Taylor Caldwell (1900–1985)

The fictionalised story of the life of St Luke, a Greek doctor who wrote one of the gospels and the book of Acts. I usually like this sort of thing, but this one just didn’t work for me. Lucanus didn’t seem realistic to me. He was incredibly moral and a miraculously skilled physician devoted to the welfare of the poor and needy, and that part makes sense. But it seemed unnecessary for him to also be aware of Jesus Christ from the moment of his birth, stunningly beautiful, a martial arts show more master who can defeat Olympic wrestlers in one second, a brilliant athlete, and beloved of the Emperor even though he met the man once and was not polite. And a Roman slave noted that Lucanus had the palest skin he’d ever seen - that makes zero sense, a Greek man who’d just returned from spending four years in Egypt would not be particularly pale, and the only reason to put that in is the fucked up notion that because he’s the hero, he must be super white. Whiter than any other character! Ugh. And the undertones of racism, misogyny, and homophobia meant this wasn’t a very pleasant reading experience even though I maybe should have been expecting it from a book written in the ‘50s. show less

Lately I have been drawn to novels that have a religious theme. The Arm and the Darkness is based on the true story of the La Rochelle France siege and massacre of thousands of Protestant Huguenots in 1627 and 1628 by King Louis XIII and the Catholic Church under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu. This dark depraved period of history is captured in vivid detail by Taylor Caldwell.

In former times the religious leaders put on military armor and led the warriors to battle presuming they show more were doing God’s work - or perhaps just for their own selfish personal gain and quest for power. Cardinal Richelieu took part in this siege with no remorse. In fact, the adventure invigorated him. His personal goal was not to serve God, but to create an absolute monarchy.

Once again, truth is stranger than fiction and Caldwell did not have to use her imagination to come up with this plot which includes King Louis XIII, his mother Marie De Medici, the Queen Anne (of the Habsburg royal family), and the feared mystic, Francois Leclerc du Tremblay (Cardinal Richelieu’s military and political advisor who wished to resume the religious crusades of earlier centuries). Francois Leclerc du Tremblay believed the Catholic Church must rule the world.

Added to the plot are a variety of fictional characters that help bring life to the ancient story. With a cast of characters like that - how could it not be an enthralling tale.

No sense in my worrying about revealing the plot - it is documented history that most of the Huguenots a La Rochelle died during the siege. And yet the story is filled with suspense and intrigue.

And as in all Taylor Caldwell’s books - I will simply repeat my personal summary from a review of one of her other novels - her character development is extraordinary. As each character enters a scene their psyche is laid naked: the reader learns of their physical appearance, down to the simplest detail of facial expressions, and more importantly, their deepest personal thoughts. She analyzes human behavior – the character’s motivations, fears, self defense mechanisms, methods of envious retaliation, sly hypocrisy, brutal force, and the effects of love and faith. Each character has a complex personality – just like in real life. Every emotion of each character is explored in full depth. This remarkable precision is highly valued in a novel of this intensity and magnitude.

Rated 5 Stars December 2025 show less

Third book I read in a row on a conflict between Heaven and Hell. Unlike the previous books goal here is not to show how fallout happened but how the fight proceeds between Heaven and Hell after the Fall.

Big L is not shown as a rebel who was misunderstood but as an activist who dedicates his full attention to destruction of man, being he sees as a creation that desecrates his very view of Heaven. What happens is that L starts sending mail to Big G and this soon gets relegated to M from show more Heaven's end. What starts as a correspondence between two brothers soon escalates into discussions about humankind, their role in the worlds, how easily they get manipulated and ultimately drawn onto the path of destruction.

This is not so much story about Heaven and Hell (although philosophical questions about origins of Evil and conflict with Good are present) but story of Humankind.

Author's thoughts would surely trigger today's PC public, especially adherents to the progressive movement in politics. When you think about it isn't it interesting that today, when we all talk about equality and rights and all those picky elements of modern social progressiveness, people are living in more divisive society than ever, individuals and groups get ostracized within hours if they are against the public opinion, latest development is that their financials (literary means of living) get frozen because of it.

It is as if majority feel need for something, for belonging to something greater, majority feels their lives have lost all meaning (as I said just look at destructive behavior of last few years that indicate complete loss of goals in life except destruction and accepting whatever is currently fashionable and just itching to push around people questioning the majority). Earlier all of these people would flock to religion, but today religion is a big no-no and as a consequence secular institutions and people are watched through the prism of religious zealotry.

Part of the book about Lencia had a greatest impact on me - planet that was destroyed through people being led and finally mentally destroyed through coerced and then voluntary isolation [because of need for absolute security] culminating for all means and purposes in total imprisonment of masses while elites live life of leisure. This rang so close to heart because of last few years.....chilling.

Interesting book. Whether reader rejects the book in its entirety or identifies with parts of the book you will definitely have to say something about it.

Highly recommended. show less

"Great Lion of God" is a historical novel about the life of Saul ben Hillel of Tarsus, better known to most people as Paul the Apostle or Saint Paul. Using a vast amount of sources including the Holy Bible, history books, works of the Catholic Encyclopedia, St, Paul’s Gospel, writings by Plato and Aristotle, and information attained at the Vatican Libraries and Museums of Athens and Israel, Taylor Caldwell pieces together the life story of Paul from his teenage years to his final journey show more back to Rome where he was executed around the time of 64 to 68 AD.

Authors that have the ability to write Biblical historical novels with absolute authenticity and evoke powerful emotions from the reader are few and far between. Taylor Caldwell was truly a gifted writer. She is brilliant at recreating the cultural environment, political atmosphere, emotional scenes, and likely dialogue of all characters.

It is fascinating to read an explanation of how Christianity evolved, starting with Jewish people accepting Jesus as the Christ, and at the onset this new phenomena was considered to be just another sect of Judaism - all praying together at the Jewish Temple. It wasn’t until Gentiles started to accept Christ and partake in the ritual of Baptism that Christian Churches were built. And all the while Rome was seething because this new religion was causing disruptions in Jerusalem’s society (which was under Roman control). The Romans did not want to hear about this new “King of the Jews”. That was treason. Caesar was the one and only King.

I’d like to share an interesting quote by Titus Milo, A Roman Statesman, about the condition of Rome around the year 25 AD, “Each day that passes sees more onerous taxes inflicted on the industrious and reverent and productive men, for the enhancement of a lavish court, subsidies for farmers, the looting of politicians, the free housing built for the idle, slothful, stupid and degenerate mobs, the free entertainment provided for those self-same mobs, the erection of grand government buildings to shelter the ever-growing and lustful armies of the bureaucrats and other petty officials, the granaries which dispense free food to the rabble… and the ambitious dreams… to remake the streets, the alleys, the roads, the houses and villas and the countryside of Rome… the wars to nourish the manufactories which make war materials… drain the public purse - now almost empty.” and his grandfather Aulus replied, “No nation took that path without perishing. So Rome must perish.” And it did! History repeats itself - Is the United States on a similar path to destruction?

Juxtaposed with Rome’s days of glory and rise to the peak of their power was Paul’s spiritual struggle. Saul, the devout Jewish Pharisee, was not an easy convert. He was an Orthodox Jew and considered the whole idea of Jesus being the Savior a blasphemy against God. "Great Loin Of God" follows Saul’s spiritual journey from non-believer to becoming Paul the Apostle, one of Jesus’ most faithful followers. While all the other Apostles were busy converting Jews to Christianity, Paul was the first and only Apostle to focus solely on converting Gentiles (non-Jewish Idol worshipers). He sacrificed everything in life to spread the word of God and help others find salvation.

This is an incredible story told by an extraordinary author.

Rated 5 Stars September 2023 show less