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A Burnable Book (2014)

par Bruce Holsinger

Séries: John Gower (1)

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7156331,548 (3.53)71
Fiction. Literature. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:

In Chaucer's London, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of England's kings. 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.

London, 1385. Surrounded by ruthless courtiersâ??including his powerful uncle, John of Gaunt, and Gaunt's artful mistress, Katherine Swynfordâ??England's young, still untested king, Richard II, is in mortal peril, and the danger is only beginning. Songs are heard across Londonâ??catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the end of England's kingsâ??and among the book's predictions is Richard's assassination.

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. To find the manuscript, wily bureaucrat Geoffrey Chaucer turns to fellow poet John Gower, a professional trader in information with connections high and low. Gower discovers that the book and incriminating evidence about its author have fallen into the unwitting hands of innocents, who will be drawn into a labyrinthine conspiracy that reaches from the king's court to London's slums and stewsâ??and potentially implicates his own son. As the intrigue deepens, it becomes clear that Gower, a man with secrets of his own, may be the last hope to save a king from a terrible fate.

Medieval scholar Bruce Holsinger draws on his vast knowledge of the period to add colorful, authentic detailâ??on everything from poetry and bookbinding to court intrigues and brothelsâ??to this highly entertaining and brilliantly constructed epic literary mystery that brings medieval England glo… (plus d'informations)

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» Voir aussi les 71 mentions

Affichage de 1-5 de 63 (suivant | tout afficher)
Told in multiple voices, including that of John Gower; the prostitute sisters Millicent and Agnes; and Agnes' sometime co-worker Edgar, who has secrets and concerns of his own.

The book can be split into two parts: the first part with the book in question falling into the hands of Agnes and Millicent – who cant read it, but know enough to realise the danger it presents but not having the leverage to get rid of it, with Edgar having the likely contacts, but needing to get his hands on the book itself. Meanwhile, Gower has been tasked by his friend Geoffrey Chaucer to find the book, appreciating what a book predicting how the current King is going to die is a dangerous book in itself.

The second half of the book is where John Gower finds out just how many secrets have been withheld from him, and where he gets sucked deeper into the politics and manoeuvring of King Richard’s court. The race is then on to prevent the assassination of the King at the predicted time, and to flush out any further dangers facing the throne. Not all threats and intrigue comes from England, and it is the international connections that can prove the most dangerous
There is a smallish cast, but it’s with the supporting characters – such as Lancaster and Oxford with their multiple names, and the fluid relationships that can prove confusing (A is married to B who is uncle to C, who is married to D but is having an affair with A) but the cast list at the front goes some way to helping.

The book manages to bring a version of London and Southwark alive, with even the seedy parts of town (on either side of the river) have their own rules and hierarchy – it’s a good reminder that many of the streets within London are named after what is found or done there, sometimes in explicit detail.

  nordie | Oct 14, 2023 |
excellent, can't recommend it highly enough to fans of the literary mystery genre ( )
  zizabeph | May 7, 2023 |
The story was interesting and I did learn a bit more history but thought it moved rather show at times. But would recommend to anyone who is interested in this period. It did cause me to investigate further some of the characters and happenings in the book and also the words common in Middle English which I had not heard before. ( )
  Nefersw | Jan 14, 2022 |
It's been a long time since I enjoyed a book so much. I could hardly put it down and was sad when I finished--always a high compliment for a book.

I was initially attracted to this book shortly after reading Richard II. A traitorous book that supposedly prophesys the king's assassination is making the rounds in medieval London. Many are skeptical, but some may be inspired to act, and that means that just about everyone of every political persuasion wants it. There's just one problem: the book is missing.

This isn't a story of the royal and titled as most historical fiction about this time period is. Our protagonist, based on the real-life poet John Gower, is not nobility, and most of our other protagonists are maudlyns--prostitutes. One, Eleanor/Edgar Rykener, is even inspired by a historical account of someone trans/gender fluid (these terms are concepts not being around at the time, we don't know for sure, but Eleanor seems to prefer being a woman).

Sadly, I probably won't get around to a longer review. ( )
  books-n-pickles | Oct 29, 2021 |
In 1385 to even think the King dead is treason a book appears which has predicted the precise death of the first 13 Kings of England, the last is Richard II, his life is now in mortal danger.
Geoffrey Chaucer persuades a fellow poet - John Gower - to find the manuscript and therefore prevent the death of the King.
An interesting story, but I felt at times there was too much description which slowed the pace of the tale ( )
  Vesper1931 | Jul 29, 2021 |
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Fiction. Literature. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:

In Chaucer's London, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of England's kings. 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.

London, 1385. Surrounded by ruthless courtiersâ??including his powerful uncle, John of Gaunt, and Gaunt's artful mistress, Katherine Swynfordâ??England's young, still untested king, Richard II, is in mortal peril, and the danger is only beginning. Songs are heard across Londonâ??catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the end of England's kingsâ??and among the book's predictions is Richard's assassination.

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. To find the manuscript, wily bureaucrat Geoffrey Chaucer turns to fellow poet John Gower, a professional trader in information with connections high and low. Gower discovers that the book and incriminating evidence about its author have fallen into the unwitting hands of innocents, who will be drawn into a labyrinthine conspiracy that reaches from the king's court to London's slums and stewsâ??and potentially implicates his own son. As the intrigue deepens, it becomes clear that Gower, a man with secrets of his own, may be the last hope to save a king from a terrible fate.

Medieval scholar Bruce Holsinger draws on his vast knowledge of the period to add colorful, authentic detailâ??on everything from poetry and bookbinding to court intrigues and brothelsâ??to this highly entertaining and brilliantly constructed epic literary mystery that brings medieval England glo

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