Publisher's Weekly Review
Tudor England is a dangerous place to harbor Lutheran sympathies, yet brave souls like John Gough and his sister Kate smuggle protestant bibles into the country and translate them into English for the common man. When Gough is arrested, he recants, but Kate continues on with the mission, falling in love with translator John Frith, who takes her with him into exile in Antwerp. Meanwhile in England, Henry VIII is drifting slowly away from the Catholic faith under the influence of his mistress Anne Boleyn, while Thomas More becomes more and more obsessed with burning heretics and keeping England in the bosom of the church. No one with protestant beliefs is safe, including Kate and her husband, who may pay the ultimate price for their heresy. This is a strong historical, showing another side of the tempestuous Tudor times. Boleyn and Henry VIII, often the focus of these stories, are sideline figures, and the common folk who truly suffered under the intolerance of the regime take center stage while the saintly More is given shockingly brutal treatment. Tudor fans will be pleased and excited by this fresh approach. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
Set in Tudor England just as the momentous break with Rome is developing, Vantrease's third historical novel (after The Illuminator and The Mercy Seller) explores the religious and political consequences of the Bible's translation into English. The sale of the family Bible, translated by John Wycliffe, provides booksellers Kate Gough and her brother John cash to continue their printing business, which leads Kate to a meeting and marriage with John Frith, an Oxford scholar associated with Reformation leader and Bible translator William Tyndale. Meanwhile, Thomas More, who is fast approaching his own martyrdom in refusing to accept Henry VIII's establishment of a separate church, is fervently suppressing heretical writings and translations. The issues debated form the dramatic background to the central plot-a woman's story of love and faith. Glimpses of Anne Boleyn add extra interest for fans of that ever-fascinating story. Verdict A bit quicker-paced than the author's earlier books and full of discussion potential for book clubs, this solid historical will appeal to Vantrease's fans and attract new readers intrigued by the Tudors. For another angle on the More family, try Vanora Bennett's Portrait of an Unknown Woman.-Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
