Post by kungfuzu on Jun 9, 2022 15:32:31 GMT -8
"The Cloister and the Hearth" by Charles Reade
I believe I have mentioned this book elsewhere on R&T, but cannot recall the exact post, so I will create this new one to review the book.
I came across this book when reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s "Through the Magic Door" which reminded me of one of my pieces at ST, but Doyle's work is much expanded giving brief reviews of his favorite books. Doyle was fulsome in his praise of “The Cloister and the Hearth” so I decided to give it a read.
The novel takes place during the latter half of the 15th. and revolves around young Gerard Eliassoen (about 20 years old) and his love Margarete Brandt.
Gerard is the member of a large Dutch family and has been prepared to join the priesthood. He is a talented artist, but is especially gifted at calligraphy. He wins a contest for calligraphy sponsored by Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders and his future looks bright. Then he falls in love with Margarete. This displeases his family as he was supposed to be, through the Church, their future gravy train. Additionally, for some reason the evil mayor of Gerard’s town does not wish him to get close to Margarete and gives him no end of trouble. Gerard is forced to leave Holland and make his way to Rome where his talents will be appreciated and improved. Before leaving, Gerard and Margarete are officially betrothed, i.e. have a written confirmation of their nuptials but were not able to have an official wedding in the Church. Gerard promises to return within two years when all will be well, him having had success in Italy.
Gerard begins his journey to the south and quickly learns the cruel ways of the world. He runs into crooked inn keepers, thieves, murderers, conmen, charlatans, capricious princes and deadly vindictive women, just to name a few. In a word, he grows up very quickly.
Luckily, he makes a close friend in the form of Denys, a Burgundian arbalist who takes Gerard under his wing and travels the road with him.
After they part, Gerard arrives in Italy and starts on a path which brings him success. Things are looking good when he receives a forged letter, purportedly from his benefactress Margaret Van Eyck, sister of Jan van Eyck, which tells him that his Margaret has died. Filled with grief, Gerard eventually becomes a Dominican monk. He is chosen by his abbot to travel to England and on his way, he stops in Holland to visit his family. While giving a sermon in a local church, he sees Margaret in the congregation and at first believes he is seeing her spirit. It transpires that she is, in fact, still alive and has born his child.
The rest of the book deals with how Gerard and Margaret deal with the difficult position in which they have been placed. I will leave it to the reader to find out how things work out.
The Cloister and the Hearth is a long book. I believe it must be over 700 pages long. I have a Kindle addition, so cannot tell for sure. It is also not an easy read. The book was published in 1861 by an Englishman, which would make it already difficult for many modern-day Americans. But the author writes in a style which intends to imitate the archaic English of the late 15th century. I had to slow down sometimes to make sure I understood exactly what was being said.
A couple of things about the book stand out and make it worth reading. The first is the way the author goes into detail describing the people and places of the late 15th century. Readers will learn much about this era if they finish the book.
The second is the full range of characters which spring out from the page. From Gerard’s flighty and fickle mother, to his villainous brothers, to angelic Margaret, the reader is presented with individuals which are true-to-life. One might wonder if there could truly be sorts like Gerard and Margaret, but given the mood of the 15th, I have little doubt that such people existed.
This is not a book for everyone. It could be somewhat edited for length. Sometimes the coincidence written about is a bit much. And sometimes Gerard and Margarete seem too good to be true. But there is nothing wrong with that. More of us should aim higher than the mud. I am afraid the book might hold little interest for most modern American readers. But for someone interested in the period and willing to put in the time, I can recommend “The Cloisters and the Hearth.”
I believe I have mentioned this book elsewhere on R&T, but cannot recall the exact post, so I will create this new one to review the book.
I came across this book when reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s "Through the Magic Door" which reminded me of one of my pieces at ST, but Doyle's work is much expanded giving brief reviews of his favorite books. Doyle was fulsome in his praise of “The Cloister and the Hearth” so I decided to give it a read.
The novel takes place during the latter half of the 15th. and revolves around young Gerard Eliassoen (about 20 years old) and his love Margarete Brandt.
Gerard is the member of a large Dutch family and has been prepared to join the priesthood. He is a talented artist, but is especially gifted at calligraphy. He wins a contest for calligraphy sponsored by Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders and his future looks bright. Then he falls in love with Margarete. This displeases his family as he was supposed to be, through the Church, their future gravy train. Additionally, for some reason the evil mayor of Gerard’s town does not wish him to get close to Margarete and gives him no end of trouble. Gerard is forced to leave Holland and make his way to Rome where his talents will be appreciated and improved. Before leaving, Gerard and Margarete are officially betrothed, i.e. have a written confirmation of their nuptials but were not able to have an official wedding in the Church. Gerard promises to return within two years when all will be well, him having had success in Italy.
Gerard begins his journey to the south and quickly learns the cruel ways of the world. He runs into crooked inn keepers, thieves, murderers, conmen, charlatans, capricious princes and deadly vindictive women, just to name a few. In a word, he grows up very quickly.
Luckily, he makes a close friend in the form of Denys, a Burgundian arbalist who takes Gerard under his wing and travels the road with him.
After they part, Gerard arrives in Italy and starts on a path which brings him success. Things are looking good when he receives a forged letter, purportedly from his benefactress Margaret Van Eyck, sister of Jan van Eyck, which tells him that his Margaret has died. Filled with grief, Gerard eventually becomes a Dominican monk. He is chosen by his abbot to travel to England and on his way, he stops in Holland to visit his family. While giving a sermon in a local church, he sees Margaret in the congregation and at first believes he is seeing her spirit. It transpires that she is, in fact, still alive and has born his child.
The rest of the book deals with how Gerard and Margaret deal with the difficult position in which they have been placed. I will leave it to the reader to find out how things work out.
The Cloister and the Hearth is a long book. I believe it must be over 700 pages long. I have a Kindle addition, so cannot tell for sure. It is also not an easy read. The book was published in 1861 by an Englishman, which would make it already difficult for many modern-day Americans. But the author writes in a style which intends to imitate the archaic English of the late 15th century. I had to slow down sometimes to make sure I understood exactly what was being said.
A couple of things about the book stand out and make it worth reading. The first is the way the author goes into detail describing the people and places of the late 15th century. Readers will learn much about this era if they finish the book.
The second is the full range of characters which spring out from the page. From Gerard’s flighty and fickle mother, to his villainous brothers, to angelic Margaret, the reader is presented with individuals which are true-to-life. One might wonder if there could truly be sorts like Gerard and Margaret, but given the mood of the 15th, I have little doubt that such people existed.
This is not a book for everyone. It could be somewhat edited for length. Sometimes the coincidence written about is a bit much. And sometimes Gerard and Margarete seem too good to be true. But there is nothing wrong with that. More of us should aim higher than the mud. I am afraid the book might hold little interest for most modern American readers. But for someone interested in the period and willing to put in the time, I can recommend “The Cloisters and the Hearth.”