This little book took me completely by surprise. The Inquisitor's Tale is the story of three children and a resurrected white greyhound who traipse around medieval France hunted by knights, royalty, and a "red, fat, and wicked" monk named Michelangelo. As you may have suspected by now, these are no ordinary children. Jacob, a young Jewish boy, is able to heal the sick or wounded. William, a giant young half-Saracen child, is able to defeat enemies with his great strength. Jeanne, a peasant girl, has visions of the future, one of which includes the resurrection of her beloved greyhound.
How the children all confront danger, find one another, and unite in a common quest is a tale told in turns by several different guests at an inn. It is the mysterious Inquisitor who teases out the story from the nun, troubadour, innkeeper, butcher, and others. Medieval France is described in exquisite but not overdone detail, down to the aroma of the delicious soup the children eat at the rabbi's house and breathtaking symmetry of the stones of Notre Dame Cathedral. The true identity of the Inquisitor and the appearance of very smelly cheese and a particularly colorful dragon round out a story full of unexpected moves. Finally, the climax on the causeway to the legendary Mont St. Michel is a visually unforgettable word picture.
This young adult novel utterly astonished me. Not only did it incorporate a great plot with extremely unique characters and just the right amount of period detail, it also had an unexpected section that blended seamlessly with the narrative, in which the Problem of Evil was literally solved by a drunken monk! It was extraordinary! And surprising. And subtle. It wasn't an enormous theological treatise with ten proofs and sixteen counter-arguments, but it was simple, clear, and compelling. In a YA novel about three misfit children and a resurrected dog!
What would Keats and Aristotle say? The pacing of this novel was excellent. The subject matter was deep and profound without being didactic or losing its considerable sense of humor. Greatness of both content and execution, and even touches of social commentary on the ills and joys of life during the Middle Ages. Utterly unique!
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the authors
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
Similar items that ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Top reviews from other countries
- SiddharthReviewed in India on September 23, 2020
Great book and in good condition!
