The Cloister and the Hearth

This remarkable novel shares the fate of many a former 'bestseller': its readership plummeted after its hour of fame passed, and has not been renewed. I came to The Cloister and the Hearth expecting Sir Walter Scott, but got a gripping and occasionally harrowing mixture of Les Misérables, Game of Thrones and Cadfael. The book has a highly unusual premise: to tell the story of the parents of Erasmus of Rotterdam. Given that Erasmus himself is not a major character in the book, this might sound like a post facto justification for a simple historical novel, but the events of the book do actually mirror Erasmus's own slightly romantic account of his heritage. Where Reade excels is in drawing character, making his large cast live and show more breathe; we rejoice at their triumphs and are dismayed by their many setbacks. His feeling for the period is similarly developed; the events of history unfold but are not made to dominate the story. Sadly, the novel is not without its flaws; first among these is Reade's unfortunate style for presenting dialogue. In order to represent the everyday Dutch of the fifteenth century, he employs mock-Elizabethan English that mars the book's conversation to the point of ridicule ('Zounds, stop that bellyache blether,' quoth he, 'that will ne'er wile a stiver out o' peasants' purses'). Despite this, and the expected slew of coincidences, The Cloister and the Hearth is a well-crafted story with strong characters that justifies its 800 or so pages. show less

This remarkable novel shares the fate of many a former 'bestseller': its readership plummeted after its hour of fame passed, and has not been renewed. I came to The Cloister and the Hearth expecting Sir Walter Scott, but got a gripping and occasionally harrowing mixture of Les Misérables, Game of Thrones and Cadfael. The book has a highly unusual premise: to tell the story of the parents of Erasmus of Rotterdam. Given that Erasmus himself is not a major character in the book, this might sound like a post facto justification for a simple historical novel, but the events of the book do actually mirror Erasmus's own slightly romantic account of his heritage. Where Reade excels is in drawing character, making his large cast live and show more breathe; we rejoice at their triumphs and are dismayed by their many setbacks. His feeling for the period is similarly developed; the events of history unfold but are not made to dominate the story. Sadly, the novel is not without its flaws; first among these is Reade's unfortunate style for presenting dialogue. In order to represent the everyday Dutch of the fifteenth century, he employs mock-Elizabethan English that mars the book's conversation to the point of ridicule ('Zounds, stop that bellyache blether,' quoth he, 'that will ne'er wile a stiver out o' peasants' purses'). Despite this, and the expected slew of coincidences, The Cloister and the Hearth is a well-crafted story with strong characters that justifies its 800 or so pages. show less

I have just re-read this after many years. It is a bit of an oddity: the story of the rather hopeless love affair of the parents of Erasmus the famous 16thC humanist scholar. But this is really just an excuse for Reade to rollick through medieval Europe, encountering rogues, cutpurses, beggars, hermits, saucy chambermaids, villainous landlords, mercenaries, lords, ladies and peasants. He based all this on contemporary accounts, which gives realism and colour to the story.
Rather like that other Victorian historical novel, "Lorna Doone", the story is vivid and compellingly told, and well worth reading even today.
Courage, mon ami, le diable est mort!

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 show more Hearth:theodolitedithyrambpermanganatejalousieotiosepismireexequiesburthenminaretultramontaneexegesisdiademcatechumenskickshawkirtlefarthingalehircinekinearbalestrieranimalculaquadrivialganymedeorisonpsalteriespipkinaubergediapasonleveretpettifoggingdictcapiaswanionpizzlemijaureeminauderiesgrimacierepetroneldudgeoncurtal axchoughcordwainergroateftsoonspursuivantmanteletmangonelsbarbicanmachicolatefascinedevoirmalisonroof-treeviragolemantabormicklecleptycleptfebrifugalwhitemailcaitiffwhidscozeningtatterdemalioncul de boisqueanlapwingvopperrotbossglaivewindlassculverinmarchpanecanzonetorielcavilMyrmidonseptemviousseneschalmare'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. show less

I haven't read this book for many years, but at one point was obsessed with it and went around antiquarian and secondhand bookstores buying up every copy I could find. Some volumes have the most amazing illustrations and if you're into collecting books these are worth tracking down.

The story is not only bitter-sweet but also a fantastic 15th Century romp with our hero, Gerard, getting into all kinds of scrapes, some of which are fraught with danger while others are absolutely hilarious.

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 show more Hearth:theodolitedithyrambpermanganatejalousieotiosepismireexequiesburthenminaretultramontaneexegesisdiademcatechumenskickshawkirtlefarthingalehircinekinearbalestrieranimalculaquadrivialganymedeorisonpsalteriespipkinaubergediapasonleveretpettifoggingdictcapiaswanionpizzlemijaureeminauderiesgrimacierepetroneldudgeoncurtal axchoughcordwainergroateftsoonspursuivantmanteletmangonelsbarbicanmachicolatefascinedevoirmalisonroof-treeviragolemantabormicklecleptycleptfebrifugalwhitemailcaitiffwhidscozeningtatterdemalioncul de boisqueanlapwingvopperrotbossglaivewindlassculverinmarchpanecanzonetorielcavilMyrmidonseptemviousseneschalmare'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. show less

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.