Publisher:Porcupine Press
ISBN:978–1–928455–16–5
Genre:Historical Fiction
Format:Trade Paperback
RRP:R320.00
Book Size:229x152mm
Page extent:464pp
Publication date:2019
About the book:
Paris 1505. Tragedy strikes at the rue Daniel bookshop of Arnoul De La Porte. Alone with his little son Paoul, Arnoul finds comfort in the writings of Luther and becomes involved in the illegal Reformation Movement. As Huguenot heretics, his descendants must walk a dangerous tightrope of pretence to prevent being executed.
Luc, Arnoul’s grandson,is betrayed and escapesto relatives in Flanders with Sibylle, the daughter of his Protestant mentor.
Amid the increasing violence and bloodshed of the French religious wars the De La Portes lose loved ones,and yet the family survives.
Each generation manages to find love, build friendships with unlikely allies, Catholics and gypsies being the most notable,and heal through music and song.
This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. The characters are memorable,and the writer knows how to tell an epic story spanning decades.
About the author:
Growing up surrounded by books, Jane Kirsten developed an early love of the written word. She relinquished a career as a ballerina in favour of obtaining a degree in languages at the University of Pretoria, married young, and reared three boys while spending her youthful years pursuing her artistic talents.
In 1990 she was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and had a close brush with death. A number of years later she wrote a handbook on prayer for a Bible college, which resulted in seven years of presenting seminars, before Jane and her pilot husband retired in the Boland area of the Western Cape.
At the age of 65 she learned to play the classical guitar. When her music master died unexpectedly, within a month of the passing of both her parents, Jane hung up her guitar and embarked on the long road of research for her recently published historical novel, A Lute of Eleven Strings.
The guitar will have to wait.