The book starts out with Bodo as a young child of 6 but of course he thinks he is the man of the house as his father is away at war. He and his sister have had a privileged, quiet life but that will soon change. Due to the death of their father the children are sent into the care of their uncle and the course of Bodo’s life changes in ways he could never have imagined.

It is a time of great change in the world at large and within the Catholic Church. The church was a source of power and through it a man could rise far above his place in life. Many noble families gave younger sons to the church to keep fingers in the pot as it were. Bodo turned out to be this donation for his uncle’s family and he was forced into the priesthood. With no other family to gainsay the decision off he went at a very young age. He did end up a powerful man – he was confessor to Louis the Pious and so very close to the power in the land.

Bodo though found more comfort in the Jewish religion and converted to Judaism. This caused an uproar so huge that written records exist of the shock. You can only imagine that given how little has come down from the 9th century that this must have been truly shocking. Mr. Platt has taken what little written record there is and created a fascinating novel full of rich period detail. The conflicts going on during this period between ruling parties and the church ultimately led to a breakdown in society in general and brought on the Dark Ages. All of that angst is woven into the book through the telling of one monk’s story.

I started it on Sunday and really had a hard time putting it down and I was disappointed when I finished because I didn’t want it to end – as cruel a world as it was the writing was so good. ( )