In the Falcon's Claw: A Novel of the Year 1000

by Chet Raymo

Book Overview

In the year 998 A.D., the Apocalypse is believed imminent. Strengthened by a fearful and superstitious populace, the Church is seeking to harness a decaying Holy Roman Empire by asserting its absolute... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561012874
• ISBN13: 9781561012879
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Cowley Publications
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Church historical - fiction at its best

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (1/07) In the year 998 A.D., the teaching of the Apocalypse is believed imminent and the year 1000 A.D. is established as the date for the long anticipated end of the world. A combination of fear and superstition among the church followers, and the attempt to strengthen the church at Rome at a time when the Roman Empire is crumbling, give cause for the church to focus on the final Day of Judgment. The Roman church declares itself to be the absolute authority in interpreting the scriptures and bidding of God. People are encouraged to prepare for the end times, to sell what they have and give it to the church. Aileran, an Irish born monk, takes issue with the Church. Once he was acknowledged by the church and the people as saintly and now Aileran is accused of heresy. The novel is based on a mixture of real events and fictional characters. An illicit romance, greed, and power, draw the reader back to the tenth century. Raymo has developed a story that reflects science and nature in a spiritual setting toward the end of the Dark Ages in Europe. The author has captured the essence of the political landscape era. The book is written as a memoir of Aileran and includes correspondence that offers additional insight and commentary to move the plot forward. The story explores love, friendship, and incorporates a profound questioning of ageless spiritual and religious questions. There is a theme contrasting cowardice and compromise that carries throughout this poignant story. Raymo has a gift for using poetic descriptive prose that involves the five senses of the reader: colors that dazzle one's visions, word pictures of foods that waft with aromas which water the taste buds, textures that one can feel, and sounds that jar the eardrums, or harmony that implant a rhythm in one's soul. Passages from Solomon's song, the poetry of Ovid and Virgil enrich Aileran's journals. I personally enjoyed a glimpse into the disciplines of the monastic life. Self-denial, penance, guilt, redemption, bigotry, deception, purity of heart, good works, repentance and forgiveness all come to play in this dramatic rendering of life in early church. Brilliant writing, an expertly developed plot and characters, suspense, drama, and romance make this novel, "In the Falcon's Claw," a must read for all historical fiction lovers.

A Deeply Touching Novel

I've read this book three times now and I'm sure that I will again. Chet Raymo is, in my humble opinion, one of America's best writers. In the Falcon's Claw he takes us to the world Christianity just before that other millennium -- the year 1000. Christianity by then had its strongest dogmatic grasp on the peoples of Europe and any other enlightened views within that religion were strongly repressed -- often with death. Common events in nature were nearly always seen as signs from God rather than just what they were. The protagonist Aileran, an Irish monk, rejects supernaturalism and, after many years of searching for some kind of enlightenment, finds himself, in the end, facing heresy charges in Rome -- under the authority of an old friend of his youth, Gerbert, who is now the Pope. A beautifully written book that is very relevant to the current dialog concerning faith and reason here at the next millennium.