City of Wisdom and Blood

To be posted on Amazon.co.uk when the book is released:

In this second of the Fortunes of France series, Pierre de Siorac is now about 16 and sets off for Montpellier where he is to learn the art of medicine. With him is his half-brother Samson, handsome but disconcertingly moral when set against Pierre’s own youthful spirits. The two young men take on the opposing roles of Jean de Siorac and Jean de Sauveterre in the first book with their blood-brother friendship and their opposing characters.

Alongside the ‘wisdom’ that the young men learn en route to adulthood is lots of ‘blood’: that of both the medical world but also, more importantly, the blood spilled through the religious wars that tore apart sixteenth century France: this book is set about 5-6 years before the infamous St Bartholomew Day Massacre, but Pierre’s narrative is always looking forward to it – and this part of the story offers a Huguenot massacre to offer a neutral view.

Overall, though, this is a fairly light-hearted book which sees our young men, especially Pierre, romp in various women’s beds. When we re-meet Jean at the end it’s almost like seeing an old friend – and the novel offers a temporary closure which makes this fine to read as a standalone book. Like the first book, this is Rabelaisian in tone (and Rabelais gets a name-check via the Montpellier connection), a delightful romp that also has serious things to say about the politics of religion. Recommended.

The story is told by Pierre, the son of a baron, who, along with his half-brother Samson, travels to Montpellier to study medicine. The brothers are Huguenots (French Protestants) at a time when Catholicism is predominant in France and tension is great between the groups. This makes for an amusing adventure in the first part of the book when the brothers and their valet, Miroul (one of the most delightful characters in the book), join up with a group of Roman Catholic pilgrims on the travel to Montpellier as protection from brigands. The tension between the Catholics and Huguenots will continue throughout this very enjoyable work of historical fiction.

One of the strengths of the book is good character development. There are also numerous humorous moments in the tale of Pierre.

Discussion of religious beliefs and persecution due to religious beliefs is prominent in the book. It also is very important in character development and explaining why the characters behave in certain ways. If that does not interest you, this is not the book for you.

I have received an eBook version in exchange for an honest review.

A great translation, really liked it!

Erlebacher, best known for his classic, the Day of,the Dolphin, here writes serious long form historically fiction. City of Wisdom and Blood is the second book in his multi volume Fortunes Of France series set primarily in, you,guessed it, France during the renaissance. The books follow the fortunes of afamily as they interact with warriors, princes, and soldiers. Well written, and grounded on solid research, these books are classics in France and deserve a wide audience here. Reccommended.

A historical novel that gallops along and doesn't feel bogged down in date/name checking that often plagues this genre; there's no half measures here, either, you're either in or out.