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A young monk is asked by the Holy Roman Emperor to translate the works of Aristotle in order to reclaim the lost knowledge contained in them. The monk sets to his task but as the findings come through the Pope deems them heretical. The monk goes on translating, causing a battle between church and state with outcomes that have shaped the present. A debut novel for fans of Hilary Mantel.
About the author
Elizabeth Mac Donald was born in Dublin, where she studied Italian and Music at University College Dublin. She was awarded an Italian government scholarship and pursued post-graduate studies at the Università del Sacro Cuore, 'La Cattolica', Milan. She then taught English at the University of Bari for two years before moving to Pisa, where she still lives with her husband and son. She has taught on the post-graduate course in Translation at the University of Pisa and translates both from and into Italian.
Summary
This stunning debut, rich with the political intrigue of medieval Europe and imbued with the intense colour of Moorish Spain, deftly outlines a battle for power between Church and State - the outcome of which has shaped how we view the world today.
