'I am hungry for your presence. I hanker for the great blaze of your glance which when you turn it on me, will burn out the husk of my body and draw my soul to you.'Julia O'Faolian's second novel, first published in 1973, offers a rich, vivid portrait of the political and religious turmoil of sixth-century Gaul, wherein we find Radegunda, wife of King Clotair having been seized by him as a prize of war. Radegunda builds a convent, a refuge for the Brides of Christ, and there becomes renowned for her austerity and mysticism. Her religion, however, is fanatical, and her quest for sainthood will serve to undermine the seeming calm of the retreat she has made.'Vibrant and strange... [a] journey into a darker, wilder moment of history.' -- Sarah Dunant, Guardian
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting and beautifully written book!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Women in the wall (Paperback)
This was a wonderful read! The writing is good and draws the reader in. Here, O'Faolain succeeds in making the early Middle Ages accessible to the reader. Somehow the outer political struggles of Gaul soon after the fall of the Roman Empire as well as the daily intrigues of nuns in a convent in Gaul manage to be made relevant to the reader. To clarify, I should point out that while Radegunda (former queen of Gaul)is a very important character, she is not the actual anchorite of the book. In addition, the book is set in the sixth century, not the 12th as the other reviewer noted. I would highly recommend reading this book both to enjoy some good writing and to gain a greater understanding of what conditions were like in the earliest portion of the Middle Ages. Fascinating read!
5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Anchored in the 12th century,
By Cazz (York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Women in the Wall (Paperback)
This fascinating book focussed on unusual and sometimes disturbing themes. Set following the turn of the previous millenium, the book is set around the life of Radegunda, the anchorite of the title, and the convent she is walled up in. I hugely enjoyed the book, though found the details of anchorite life a little too detailed!
0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
THe Women in the Wall,
A Kid's Review
This review is from: Women in the Wall (Paperback)
the women in the wall is a great book for you if you are shy i know you liked, and i'mshy so read this booki
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