Leaving her home in the sunbleached courts ofAvignon, gently nurtured, seventeen-year-old Ninian rides into the darkness and strife ofScotland to marry a stranger. Her path crosses that of Gavin Cameron of Kinveil, priest and Chancellor of Scotland. Laconic, ambitious and handsome, he is the one man the Stewart king dares to trust, the one man strong enough to save the kingdom from the civil war planned by the charming, implacable Archdeacon Columba Crozier and his bastard sun, Adam de Verne. Tied by blood on one side and by an overwhelming -- and forbidden -- love on the other, Ninian, growing from her careless girlhood into a beautiful woman and an artist of brilliance and power, is precipitated into violence and tragedy, in which she, too, has a vital part to play.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This big historical novel by the author of A Dark and Distant Shore teems with adventure and romance. The setting is 15th century Scotland, a wild country poised on the edge of civil war. Cameron Gavin has risen from a modest birth to become Bishop of Glasgow and advisor to King James I. Intrigue flourishes in both Catholic church hierarchy and Scotland's court, and when Cameron makes an enemy of one of his archdeacons, Columba Crozier, Crozier's scapegrace, illegitimate son Adam plots to ruin Cameron's reputation. Matters are further complicated for the Bishop when he finds himself attracted to Adam's beautiful cousin, Ninian. Tannahill's vital and memorable characters move through a narrative laced with irreverent humor, passion and fascinating glimpses of history. In every respect this is a marvelous story, told by a master storyteller.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Library Journal
The romance of Gavin and Ninian is part of a multifaceted tale of the 15th-century Scottish court of James I. As Chancellor of the Realm and Bishop of Glasgow, Gavin is much in the public eye, as is Ninian, who attends Queen Joan. Gavin tries to deny his love of Ninian because of his priesthood, but he is drawn inevitably to the woman who more freely admits to loving him. The tragic intrigues of the Catholic Church in both Scotland and Rome and the conspiracies revolving around the throne cause a division of the country and conflicting loyalties within Ninian herself. The substantive characters and an interesting plot keep the reader moving toward the satisfying conclusion of this well-researched novel by the author of A Dark and Distant Shore. Highly recommended. Andrea Lee Shuey, Dallas P.L.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Skillfully written romance,
This review is from: World, the Flesh and the Devil (Paperback)
Reay Tannahill is a writer of significant talent. "WFD" is set in 15th century Scotland at the beginning of the Renaissance, and the action is oriented around the ecclesiastical politics of the period. This is done well, but seems somewhat lacking in vigor as a plotline, given the tumultuous events of the period.
The political environment and physical landscape of Scotland are ably described, and sketches are original and compelling. Dialogue is often tinged with a contrived Scottish pronunciation, though not excessively, and for the most part seems true to the characters. Character, and its development, is the strong point of Tannahill's book. The awakening and growth of a young woman's intellect is subtle, and her growing love for a man is shown in deft and sensitive prose. Eventually, the emotion is reciprocated, and the masculine response seemed realistic: both forceful and restrained, yet equivocal at intervals. My one major criticism is that the author's unusual skill and knowledge of the period seems to be utilized ineffectively by a rather conventional storyline. The era is one of Europe's most eventful: Joan of Arc first defeats and then is captured by the English in France, the Papacy has returned to Rome after the Schism, then flees a plot by Roman nobility, and now faces formidable opposition to its power by secular governments, and yet we are following the vicissitudes of a very briefly described rebellion by marginal Highland clans against the king of Scots. In all, I did enjoy the book, but I felt let down by a superficial plot that seemed unattached to important events.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Feuds, schemes, rebellion, family ties, and love in 15th Century Scotland,
This review is from: World, the Flesh and the Devil (Paperback)
This novel is set in Scotland and is centered around the true life feud between Bishop Gavin Cameron, chancellor to King James as well as his closest friend, and Archdeacon Columba Crozier. For various reason's Columba has been deprived of his benefices and holds Gavin responsible. Columba's entire family, including his step-neice, Ninianne, is drawn into this feud. Columba's son, Adam, is particularly zealous in his fathers defense and ends up stirring up the Highlanders against the King and Bishop Cameron.
Meanwhile, Ninanne and Gavin are strongly attracted to each other but their divided loyalties (not to mention Gavin's priestly vows) come between them. Ninanne finds herself caught up in the intrigues of her family and is torn between her deep love for both Gavin and Columba. This novel gives a fascinating look inside Papal politics and all the intrigue and scheming that goes on within the Catholic Church and King James's court. The characters are well drawn and complex. We see Ninianne grow from a flighty 17 yr old newlywed to a mature woman who sees more than her share of heartache and loss. The relationship between Columba and his children is very touching and real. I absolutely loved the title and, IMO, "the world" represents Gavin's closeness and preference for dealing with the earthly matters of his friend the King. "The Flesh" represents temptation in the form of his attraction to and ultimately deep love for Ninianne. "The Devil" manifests in Gavin's doubts in the churches teachings and his inner struggles with belief in free will vs. predestination. I have a thing for books with great titles and this was one of them! Any lover of historical fiction enjoy all the great history here. The romantic aspect is, IMO, secondary to the depiction of the political intrigues and the strain between Church and State. It was missing that "something" that would make me give it 5 stars but all in all it was not bad!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep characters, great accuracy, moving story,
This review is from: World, the Flesh and the Devil (Paperback)
I enjoyed this book immensely. Reay Tannahill's characters are fully fleshed; they think, breathe, grow and change. The politics of the fifteenth-century Catholic church and how it affected the rise and fall of kings -- and how kings manipulated the system -- became fascinating clay in the hands of this author.
Her two warring churchmen were so secular-- as was the church of their day -- that what could have been a dry exploration of philosophy and history became an action-packed, knife-and-sword-wielding romance that ranged from rebellious Scottish tribes to the everyday heartbreak of women in its scope. The plot included the discussion of free-will versus predestination, but made it very clear that this was no academic exercise, but something where a difference of opinion could send you to the stake, or be used in the hands of an enemy to bring down a chancellor--and his king. And as for the romantic element, I'm going to nominate Gavin Cameron for my lover's hall of fame. A man who is both self-controlled AND puts his beloved's welfare first, even if it means the death of his own happiness. Very well done!
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