The Cloister and the Hearth (1861)

The plot is set in the 15th century in Holland, France, Italy and Germany. It is a love story about a son whose father is set upon him joining the clergy, while the lad has fallen in love with the sweet daughter of a poor scholar. The boy, whose name is Gerard, is actually imprisoned by his father when he refuses to obey his wishes. He manages to escape, and the rest of the tale revolves around his struggles with the all-powerful Medieval church.

What a wonderful novel; my thanks to the person who turned me onto it. I won't belabor a plot summary, just know that it's a Victorian novel (written in 1861) that takes place during the late Middle Ages, and therefore contains the requisite "thee"s and "thou"s and even a few "forsooth"s, so if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you know who you are. But beyond that, what it is is a great historical romance filled with believable characters, medieval flavor, comedy, tragedy, and high adventure. The following is an incomplete list of words that I looked up during my reading of The Cloister and the Hearth:theodolitedithyrambpermanganatejalousieotiosepismi​reexequiesburthenminaretultramontaneexegesisdiadem​catechumenskickshawkirtlefarthingalehircinekinearb​alestrieranimalculaquadrivialganymedeorisonpsalter​iespipkinaubergediapasonleveretpettifoggingdictcap​iaswanionpizzlemijaureeminauderiesgrimacierepetron​ axchoughcordwainergroateftsoonspursuivantmanteletm​angonelsbarbicanmachicolatefascinedevoirmalisonroo​-treeviragolemantabormicklecleptycleptfebrifugalwhi​ de boisqueanlapwingvopperrotbossglaivewindlassculveri​nmarchpanecanzonetorielcavilMyrmidonseptemvioussen​'s nestAspersoriumperadventureciliceThat's actually not a complaint; what I'm saying is that the book kept me on my toes, and that I learned a lot. ( )

What a wonderful novel; my thanks to the person who turned me onto it. I won't belabor a plot summary, just know that it's a Victorian novel (written in 1861) that takes place during the late Middle Ages, and therefore contains the requisite "thee"s and "thou"s and even a few "forsooth"s, so if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you know who you are. But beyond that, what it is is a great historical romance filled with believable characters, medieval flavor, comedy, tragedy, and high adventure. The following is an incomplete list of words that I looked up during my reading of The Cloister and the Hearth:theodolitedithyrambpermanganatejalousieotiosepismi​reexequiesburthenminaretultramontaneexegesisdiadem​catechumenskickshawkirtlefarthingalehircinekinearb​alestrieranimalculaquadrivialganymedeorisonpsalter​iespipkinaubergediapasonleveretpettifoggingdictcap​iaswanionpizzlemijaureeminauderiesgrimacierepetron​ axchoughcordwainergroateftsoonspursuivantmanteletm​angonelsbarbicanmachicolatefascinedevoirmalisonroo​-treeviragolemantabormicklecleptycleptfebrifugalwhi​ de boisqueanlapwingvopperrotbossglaivewindlassculveri​nmarchpanecanzonetorielcavilMyrmidonseptemvioussen​'s nestAspersoriumperadventureciliceThat's actually not a complaint; what I'm saying is that the book kept me on my toes, and that I learned a lot. ( )

One of my favorite historical novels, set in Europe during the 1500's. Reade goes into minute details of life in Europe during this period, and his characters are fleshed out with amazing depth and clarity. The first time I read this, I couldn't put it down. ( )