The main plot centers around a search for the burnable book of the title. The burnable book joins a heavy shelf of novels about intrepid literary folk. A burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval london the hunt for a book of seditious poems is at the heart of medievalist bruce holsingers detailpacked new novel. The popularity of this subgenre an instance of the fingerpost. Bruce holsingers captivating historical novel a burnable book is testimony to this more accurate view of a fascinating period. At the heart of the novel is a book detailing the deaths of all the english kings from william the conqueror up to and including the current reigning king, richard ii. Surrounded by ruthless courtiersincluding his powerful uncle, john of gaunt, and gaunts artful mistress, katherine swynfordenglands young. It was published by william morrow paperbacks and has a total of 464 pages in the book. He is a guggenheim fellow and a recipient of research fellowships from the american council of learned societies and the national endowment for the humanities. A burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval london. The cast of characters in a burnable book is so long that professor holsinger includes a listing before the action begins. A burnable book of prophecy and treason readers unbound. Trouble is, possession of a burnable book, one that embodies heresy andor threats to the kings person, is high treason. A burnable book by bruce holsinger she reads novels.
Reviewed in the united states on february 22, 2014. A burnable book, by bruce holsinger the new york times. The story behind a burnable book, by bruce holsinger. A city of shadows and fear, in a kingdom ruled by the headstrong young king richard ii, haunted by the spectre of revolt. Holsingers research, alongside the energetic vulgarity of a language in flux, delivers up a world where even the filth is colorful.
This week sees the publication of a burnable book by bruce holsinger, a stunning debut historical thriller set in the turbulent 14th century. The book is a burnable book treasonous and those who possess it are hunted by forces that even gower cant identify. Medieval scholar bruce holsinger draws on his vast knowledge of the period to add colorful, authentic detailon everything from poetry and bookbinding to court. At the time merely considering the death of the ruling king was treasonous and. Bruce holsingers a burnable book engages with the ways in which history, literature, and power intersect. This was set in fourteenthcentury england during the reign of king richard ii, and has holsingers protagonist john gowerat the instigation of geoffrey chaucer hunt down a supposedly revolutionary book, in which a series of poems predict the deaths of the kings of england. Website of bruce holsinger, author of the gifted school.
Second, thanks to the cast of characters, the book passes through so many hands that even the people who know the. As the novel approaches its climax, unraveling metaphor and mystery begin to amount to the same thing. We have the crust that is the first gripping chapter that draws the eye of. The title of this book is a burnable book and it was written by bruce holsinger.
In chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the death of englands kings in this irresistible historical thriller, reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the. A burnable book pinellas public library cooperative overdrive. He shows us a brutal london as it was in the late 14 th century filth and stench and the dire poverty of the poor trying to survive in a culture that does not favor. Songs are heard across londoncatchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the ends of englands kingsand among the books predictions is richards assassination. It was, moreover, a time when the lust for life was great and the powerful had lust aplenty. Songs are heard across london catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the ends of englands kings and among the books predictions is richards assassination. A medieval scholar at the university of virginia, he specializes in culture, religion and literature. Jan 26, 2020 the whole thing is a conspiracy against the kingdom that started after the publishing of the burnable book, a work that is threatening for the whole state. The gifted school is the juiciest book ive read in ages. Holsinger is a graceful guide to the 14th century, lacing his thriller with just the right seasoning of antique words and all the necessary historical detail without any of the fusty smell of a documentary. A burnable book, bruce holsingers debut novel is set in england during the reign of richard ii.
Surrounded by ruthless courtiersincluding his powerful uncle, john of gaunt, and gaunts artful mistress, katherine swynfordenglands. We have the crust that is the first gripping chapter that draws the eye of the reader and tempts the curious to sample more, then as the. Songs are heard across londoncatchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the end of englands kingsand among the books. Bruce holsinger is the author of the first john gower novel, a burnable book, and an awardwinning scholar of the medieval period who teaches at the university of virginia. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder and intrigue swirl around th. Surrounded by ruthless courtiersincluding his powerful uncle, john of gaunt, and gaunts artful mistress, katherine swynfordenglands young, still untested king, richard ii, is in mortal peril, and the danger is only beginning. In a burnable book bruce holsinger shows himself well up to the task. February 18, 2014 the hunt for a book of seditious poems is at the heart of medievalist bruce holsingers detailpacked new. Bruce holsingers a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the rose, and the crimson petal and the white. Here in the pages of bruce holsingers medieval adventure, that randy old poet finally gets the mission impossible cameo he deserves. Surrounded by ruthless courtiersincluding his powerful uncle, john of gaunt, and gaunts artful mistress, katherine swynfordenglands young, still untested king, richard ii, is in mortal peril. His first two novels, a burnable book and the invention of fire, are set in and around medieval london, where the poets geoffrey chaucer and john gower spent much of their lives.
Chaucer a renowned poet along with his friend gower goes for the search of the book in order to end the instability in the realm. Sep 23, 2014 bruce holsinger s a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the rose, and the crimson petal and the white. The era produced dante, chaucer and boccaccio as well as significant leaps in mathematics and even algorithms and cryptography. Bruce holsinger is a fiction writer and scholar of medieval literature who teaches at the university of virginia in charlottesville. Bruce holsinger, professor of english at the university of virginia and author of a burnable book. Jan 31, 2014 a burnable book by bruce holsinger january 31, 2014 january 31, 2014 there seem to have been a lot of historical thrillers in recent years that focus on the search for a valuable item a book, a crown or a manuscript. He is the author of the gifted school riverhead books, 2019, in development as a tv series with nbcuniversal television. Bruce holsinger is a novelist and literary scholar based in charlottesville, virginia, and the recipient of a guggenheim fellowship. Recommended read a burnable book by bruce holsinger. Soon she has left the moorfields and traced a route below the causeway, circling north of a city suddenly foreign to her, though she has spent nearly all her life between its many gates. A burnable book king county library system overdrive.
Holsinger is an awardwinning scholar of the medieval period, so he knows his stuff, and he presents it in a way that makes you feel that youre right there. Mar 24, 2014 bruce holsinger, professor of english at the university of virginia and author of a burnable book. Gower and his friend geoffrey chaucer are hot on the tomes trail when gowers sinister son, simon, returns inopportunely from exile abroad. If 14thcentury londoners were to come alive, he more than most would know what they might talk about. A burnable book by bruce holsinger overdrive rakuten. Feb 18, 2014 a burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval london the hunt for a book of seditious poems is at the heart of medievalist bruce holsingers detailpacked new novel.
Jul 02, 2019 website of bruce holsinger, author of the gifted school. I just got back from a trip to the fourteenth century, courtesy of a burnable book by bruce holsinger. A burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval. The whole thing is a conspiracy against the kingdom that started after the publishing of the burnable book, a work that is threatening for the whole state. In this endeavor, bruce holsinger is a gamekeeper turned poacher. Feb 16, 2014 in this endeavor, bruce holsinger is a gamekeeper turned poacher. Life is hard and the place stinks, literally it smells bad. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deat.
A deep understanding of the period combines with sophisticated writing to create a richly imagined world. Then too, as a professor of medieval literature, holsinger is well able to. Second, thanks to the cast of characters, the book passes through so many hands that even the people who know the truth about the book arent aware of whats happening. Set primarily in london at the time of chaucer before he wrote canterbury tales, the book is a historical thriller that will keep you turning the pages.
Songs are heard across londoncatchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the end of englands kingsand among the books predictions is richards assassination. Feb 18, 2014 holsinger is a graceful guide to the 14th century, lacing his thriller with just the right seasoning of antique words and all the necessary historical detail without any of the fusty smell of a documentary. A burnable book by bruce holsinger 2014, hardcover for. A place of poetry and prophecy, where power is bought by blood. A burnable book is set in geoffrey chaucer s london in 85. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a burnable book. The best part of a burnable book, apart from the characters, is the mystery itself. She retrieves the book and wraps it once more in the cloth, hiding them both in her skirts.
A burnable book is a richly textured read that like a savory pie needs to be enjoyed slowly. Holsinger is also a fiction writer, the author of two historical novels set in ricardian england. Bruce holsinger s a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the rose, and the crimson petal and the white. Washington post a burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval london. Jan 30, 2014 a burnable book, bruce holsingers debut novel is set in england during the reign of richard ii. A burnable book pitches you headlong into london, 85, during the uneasy reign of.
A stolen manuscript prophesies the assassination of richard ii in bruce holsingers novel. First, its a mystery about a book what reader doesnt love that. A burnable book pinellas public library cooperative. If you like crime novels, thrillers, and history, then this. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of englands kings. A stunning debut historical thriller set in the turbulent 14th century for fans of cj sansom, the name of the rose and an instance of the fingerpost. A burnable book, by bruce holsinger the washington post. The poet john gower is the perfect narrator and amateur sleuth.
The hunt for a book of seditious poems is at the heart of medievalist bruce holsingers detailpacked new novel. A burnable book exemplifies the best in historical fiction. Only a few powerful men know that the cryptic lines derive from a burnable book, a seditious work that threatens the stability of the realm. Bruce holsinger s a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the. Listen to a burnable book audiobook streaming online free. His first two novels, a burnable book and the invention of fire, are set in and around medieval london, where the poets geoffrey chaucer and john gower spent much of. A burnable book by bruce holsinger january 31, 2014 january 31, 2014 there seem to have been a lot of historical thrillers in recent years that focus on the search for a valuable item a book, a crown or a manuscript.
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