A Burnable Book

A Novel

De: Bruce Holsinger

Narrado por: Simon Vance

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.

Fantastic Narrator

Allow me to rave, rave, rave about the narrator. He elevates a story which is too violent for my sensitivities and probably too complicated for me to follow in audio form into a sublime experience. I want to read every book he has narrated. This one is beautiful in its writing and interesting in its historicity. I enjoyed this novel very much.

Unique historical who-done-it, how-done-it.

A rich telling of a mystery that is made even better by the interesting setting, the historical characters, and the moving plot. Highly recommended. Unlike other listeners I didn't find there to be too many characters, although it's important to know that many characters of title have 2 and sometimes 3 names - The Earl of Shrewsbury can also be Lord Tyler, or sometimes just the familiar Tyler. The writer could have avoided some of this confusion by sticking with one name. That said, if you've read any British history you're already accustomed to this title and name issue.
Very entertaining listen!

Medieval fiction

This was an interesting well researched book. It was gritty in portraying many of the characters and their daily lives. The concept was interesting and I enjoyed it.

Listened to it twice!

Really enjoyed it. The story has many layers like an onion. Great narration. I like the change in the voice for each character. I listened to this book twice and still found many parts that I missed the first time around. There is a listeners note at the end of the story that gives you a great deal of information about the research done to get the facts straight which I appreciated. highly recommended

Rich in period detail

What did you love best about A Burnable Book?

How richly the period was portrayed. Sometimes it gave me pause because the author didn't always explain some of the language; leaving it to context. But I liked that and it didn't detract; once I accepted that I would understand in good time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There were so many interesting, well developed, characters that I couldn't say which was my favorite. Each has his own special appeal and there were about 5 on my "favorites" list.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

I was struck my his truly amazing "performance". He didn't just read his characters, he inhabited them, giving each it's own unique voice and doing it seamlessly. Simon is now on the top of my favorite performer list.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Garrow's wife, unexpectedly expressed her remorse over the loss of their child

Any additional comments?

I found this book richer, and more polished, than Ken Follett's Pillars; which will always be a favorite of mine, but if you like Follett I can't help but believe you will love Holsinger, who's prose are just a bit more complex and sophisticated than Follett's.

I was struck my the fact that there was no reference made of Richards trials and tribulations; especially his dependence on the "favorites" that got him into so much trouble. But this wasn't really about him, so I didn't make too much of it.