

It should be noted, Sierra was not riding on the coat tails of Dan Brown when he wrote this book. Though he was working from many of the same sources, he began his research and without knowledge of what Brown was doing before publication of "The Da Vinci Code." Sierra's novel is more intellectual, more sophisticated and a deeper presentation of a society vastly different from that we know today.

There are great differences between the two books, though both are revelations of a hidden, or secret, faith.

There is nothing in his notebooks or any of the scholarship about Da Vinci to affirm he was a Cathar. In fact, in his will, he requests Masses by deacons of Saint Florentin and Saint Gregoire before his burial within the church of Saint Florentin at Amboise, France, which would indicate adherence to the faith of Rome. Still, he was several times suspected of heresy and his beliefs indicate he may have been sympathetic to the bonhommes.

Already a bestseller in Europe, "The Secret Supper" is a historical mystery focusing more on the spiritual than the corporate aspects of religion. It is definitely worth the time it takes to read it.

And, after reading this, one can never look at the works of Da Vinci and his contemporaries in the same way again.

Although not yet a household name in the United States, Javier Sierra is extremely well-known in other countries. This is due in part to three nonfiction books and four European bestsellers, of which THE SECRET SUPPER is the latest. Its publication is benefiting from some well-deserved word-of-mouth publicity and will no doubt receive additional scrutiny as the result of the controversy surrounding the release of the so-called "Judas Bible."

THE SECRET SUPPER is characterized by its foundation, which consists of Sierra's careful, almost obsessive, research concerning the painting of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. There have been many works of fiction over the past few years that have had as their basis --- in whole or in part --- the works of da Vinci. Unlike most of them, however, THE SECRET SUPPER takes place entirely in the past, specifically in the late 15th century, and features da Vinci as a central --- if enigmatic --- character of the piece.

The narrative is set forth primarily from the viewpoint of Friar Agostino Leyre of the Order of St. Dominic and an instrument of the Spanish Inquisition. Leyre is dispatched to Milan after Church officials receive a number of enigmatic messages from a mysterious individual calling himself "The Soothsayer," who reports that the painting of The Last Supper being created by da Vinci contains symbols and clues that have special meaning to a group of heretics previously thought to have been exterminated. Leyre is confronted with several mysteries upon his arrival in Milan, including the identity of The Soothsayer and determining if da Vinci is actually purporting heresy or having a bit of fun at the expense of the Church --- or both.

A series of murders in Milan that seem to center on the painting have Leyre perplexed as well. Motivations are always suspect and trust is a fragile thing, as he attempts to divine the secrets of the painting. Meanwhile, his own faith --- along with all that it represents --- is being called into question.

THE SECRET SUPPER is written very much in the European style, with Sierra's unhurried narrative taking its time, soaking up historical ambience, atmosphere and mystery, and slowly spooning it out to the reading audience.

While Sierra is aware and respectful of history's role, he does not get bogged down in it, and as a result his descriptions (both implicit and explicit) of his surroundings are first-rate. Additionally, Sierra provides a Cast of Characters at the end of the book, an invaluable aid to the reader in keeping track of who's who.

With a novel as good as THE SECRET SUPPER, readers will be wanting second portions. Any chance of those other Sierra novels being published on these shores?

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

I am a fan of the recent spate of historical mysteries. Put the words Templar or Grail in the title, and I'm going to take a look.

Saying that, I was disappointed in this book.

Brief summary, no spoiler:

This is the story of Agostino Leyre, a Papal Inquisitor who is telling the story of his assignment to investigate Leonardo DaVinci, and his painting of The Last Supper (the Cenacolo).

This was a time of religious intrigue and violence, and anyone who opposed the Catholic Church was deemed a heretic and subject to horrible punishment. In order to express their beliefs, many artists used symbols in their works, both as messages to their followers and future audiences.

This book does a good job of explaining some of the mysteries surrounding the Last Supper. You learn a lot about the Cathars, and about what life was like in the time of DaVinci.

However, perhaps partly because this is a translation, I found this book slow-going. I had to push myself to finish, even though I was curious how Sierra was going to resolve his "puzzle".

I ended up thinking that Sierra gives an interesting and enlightening interpretation of what he believes DaVinci was trying to say in his masterpiece; but the puzzle was very convoluted and there is no way the reader could've figured it out on his own.

Overall, I am glad I read this book. I learned a lot. But I was often bored, and thought the hype surrounding this book didn't serve it well.

Recommended for those who enjoyed the DaVinci Code. This book's denouement is just as clever, if not more so - but the ride getting there isn't nearly as much fun.

Sometimes the hype of a book can do it harm - you expect too much - ok it is a best seller in Europe, it deals with the magical mysteries a la The DaVinci Code, and it is firmly set in one of the most interesting times of Italian Renaissance, the Borgia papacy. OK. It is a fascinating book that entertains and makes you think. As DaVinci Code did, you have to observe Leonardo's The Last Supper, and understand this is not just a painting, but a message for believers. But who the believers are is a key. Part of the answer is the Borgia Papacy - Alexander VI was one of the most corrupt Popes - so the theory that a pope is Christ's representative on earth comes into play - And the purest sense of faith, and the descendants of that faith.
Really interesting read. This is a book worthy of the hype.

If you are expecting another Da Vinci Code you will almost certainly be disappointed by The Secret Supper, which is not the same kind of fast-paced popular thriller. For one thing, it is set in the 15th century, during the creation of the Last Supper, and that alone slows it down. Also, it is more driven by character development than plot - not to criticize Brown's book, but there is a different emphasis, as well as a different vantage point on some of the same theories.

Father Agostino Levyre is sent to Milan by the Inquisition to investigate allegations made by a mysterious corresponent known to them only as the Soothsayer. According to the Soothsayer, the Duke of Milan and Leonardo da Vinci are conspiring to enshrine heretical ideas in Leonardo's works, in particular the Last Supper, and Father Agostino must discover both the truth or falsity of the allegations and the identity of the Soothsayer. Sierra's writing talents (and those of his translator, Alberto Manguel) are buttressed by his previous scholarly work in this area. In the process the inquisitor finds himself undergoing his own spiritual transformation.

At least one other reviewer felt that the subject matter was too esoteric, but I would hope that readers would be inspired to do some more delving into the transmission of previously unknown traditions from Byzantium to the West in the fifteenth century and the possibility that "heretical" movements that had supposedly been wiped out survived into the Renaissance and influenced Leonardo. Recommended reading: The Albigensian Crusades by Joseph Strayer and The Perfect Heresy by Stephen O'Shea, which I've just started but seems to be very well-written.

In 1497 the "Soothsayer" warns the Papacy that art is the center of heresy and needs to be carefully monitored and if necessary censored. Taking the warning seriously with the Renaissance flourishing at the Vatican's doorsteps, the Secretariat of Keys of the Papal States Pope Alexander VI sends Inquisitor Father Agostino Leyre to Milan to investigate the works of the growing popular da Vinci for any heretic secret missives and to uncover the identity of the Soothsayer.

Leyre quickly becomes enthralled with da Vinci's current work in progress, the Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie. The priest sees the beauty in the not finished masterpiece, but also becomes somewhat alarmed as he also believes the Soothsayer is right that da Vinci has slipped in some secret codes with what he leaves out as much as he puts in though the artist claims he had divine inspiration. To reveal what Leyre assumes is treacherous unorthodoxy means death of the artist as a heretic and destruction of the painting, but to not do so will place the Father at risk of abetting dissent towards the Church especially if the Soothsayer sends messages.

THE SECRET SUPPER is a terrific thriller that uses the famous painting to tell the story behind the so-called Da Vinci code. The tale grips the audience as the Inquisitor begins to interpret what he assumes are heresies though he can see the beauty in the masterpiece. Adding depth to the fabulous Papacy vs. Leonardo plot is Javier Sierra's intriguing interpretation of The Last Supper. This novel is a tense historical masterpiece.

I found this book to be a rather intriguing read. While it seems that reviewers on Amazon either love it or hate it, I suspect that this may be due to several factors:

1. It's not the easiest book to follow due to the large number of characters and their "foreign" (mostly Italian) names. I found myself having to read and reread much of the material just to keep take of the characters.

2. The book was originally written in Spanish. My gut feeling is that the person(s) who translated this novel into English may not have done justice to the book.

3. The topic of the book; itself, requires a certain amount of background knowledge prior to reading it. If this is the case, some may have found it to be dry and boring.

Personally, I found the book quite interesting - especially once I got into the story.

Finally I was able to read a book about the Last Supper without the chain of clichés instigated by the insufferable "Da Vinci Code."
I loved the unpretentious style of this story. Sierra tells the story through an Inquisitor, sent to Milan to find out who the "Soothsayer" was and what were his intentions and how many heretical secrets were already revealed in religious paintings.
Da Vinci's "Last Supper" appears at the front and at the end of the book, first with the Apostles own names, and later with their "code names." It really helps to understand the secret message and all the mysteries sorounding the famous paint. Details of the paint are really curious, but you'll have to read the book to find them out.
An intellectual mystery, this book will keep you in suspense until the very last page.