The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres is, as a Unesco description of the cathedral holds, “an essential landmark in the history of medieval architecture. The outstanding stained-glass ensemble, monumental statuary of the 12th and 13th centuries and the painted decorations miraculously preserved from the ravages of humankind and time, make Chartres one of the most admirable and the best-preserved examples of Gothic art.”

Lucky for readers, we get to hear about it in great detail, but rather than reading a dry tourist book about it, this book uses the cathedral as background for the story of Agnes Morel, a cathedral cleaner. The details of her life are told using a mix of current scenes and flashbacks, as well as employing a variety of points of view from the central characters.

Agnes was an orphan, raised by strict and often punitive nuns. She was not taught to read, but was taught to clean, at which she excels. As a child and young girl, she was lacked confidence and was mistreated, leading to some horrific abusive situations. But her quiet manner and industriousness help her earn a living as an adult.

Working at the cathedral, a place which she loves, she meets a number of characters who come to play a role in her life, including:

Abbe Paul, the current dean of the Cathedral who offers Agnes the cleaning job
Abbe Bernard, an elderly canon who has lost faith but is terrified of Satan and confides in Agnes
Philippe Nevers and his sister Brigitte, for whom Agnes used to babysit
Robert Clement, an artist for who Agnes occasionally models
Alain Fleury, one of the cathedral restorers
Professor Jones, who relies on Agnes to organize his papers and photos
Jean Dupere who found Agnes in a basket
Sister, then Mother, Veronique from the convent in which Agnes was raised
Denis Deman, a psychiatrist who treated Agnes when she was younger
Madame Louise Beck, a busybody who resents Agnes (and everyone else, for that matter)

In addition to fascinating information about the cathedral, we also are exposed to a variety of religious views from the characters. Abbe Paul in particular is realistic in his assessment of the Church and its teachings, and the fear of Satan it inspired in believers. Abbe Paul held that “the only true Satan was the idea of Satan.” Regarding Abbe Bernard’s supposed lack of faith he told Agnes, “It seems to me he believed too much. Wasn’t it Satan he was afraid of? The Church has much to answer for, Agnes. Not least in the fright it can implant in a child’s mind.” (Alain had a more sardonic response to the situation, telling Agnes: “He didn’t believe in God but he still believed in Satan. That says plenty about the Catholic faith.”)

Some mysteries about the lives of the characters are revealed in layers as the plot unwinds, with an Afterword suggesting what happened to them later on in life.

Evaluation: Vickers has excellent insight into the psychological drivings of her characters (she apparently is a former psychoanalyst), which gives the story depth lacking in many novels. I also loved the extensive background on Chartres, and how it was cleverly presented in such an interesting way. And last but not least, Agnes’s story is well worth reading.

I started out this book a little shaky, since I don't generally read a lot of Historical Fiction. However Agnes soon became a likable enough character that I was engaged. Although this isn't the quickest moving story, and perhaps it has more featured characters than necessary, I still found myself connected enough to Agnes that I wanted to finish this story. Her backstory unfolded a bit at a time and, even though I was fairly sure I knew where things were going, I wanted to see if I was right. I'll give Salley Vickers credit in that she created a very relatable and human character in Agnes. Her mistakes and successes were a beautiful thing.

What kept me from fully falling in love with this book though was how much it hopped back and forth in time, with little to no notice. I listened to the audio version of this, and so it made it even more difficult to get my footing every time we were thrown back to the days of young Agnes. On top of that, as the book neared its end, I felt myself becoming less and less interested in where things were headed. Agnes felt like she stalled in her growth as a person, and then the ending itself was far less than satisfactory. In fact, and this is coming from a reader who is very open minded, the ending left me with some really uncomfortable moral quandaries. I'm still not sure how I feel.

So, for a plot that kept my attention for the most part, a character whom I did enjoy, and a narrator who did a fairly good job, I'll give this two stars. I finished this book, and it was interesting journey. I just wouldn't read it again.

The sensitive story of Agnès Morel, a woman with a troubled past who attracts the scrutiny and enmity of the town gossip. The quirky style will either please or annoy, but the finely drawn, believable characters and a plot that expertly weaves past with present and leads to a celebration of human goodness make this a richly rewarding tale. The cathedral of Chartres provides a fitting setting for Agnès's rehabilitation and redemption, and the author's shrewd understanding of the dynamics of provincial town society keep sentimentality at bay.