Pilgrimage

France, 1295. Jean Bellimont leads a quiet, contented life as scribe to the Bishop of Troyes and husband to his wife, Marguerite. Suddenly his world is turned upside down when he is accosted by a small beggar woman on his way home from work one evening. He retaliates by knocking her to the ground then watches appalled as her lifeblood ebbs away before his eyes. Looking up, he meets the gaze of the woman's young daughter watching from the shadow of a nearby doorway. He flees the scene in a blind panic, but is later overcome with remorse. His guilt becomes so overwhelming that he eventually realises there is only one path to redemption to undertake a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella.

Thus the little scribe is forced to leave his wife and children to undertake a life-changing journey. On the way he is charged with retrieving a stolen relic, becomes involved in deadly disputes between the Church and heresy, and befriends a nun, a former crusader, a heretic, and a hunchbacked dwarf.

With parts of the novel based on historical fact (including details of the pilgrimage route to Compostella, Cathar heretics, and the second Crusade), the novel draws a convincing picture of a 13th century pilgrimage, wrapped within a compelling story of true drama lasting right up to the final page.

Pilgrimage is the first of the Jean Bellimont novels.

What some readers have had to say:

"Remarkable story of great historical value. Stunningly realistic description of the Christian world in the middle ages."

"What an ending!!! I enjoyed this book so much."

Dettagli