Murder, mystery, and poetry come together in medieval scholar bruce holsingers university of virginia new novel set in chaucers london. A burnable book a burnable book audiobook, by bruce holsinger. A burnable book is a richly textured read that like a savory pie needs to be enjoyed slowly. A burnable book is an irresistible thriller, reminiscent of classics like an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the rose and the crimson petal and the white. Songs are heard across londoncatchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the end of englands kingsand among the books predictions is richards assassination.
The book prophesies in historically accurate terms the death of every english king from william to richard. Alternate chapters are narrated in the first person by chaucers friend and fellow poet john gower. Buy a burnable book john gower 1 first edition first printinguk by holsinger, bruce. Bruce holsinger is the author of the first john gower novel, a burnable book, and an awardwinning scholar of the medieval period who teaches at the university of virginia. His first two novels, a burnable book and the invention of fire, are set in and around medieval london, where the poets geoffrey chaucer and john gower spent much of. A burnable book navy general library program downloadable.
Sansom, the name of the rose, and an instance of the fingerpost. A burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval. At the end of a burnable book, gower happens to glance at a snippet of chaucers new work. He is a guggenheim fellow and a recipient of research fellowships from the american council of learned societies and the national endowment for the humanities. A novel by bruce holsinger in djvu, doc, epub download ebook. A stunning debut historical thriller set in the turbulent 14th century, for fans of c. A city of shadows and fear, in a kingdom ruled by the headstrong young king richard ii, haunted by the spectre of revolt.
The idea of the plot is a good idea, but i just could not get on with the writing and thought the book would never end. Bruce holsingers a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the rose, and. A burnable book 2014 notes edit it has been surmised that gower and chaucer were probably good friends. Download a burnable book pdf free a burnable book pdf by. The poet john gower is the perfect narrator and amateur sleuth.
A burnable book audiobook bruce holsinger storytel. Feb 18, 2014 a burnable book, as referred to in the title of bruce holsingers new novel of england and florence in the late 14th century, is simply a book that might cost the possessor his life. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of englands kings. A deep understanding of the period combines with sophisticated writing to create a richly imagined world. Some are also available through a torrent and m4b file. 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. In chaucers london, poet and erstwhile sleuth john gower tries to find a seditious manuscript that threatens to topple the monarchy. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Librivox is also available for ios here, and android devices here, so that you can download audio books to your phone or tablet, or stream them on the go. A book, the burnable one of the title, appears, allegedly written during the reign of william the conqueror. Surrounded by ruthless courtiersincluding his powerful in chaucers london, betrayal, murder and intrigue swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells.
A burnable book, bruce holsingers debut novel is set in england during the reign of richard ii. The burnable book of the title is a work of poetic prophecy, ostensibly written during the reign of william the conqueror, which foretells in gory detail the demise of thirteen english kings. A city of shadows and fear, in a kingdom ruled by the headstrong y. 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. Bruce holsingers a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the. That all aside, a burnable book is a rich historical detailed read that is simply a book to savor.
The intrigue for the mystery around the book rather lost its shine when it seems all of london know what the book contains and are also quoting from the hidden book. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the death of englands kings in this irresistible historical thriller, reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the. Medieval england never tasted so rich library journal. Although at times for this reader a burnable book could be a little salty with a few overly vivid images and scenes and the ending a little cluttered and sometimes confusing with so many multilayered secrets and motives. The whole thing is a conspiracy against the kingdom that started after the publishing of the burnable book, a work that is threatening for the whole state.
Download a burnable book audiobook by bruce holsinger. The author of the acclaimed medieval mystery a burnable book once again brings fourteenthcentury london alive in all its color and detail in this riveting thriller featuring medieval poet and fixer john gowera twisty tale rife with intrigue, danger mystery. A burnable book is fragrant with the stench of medieval london. A burnable book, by bruce holsinger the washington post. Download or stream a burnable book by bruce holsinger. Bruce holsinger, professor of english at the university of virginia and author of a burnable book. His first two novels, a burnable book and the invention of fire, are set in and around medieval london, where the poets geoffrey chaucer and john gower spent much of their lives. Chaucer a renowned poet along with his friend gower goes for the search of the book in order to end the instability in the realm. The drama begins with a prostitute witnessing the killing. A burnable book ebook by bruce holsinger rakuten kobo. A burnable book in chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of englands kings. A burnable book by bruce holsinger overdrive rakuten. Songs are heard across london catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the ends of englands kings and among the books predictions is richards assassination. A book that foretells the death of a real life king.
Holsingers research, alongside the energetic vulgarity of a language in flux, delivers up a world where even the filth is colorful. A burnable book by bruce holsinger paperback harpercollins. Feb 16, 2014 at the end of a burnable book, gower happens to glance at a snippet of chaucers new work. Bruce holsingers a burnable book is an irresistible historical thriller reminiscent of the classics an instance of the fingerpost, the name of the rose, and the. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream. The author or the owner of such a book could be accused of anything. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the death of englands kings in bruce holsingers a burnable book, 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. Thus it falls to the books many temporary owners to decipher that prophecy and save, or not save, the reigning monarch. Despite my lack of interest in historical fiction of any sort, the plot of this book really roped me in. A stunning debut historical thriller set in the turbulent 14th century for fans of cj sansom, the name of the rose and a. A burnable book, by bruce holsinger the new york times.
Second, thanks to the cast of characters, the book passes through so many hands that even the people who know the. Bruce holsingers 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. A stunning debut historical thriller set in the turbulent 14th century for fans of cj sansom, the name of the rose and an instance of the fingerpost. We have the crust that is the first gripping chapter that draws the eye of the reader and tempts the curious to sample more, then as the shell is broken the reader will be surprised to uncover an assortment of complex characters that all have a hand in touching a potentially dangerous book called book. A burnable book pitches you headlong into london, 85, during the uneasy reign of richard ii.
Second, thanks to the cast of characters, the book passes through so many hands that even the people who know the truth about the book arent aware of whats happening. In chaucers london, betrayal, murder and intrigue swirl around th. Jan 26, 2020 the whole thing is a conspiracy against the kingdom that started after the publishing of the burnable book, a work that is threatening for the whole state. Pdf a burnable book download full pdf book download. The author or the owner of such a book could be accused of anything from heresy to treachery and end his life burned at the stake. Bruce holsinger has won prizes for his nonfiction books on the medieval period from the modern language. A group of pilgrims are setting out for canterbury. As the bishop of london has declared, this is a burnable book. The best part of a burnable book, apart from the characters, is the mystery itself. Mar 24, 2014 bruce holsinger, professor of english at the university of virginia and author of a burnable book. Read a burnable book by bruce holsinger available from rakuten kobo.
Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. However, if you do want to download the whole audio book, every chapter included, you can do so in a zip file, directly from librivox. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a burnable book. Download free a burnable book a burnable book bruce holsingers 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. A burnable book, as referred to in the title of bruce holsingers new novel of england and florence in the late 14th century, is simply a book that might cost the possessor his life. At the heart of the novel is a book detailing the deaths of all the english kings from william the conqueror up to and including the current reigning king, richard ii. Bruce holsinger published on 20140218 by harper collins in chaucers london, betrayal, murder, royal intrigue, mystery, and dangerous politics swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of englands kings. Bruce holsinger is a fiction writer and scholar of medieval literature who teaches at the university of virginia in charlottesville. The story bursts with historical figures, including the hero, john gower poet, and secondary characters geoffrey chaucer the father of english literature, john rykener transvestite, and sir john hawkwood mercenary. A burnable book exemplifies the best in historical fiction.
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