Aline Kiner (1959–2019)

Paris 1310 and the city is aflame with vengeance. The king wants to avenge himself against the Templars and heretics are being persecuted. A sister from Hainault in the north appears in Paris accused of writing a heretical book and is condemned to die at the stake. In a quieter corner of the city live the Beguines, neither Nuns nor working women they are afforded protection and their compound is a sanctuary for women who struggle to find a place in society. Arriving here is Maheut, escaping an abusive marriage, and pregnant with her husband's child. He has sent a monk to find Maheut but he wants something else from the Beguines and that might save the girl.
The Mirror of Simple Souls is actually a real book written by Marguerite Porete in the 14th Century and condemned as heretical. This is the starting point of this novel of love and vengeance set in an unorthodox community which, again, is based in reality. I loved the language of the novel as well as the plot and the translation is very good.… (más)