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1621 - A Jesuit pilgrim to the Mont St. Michel comes into possession of an arcane emblem, the symbols of which suggest the abbey conceals a great secret evoking the Rosicrucians, alchemy, and the Holy Grail. Inspired by a passion for Arthurian legend and the febrile atmosphere of the period, the narrator pursues his pilgrimage, intent upon decrypting the mystery, but the world he discovers is one very far removed from the ideals and romances of his youth. Governed by Robert, its incorrigibly carnal and irreverent bursar, the abbey has fallen into disrepute, and only Eugene, the austere Precentor, maintains any pretence at sustaining its spiritual purpose. But behind Robert's frivolity and Eugene's asceticism, there lie other secrets and conflicts that simultaneously inflame and frustrate the narrator's quest for meaning. The focus of discord is Marthe, a serving girl, midwife, and putative witch whose fugitive brother is at large in the Baie de Mont St. Michel. Enlisted to help Marthe find her brother before more sinister parties track him down, the narrator falls under the spell of both the bay and the girl, beguiled by the majesty of nature and the earthy wisdom of Marthe. At once disoriented and captivated, he begins to question his calling, his probity and even his sanity as he is drawn into a labyrinth of conspiracies and mysteries, in the course of which he finds himself breaking his vows, brawling, stealing, lying, consuming witch's unguent and hallucinatory herbs, and succumbing to love, all in the pursuit of meaning. There is little leisure for introspection though, since word of his investigations is spreading, and the ranks of pilgrims are swelling as the time approaches when the emblem's secret is to be revealed. Trapped by his own speculations and the machinations of the abbey's principal officers, the narrator unwittingly unleashes a tumult of lust, incest, sexual jealousy, betrayal, apocalyptic expectations, subterranean monsters, mob frenzy, and decapitation, in which disclosure leads to self discovery and the realization that occult mysteries and chimerical quests can veil a more mundane but no less astonishing physical reality.VITRIOL Visita interiora terrae rectificando invenies occultum lapideum.Visit the interior of the earth, by rectifying thou shalt find the hidden stone.… (más)
Charles Davis’ Pilgrim of Love combines the mystery of the Da Vinci code with the ancient feel of Name of the Rose, adding plenty of verve and humor to create an enticing, authentic, and thoroughly enjoyable read. Zany foot-chases through hallowed halls and end-of-the-world predictions are interspersed between wild conversations and thought-provoking discussions. A wonderful cast of characters lie in wait for the unsuspecting protagonist, from a corpulent monk using alchemy to convert “faith... into a more tangible currency,” to the beautiful, enigmatic child who serves his broth. But this protagonist is a pilgrim of no currency, well-educated, fiercely determined, and surely most loyal to all his holy vows. He’s also a believer in order rather than magic, though the solving of mysteries does most surely entice him.
Tempted by sigils and signs, drawn toward the alchemy of interpretation, and set on a quest, perhaps, to find the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend, this young monk’s thirst for knowledge lures him quickly into mystery and intrigue, drawing the reader happily behind him. Enjoyably complex language is used simply and clearly, conveying a convincing feel for time and place. Mysterious emblems, riddles, and interpretations abound, with alchemy born, perhaps, in the art of metaphor. But what happens when metaphors become real?
The story is set on the island of Mont St Michel. With “no one way, no right path” through the quicksands surrounding it, or through the valleys of gods and life, the protagonist seeks a way through alchemical confusion and human emotion, until his deepest mystery might be “how very pagan is the nature of nature.”
This is a place where “All stories are false.” Gnosticism meets science, and faith meets love. Meanwhile true alchemy is a magic born of fiction and words. Pilgrim of Love is a wonderful story, beautifully told, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning, with cleverly spaced hints and clues, fascinating symbols, genuine romance, and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review. ( )
1621 - A Jesuit pilgrim to the Mont St. Michel comes into possession of an arcane emblem, the symbols of which suggest the abbey conceals a great secret evoking the Rosicrucians, alchemy, and the Holy Grail. Inspired by a passion for Arthurian legend and the febrile atmosphere of the period, the narrator pursues his pilgrimage, intent upon decrypting the mystery, but the world he discovers is one very far removed from the ideals and romances of his youth. Governed by Robert, its incorrigibly carnal and irreverent bursar, the abbey has fallen into disrepute, and only Eugene, the austere Precentor, maintains any pretence at sustaining its spiritual purpose. But behind Robert's frivolity and Eugene's asceticism, there lie other secrets and conflicts that simultaneously inflame and frustrate the narrator's quest for meaning. The focus of discord is Marthe, a serving girl, midwife, and putative witch whose fugitive brother is at large in the Baie de Mont St. Michel. Enlisted to help Marthe find her brother before more sinister parties track him down, the narrator falls under the spell of both the bay and the girl, beguiled by the majesty of nature and the earthy wisdom of Marthe. At once disoriented and captivated, he begins to question his calling, his probity and even his sanity as he is drawn into a labyrinth of conspiracies and mysteries, in the course of which he finds himself breaking his vows, brawling, stealing, lying, consuming witch's unguent and hallucinatory herbs, and succumbing to love, all in the pursuit of meaning. There is little leisure for introspection though, since word of his investigations is spreading, and the ranks of pilgrims are swelling as the time approaches when the emblem's secret is to be revealed. Trapped by his own speculations and the machinations of the abbey's principal officers, the narrator unwittingly unleashes a tumult of lust, incest, sexual jealousy, betrayal, apocalyptic expectations, subterranean monsters, mob frenzy, and decapitation, in which disclosure leads to self discovery and the realization that occult mysteries and chimerical quests can veil a more mundane but no less astonishing physical reality.VITRIOL Visita interiora terrae rectificando invenies occultum lapideum.Visit the interior of the earth, by rectifying thou shalt find the hidden stone.
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Tempted by sigils and signs, drawn toward the alchemy of interpretation, and set on a quest, perhaps, to find the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend, this young monk’s thirst for knowledge lures him quickly into mystery and intrigue, drawing the reader happily behind him. Enjoyably complex language is used simply and clearly, conveying a convincing feel for time and place. Mysterious emblems, riddles, and interpretations abound, with alchemy born, perhaps, in the art of metaphor. But what happens when metaphors become real?
The story is set on the island of Mont St Michel. With “no one way, no right path” through the quicksands surrounding it, or through the valleys of gods and life, the protagonist seeks a way through alchemical confusion and human emotion, until his deepest mystery might be “how very pagan is the nature of nature.”
This is a place where “All stories are false.” Gnosticism meets science, and faith meets love. Meanwhile true alchemy is a magic born of fiction and words. Pilgrim of Love is a wonderful story, beautifully told, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning, with cleverly spaced hints and clues, fascinating symbols, genuine romance, and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review. (