imagination forum

presents

Peter Valentine Timlett

and his historical novel

Urbain Grandier

In 1617 a newly ordained young Catholic priest is appointed to the living of

Saint-Pierre-du-Marche at Loudun, France

He is handsome, witty, and learned, but also arrogant and cruel. 

His arrogance and ruthless womanising create many bitter enemies who seek his downfall.

* * * * * * * * * *

Sister Jeanne des Anges, the young but deformed prioress of the Ursuline convent,

invites him to become the convent's official confessor   -   but Grandier refuses.

In a rage of jealous frustration the vindictive prioress, together with all her nuns

begins a series of hysterical contortions which are held to be genuine possessions by the Devil.

Soon the name of Grandier is mentioned as the sorceror responsible.

Hounded by his enemies there then begins a long drawn-out travesty of justice that leads

to the priest being imprisoned, tried, tortured, and executed by burning at the stake.

Despite his many failings, in the dreadful suffering of the torture he showed a physical

and moral courage rarely exampled that impressed this author and many others

* * * * * * * * *

The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on

nor all thy piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line

nor all thy tears wash out a word of it

* * * * * * * * *

Price £9.95 - postage and packing free in the UK

345 page large format paperback - in Book Antiqua 10pt - ISBN 0-9542638-4-7

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