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A Burnable Book: A Novel
A Burnable Book: A Novel
A Burnable Book: A Novel
Audiobook14 hours

A Burnable Book: A Novel

Written by Bruce Holsinger

Narrated by Simon Vance

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

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 courtiers—including his powerful uncle, John of Gaunt, and Gaunt's artful mistress, Katherine Swynford—England's young, still untested king, Richard II, is in mortal peril, and the danger is only beginning. Songs are heard across London—catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the end of England's kings—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 stews—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 detail—on everything from poetry and bookbinding to court intrigues and brothels—to this highly entertaining and brilliantly constructed epic literary mystery that brings medieval England gloriously to life.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateFeb 18, 2014
ISBN9780062308689
Author

Bruce Holsinger

Bruce Holsinger is a professor of English Language and literature whose books on medieval culture have won major prizes from the Modern Language Association and the Medieval Academy of America. Bruce is also a Guggenheim fellow and the recipient of many prestigious research fellowships. He lives in Virginia with his wife and sons. His debut novel, A Burnable Book,was published to critical acclaim in 2014 and is the first to feature John Gower. The Invention of Fire is his second novel.

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Reviews for A Burnable Book

Rating: 3.584905641509434 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

212 ratings51 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I really wanted to love A Burnable Book. I've really enjoyed C.J. Sansom's work, which is in some ways similar, and I like taking historical figures like Chaucer and Gower and playing with them in fiction. What's more, I was in Bruce Holsinger's MOOC last year just because the book was released, which was fascinating. I really enjoyed his take on historical fiction and the work he put into the MOOC; I liked his style of lecturing, and kinda wished I could do a whole course with him. So I was preeetty excited when he sent me a copy to review.

    Unfortunately, the book itself didn't work for me. It's not the historical basis -- I trust Holsinger on that! -- but something less easy to put my finger on. I guess I just didn't like the way he expressed the characters, the way the story spun out. I liked the choice of characters, the down-to-earth-ness of it all; this isn't some romanticised past. But sadly... it just couldn't keep my attention, and I struggled with it.

    >Still, if you like your historical fiction to be accurate and well researched, you can definitely trust Holsinger for that. I don't agree with the really negative reviews about the author showing off or whatever, I just didn't get on with it personally.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Whispers about a book of prophesies are circulating throughout London… how is it connected to the death of a woman on the Moorfields?London 1385: Geoffrey Chaucer turns to fellow poet John Gower to help him find a mysterious, ancient book-- a treasonous work that puts everyone in danger who comes in contact with it. Unfortunately, it falls into innocent hands and those who possess the book do not know the danger they face. Who can they trust? It is an intricate plot that starts and ends with a bang but the middle…. the middle drags, unfortunately. The ending would have made more sense if more bits were included or hinted at earlier story, seemed disjointed and almost like a separate story on its own. So much detail and information about a time that fascinates me however it failed to keep my interest, 300 pages in and the story really starts but by that point I was no longer invested in the characters or story and took me longer to finish it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Puzzles, enigmas, lies, spies, schemes and riddles - what a juicy story. This terrific book is about the search for a missing tome that contains a treasonous prophesy about the murder of King Richard II and is thus a "burnable book". Geoffrey Chaucer is one of many people searching for this book and he has enlisted the aid of his friend, a lawyer/poet/fixer named John Gower. Gower is a trader in secret information that he buys or obtains through blackmail or as payment for previous favors. It seems that everyone in London is in his debt. Gower is proud of his ability to control situations but the intrigues surrounding the burnable book are beyond his control. He is also unable to control his estranged son Simon who has been banished.This is the first work of fiction by the author, a medieval scholar, and the book is full of vivid period details. They lend atmosphere to the plot but do not overwhelm it. I never got the feeling that the author was forcing his research notes into the story. I am not an English history buff, so I appreciated the inclusion of a cast of characters, both real and fictional, in the beginning of the book. Sections of the book are separated by pages of a letter from a mysterious correspondent to an unknown lover. This letter gradually reveals the history if the burnable book. The burnable book is stolen several times during the course of this story. It's seekers have complex political, theological and personal motives for wanting the book or wanting to keep it from being found, including old grudges and new affronts.This book has a complex plot and a large group of characters including royalty and clergy in England, a group of mercenaries in Italy, and the prostitutes, butchers and merchants in the impoverished parts of London. Ultimately it is the powerless people who show their nobility by trying to do the right thing to protect the King and each other and who lose the most in doing so. Not everyone survives the search for the burnable book. The mystery surrounding the missing book (who wrote it, what does it mean, why does everyone want it, how did it get to England) is fascinating. This was a really good story, excitingly told and well written. I'll be happy to read the author's next book.I received a free copy of the advance reader's edition of this book from the publisher.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The author, Bruce Holsinger, is a professor of English literature at UVA, and his academic work focuses on Medieval poetry, liturgical texts, law, homoeroticism, and animal studies. It is pretty surprising that he has also managed to write an eminently readable literary murder mystery. He uses his background in Medieval literature to flesh out the everyday details of life in Medieval London, but he doesn't let those details overwhelm his story. This is an excellent novel, smart, well-written, and fun to read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I made 200 pages. I may go back or I may not. I ultimately just didn't care about the characters or the story. Oh no the king will be killed... and? A large cast of characters but 200 pages in so thinly drawn they all seemed more stereotypes than people. I was hoping for more Chaucer and got one or two scenes without any real punch. I am sure that they're plenty of people who could love and appreciate this book, I am not among those people. Well written but ultimately boring.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of those books that I will have to return to one day to read again. It requires more than a "quick-read" approach, which is how i began reading. I was impressed with the details of the timeframe that the story takes place in. Much of the story is seen through and approached through the eyes of prostitutes, other parts are narrated by higher society members, which gives a nice, well rounded account. With an intricate plot, the story unfolds at a pace that kept me interested and wanting more.
    I love the historical era of the story, and as a result, was tempted to return to one of my all time favorites, "Dream of Scipio", by Iain Pears.
    This book by Bruce Holsinger is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction so much. I learned alot, was taken to another world, another place and time, and was treated to a wonderful mystery, well conceived, timed, and written.
    I won this book as a "Giveaway", and am totally and completely satisfied with the results.
    Thank you, Mr. Holsinger, for such a rich and satisfying gift.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Really enjoyed this - can't wait to queue up volume 2!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was really well done. Holsinger incorporates a lot of historical events and people that makes the fictional storyline come to life. Any book about books will have bookworms coming out of the woodwork, and this was a wonderful tale about a book and the people whose lives are directly impacted by it and its prophetic words. The story takes many twists and turns, and the reader finds themselves wondering how all the pieces are related and when they'll all come together (as they do, towards the end).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was both everything I love and everything I loathe about historical fiction. Everything I love includes characters pulled straight out of history: Chaucer, Gower, Richard the II, Hawkswood, and plots that involve books and codes and secret symbols. Everything I loathe is, ironically, everything that makes this a more or less accurate work of historical fiction. Told from different points of view throughout the book, two of the perspectives are those of prostitutes and there's no sugar coating the language or the profession. It's raw and graphic and just not what I enjoy reading no matter the setting or the time period. There are also POVs from mercenaries and the acts they threaten to carry out and ultimately do carry out are disgustingly graphic and inhumane. Verisimilitude can go too far for my tastes and does so here. But, by far, the things I loved kept me glued to this book, even when the things I loathed would have me DNF it. It was so well written, I wanted to know what was going to happen to John Gower, and Simon, and Millicent. And of course, I wanted to know more about the Burnable Book. So, if your tastes are more tolerant than mine, I highly recommend this book. I'm not at all sorry I read it - it was a great story, I couldn't put down - even when it offended my delicate sensibilities.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The author really made medieval London come alive from the page. He clearly has a good understanding of the times and the historical setting. It did take me a couple of tries to finish this, but I'm so glad I finally did!

    On my first try, I gave up when the plot started really getting into the politics of the day, something I really didn't know anything about, which meant I quickly got lost. However, this is a book I could never quite get out of my head. Eventually, when I picked it back up, I took some time going thru the character list and reading a little bit about them on Wikipedia, and made note of all the names they went by (i.e., James Gaunt=Duke of Lancaster=Lancaster). I do recommend if you aren't familiar with the major players of the day to make a copy of the Cast of Characters and maybe even the family tree that the author has at the beginning of the book so you can easily refer to it.

    Loved the detailed Author's Notes at the end too! I do have a little pet peeve of mine, when author's use phrases in a foreign language and don't translate them, which this author did at times. But that's my only real complaint about the book.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This historical novel is set in post-plague London during the reign of Richard II.  The key character in this novel is John Gower, a real life poet who Holsinger has also earning his keep by trading in information and intrigue.  The events of the novel kick off when Gower's friend Geoffrey Chaucer (Gower and Chaucer were friends in real life too) asks Gower to find a book that has prophecies of the deaths of English kings that would be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands.  Gower's investigations take him into brothels and the criminal underworld of London which Holsinger describes in all their gritty details.  Too often Holsinger tells instead of shows, so the narrative gets paused while a character explains exactly what has happened. The plot gets too complicated as loose threads are tied off too soon and new contrivances are added to keep the narrative moving.  Holsinger is good at getting the feel of medieval London and has a few good ideas, but the book never lives up to its ambition.  
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Definitely not a book to be read in a quick setting. Are you into literary figures? Historical fiction? Historical mystery filled with spies and intrigue? Something that takes place in the Middle Ages? All of the above in one book? Sure! Let’s take it!I’d have to say, there can be no better description of the Middle Ages than in this book. Everything was so visual and well written. The setting itself has good amounts of description, the characters definitely helped as well. They even had the mannerisms and speech of the time. Speaking of characters.Oh Chaucer. No. Just no. I don’t like you. He’s not exactly painted in the most best of light here is he? Manipulative, wife stealer, even with his supposed close friend he’s not upfront and honest with. You definitely have sympathy with Gower here. Even though he has a questionable job and past with his son Simon, he’s still a much more likable character than Chaucer in my opinion. Other characters that I liked; Edgar/Eleanor - the story arc with Millicent and Agnes was a good one. I enjoyed their side of the story with the ‘dregs’ of society. Another character I liked, Hawkwood. Yes he’s an odious villain that oozed all the horrible things you didn’t like. But he was such an awesome villain! Cold, calculating, and not one to trifle with when you get on his bad side and think you can get away with (that poor sod - those who read the book should know what I’m talking about)The plot itself was pretty good. Lots of plot twists and turns. You’re left peeling layer after layer of intrigue and mystery while you get to the bottom of it. Once you had it figured out there’s still more left to figure out. I enjoyed it! There’s something about all the layers of intrigue that makes it a more compelling read.However, a couple of things that made this read a not so easy one. The amount of characters. Quite a few to keep track of. So this isn’t the type of book that you can drop and come back to after a while (I mistakenly did that unfortunately, as life got in the way). You need to take you time, get to know the characters, the plot and how everything comes together. It sometimes can get a little confusing so some extra attention is needed while reading this book. Also, have a dictionary beside you. I suppose to keep with the medieval thing, there’s some medieval terminology that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with. It adds more to the book but I could have done without it. To be on the bright side, my vocabulary has increased with various middle age words.Overall, take the time to read the book and enjoy. The spinning and weaving of the web and trying to find the center spot is fun and always is a treat to read when figuring out a historical mystery. Greatly recommended for Hist-fic fans.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Although I'm not usually a reader of mysteries, historical or otherwise, I was intrigued by the appearance of poet John Gower as the main character and his friend, Geoffrey Chaucer, as a secondary character. Holsinger creates a detailed and fascinating portrait at medieval London (or, as he would have it, three cities: London, Westminster, and Southwark), from the court of Richard II to the stews of Gropecunt Lane. The first chapter is designed to draw the reader in, and that it did. A young woman, Agnes Fonteyn, is hiding in the bushes, watching a horrific scene. Another young woman, this one dressed in rich attire, has just shoved a book into Agnes's hands as her pursuer approaches. Viciously beating the stranger, he keeps asking a question that Agnes does not understand--"Doovray libroo?"--before brutally killing her with a hammer. And thus the mystery begins.Gower, a lawyer as well as a part-time poet, hears rumors of a mysterious book full of cryptic prophecies that describe the deaths of thirteen kings of England, the last being the current young king, Richard II. The book, and cloth that covers it, point towards the king's uncle, John of Gaunt, as the mastermind of the assassination plot. Gower's search for the book and his efforts to unravel its secrets take him from the Inns of Court to the remote libraries of Oxford, from the royal court to the brothels of Southwark. And he is not the only one interested in the book. His friend Chaucer has asked him to find it, and Agnes, her sister Millicent, and their friend, a transvestite prostitute named Edgar/Elinor, at first ponder its mysteries but then decide to seek a buyer. And there are many interested in this burnable book.Along the way, Holsinger provides plenty of subplots. There's Gower's relationship with his estranged son Simon; Elinor's attempts to save her butcher's apprentice brother Gerald from his brutal master; the power and pull of Kathryn Swynford, Gaunt's mistress; Simon's service to an English mercenary in Italy; and the sad story of the murdered young woman. So with all this going on, why did my interest start to wain about 2/3 through the book? I can only attribute it to my lack of interest in the mystery genre. Regular readers of historical mysteries will undoubtedly find it more appealing. The book is very well written and the world it creates fully fleshed out; the characters are each, in their own ways, fascinating and sympathetic; and the books structure, a series of short chapters moving amongst the various characters, works well. But I'm just not a fan of the genre and will likely pass on the sequel.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I looked forward to reading this. It had all the right ingredients - great reviews, historical, England, a protagonist named Gower, a book...but.The reviews all more or less hinted that the book was off to a slow start but you had to hang in. I just couldn't. Perhaps if I knew that period of English history better, but I had to keep referring to the list of characters. I finally gave it up.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Book was an ARC copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Received through GoodReads. Thanks for the book!The book was a little hard for me to get into at first. Told from multiple points of view, there's a lot of world building and story foundation being laid in the first, I'd say, fourth of the book. And while I did become engaged with the characters and their struggles (I mean, the book starts with a murder so yeah, excitement is present!), I found myself more than once with my attention wondering. But once the mystery really hit its stride, it was a break neck ride to the end.The story in this novel is something else. Extremely complex and vivid, the narrative transports the reader into a maelstrom of intrigue, mystery, prophecies, and regicide. I found myself surprised more than once at where the story went. Twists and turns presented themselves throughout the entire work, right up until the very end. The reader can tell that the writer is a medieval scholar; every street, bishop's palace, hovel, aristocrat, and prostitute comes to vivid life. The reader can literally hear the roar of the London masses, see the glitter of royal processions, smell the ink used by the poets and scribes of the era, and experience the hardship of a prostitute's life right with the girls themselves.Despite a somewhat rocky start, this novel is a stand out for historical fiction. Once the action really starts flowing, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat and guessing about where the story is really going to go. A historical setting that literally breathes with life doesn't hurt either. If you enjoy historical fiction and mystery, definitely check this one out.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    By its end I enjoyed it quite a bit. It took me a bit of time to get into it and understand the meaning of the letter interspersed within the book. I did like the Gower character.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I had to work my way through this, but it was worthwhile in the end. There is a lot of atmosphere crammed in, and characters who need a bit better motivation to do justice to the overall plot, but the plot itself, and the players in it, come together pretty well in the end. I'm not sure I like seeing it described as John Gower, #1, because Gower himself seems one of the more lackluster elements of the book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was a well written, fun romp through the Medieval London following a book as it travels to England from Italy and becomes the potential downfall of the monarchy. It is rich in characters, from Chaucer to Eleanor/Edgar Rykener (read the book to find out about THAT character--no spoiler alerts here!). This is historical fiction at its best. I can't wait to read "The Invention of Fire."
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book a lot, mostly for the way Holsinger built the story on the fascinating history of the time.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I found this to be a thoroughly entertaining, well researched medieval mystery set in the 14th c. London, Westminster and Southwark of Chaucer and his literary friend John Gower. Holsinger is a medieval literary scholar and has obviously delighted himself by delving into the intersecting milieus of court intrigue, legalistic bureaucracies, foreign intrigue and the stews of Southwark's underbelly. The characters are memorable, and the mystery is a bit of a wild wide. Highly recommended for those who enjoy this genre.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have great admiration for Bruce Holsinger's work as a professor and he didn't disappoint with the detailed research or lyrical writing in A Burnable Book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Summary - A Burnable BookAuthor - Bruce HolsingerSummary - England of 1385 and the young King Richard is busy trying to unite his island country with enemies surrounding him as well as from within his own court. The back biting and intrigue in his court leaves the young King with few to trust. His uncle and trusted advisor, John of Gaunt, is one of his few trusted allies.But another threat has come about. A book. A book of prophecies that details the deaths of the last dozen rulers of England. A book of prophecy that details in verse, the death of young King Richard. Across the country songs are sung of the verses from this book and it falls to poet John Gower to find and take hold of this book, Liber De Mortibus Regum Anglorum. The Book of the Deaths of English Kings.The book itself, Gower learns, is considered to be sacrilege and have a copy in your possession is punishable by death. Gower must find the book, decipher the final verses that detail the death of King Richard and save the life of the King. In doing so, find a way to say the life of his estranged son.Review - The Burnable Book is an excellent read. Impeccably researched and paced, the novel rolls along with a steady wave of relentlessness that is difficult to achieve in historical novels that are not embroiled in erotica. Though John Gower is the primary protagonist, the novel is filled with actual historical figures and they are more to the novel than pop in and pop out characters. One of the things that Holsinger does so well also is develop the backstories to minor characters as the women of Gropecunt Lane, you can guess what business they are in.The Burnable Book is a real good read, strong in story and powerful in characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is an interesting piece of historical fiction/mystery set in 14th century England. Among its characters are actual historical figures Geoffrey Chaucer, John of Gaunt, John de Vere and King Richard II. The story line centers upon a mysterious book that purports to be a prophesy of the death of the 13 English Kings since William the Conqueror, including the current, living King.Possession of such a book would be deemed treason and several different factions battle for ownership of the work, for various reasons. Court intrigue is the order of the day, as the book finds itself in the possession of a group of prostitutes. Parts of the story are intriguing, and there are several different threads, some of which are certainly more entertaining and even educational then others. All in all, it is a pretty average effort in the mystery genre, moved up slightly by its setting in medieval England.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Glad it is finished.

    It could have been that this is not the correct book for an audio book, regardless I didn't enjoy it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It took a good few chapters for me to become fully committed to this tale of devious schemes, murder and intrigue in Mediaeval England but I’m glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be a satisfying story that eventually hit the spot.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Let me preface this review by saying that I am either the best or worst type of reviewer for this book. I went to graduate school for medieval history, and wrote my dissertation about prophecies in late medieval Britain, so I know a lot about the period and subject matter of this novel. I generally don't like historical fiction: I find that very few authors actually do a good job of portraying the mindset and habits of thought of medieval characters, for the very good reason that even historians often find the actions of medieval people to be inexplicable, and it often takes entire academic books to describe small details of medieval behavior. I also wish more academics would write historical fiction, because I think historical fiction often does a disservice to its readers by misrepresenting the period, and as someone who has taught college-level medieval history, I found myself spending a lot of class time helping students unlearn the things they think they know about the middle ages from reading historical fiction and watching movies. I don't like the fact that modern culture puts a huge rift between academic history and popular history, and I think academics should be reaching out to the general public more. I would not have read this book if it had not been written by someone with an academic background.So with that manifesto out of the way, I can tell you what I thought of the book.Meh.It was okay. The story was suspenseful, I suppose, but for the first half of the book there were too many different storylines, and it was absolutely impossible to understand how they fit together, so that made things confusing and decreased the suspense. The characters weren't terribly interesting - they were all pretty one-dimensional. I found it jarring that Gower's storyline was in the first person, while the other storylines were in the third person. There didn't seem to be any good reason to do it that way.I was really annoyed that almost all of the female characters were prostitutes (or mistresses, which amounts to the same thing). Late medieval London was actually a really interesting time and place for women, and there are so many more vivid and surprising occupations that Holsinger could have chosen (young girls from the country moved to London to work as household servants to raise money for marriage; women worked as brewsters and hucksters; a single woman could have a lot of independence). I suppose it is nice that women played a big role in the story - and even influenced history - but Holsinger really missed a great opportunity to dispel some myths about medieval women.I also think Holsinger goes too far with ideas of encryption, spying, and trained assassins. Those are all very modern concepts, and although there were some analogues in medieval society, Holsinger's portrayal of them in this book is way too modern, and felt like a bit of a cop-out at the end - it feels like he wrote himself into a hole, and couldn't find a good medieval way to get himself out of it.Finally, the prophecies... this is my area of expertise, and I thought it was really fun that the ludicrously obscure subject of my dissertation should play such a major role in a novel. But Holsinger doesn't represent medieval prophecies very well. The prophecy that plays such a major role in this book makes way too much sense. Late medieval prophecies in Britain were utter, incomprehensible doggerel. They were intentionally written to be as obscure, vague, and open to interpretation as possible. The prophecy in A Burnable Book doesn't really resemble the prophecies that were actually being written at the time. Another aspect of prophecies that Holsinger didn't use in the novel is that they were usually written by, and read by, the lower classes. Class warfare definitely plays a part in the novel, but all of the classes seem equally concerned with this prophecy. Holsinger doesn't devote much attention to the power structures at work with prophecies: they were a way for lower classes to express their opinions about politics, and although the upper classes took them seriously, they weren't concerned with specifics as much as they were concerned with the dissemination of prophecies. I'm definitely nit-picking here.So all in all.... the book was fine, I don't regret reading it, but I was disappointed with it as a means of merging academic and popular culture, and didn't find the story itself to be all that great.I listened to the audiobook, and Simon Vance is as impeccable as ever.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was very excited to read this book because of the time period and that Chaucer was included. It was a pleasant book. It is a great light read. I enjoyed the character development and the plot and while it was engaging it was not engrossing. I would recommend it as a nice light read for fans of medieval mysteries.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Unlike many instances of the genre, this tale of intrigue and murder centering on a book is credible. No outlandish secret societies are required, but only the ordinary political machinations taking shape through some lines of poetry. Not a perfect fiction, but wholly engaging. Some may find the language a tad difficult at the outset, but one becomes accustomed to the fourteenth century imagery employed.