A work of stunning scholarship and imagination whose appeal will be to determined readers rather than casual ones. (32 pages...
A meticulous reconstruction of the final years of some persistent medieval Pyrenean heretics whose leaders—called “Perfects”—were eventually burned or otherwise dispersed by the equally relentless Inquisition.
Weis (English/University Coll., London) devoted five years to this remarkably detailed study of the Cathars, a small sect whose tenets included the belief that both the devil and God are eternal, that flesh is the devil’s creation (the spirit, God’s), that eating meat is unclean (fish and eggs excepted), and that at the time of death the faithful are carried to paradise by 48 angels. Cathars believed that sex is bad—but worse in marriage, where it is sanctioned. Employing topographical maps, a hiker’s constitution, a knowledge of the relevant languages and of the archival and published sources, and—most importantly—an insatiable curiosity and a vivid imagination, Weis brings to life a way of life as remote as the mountainous region where it briefly flourished. He pinpoints locations of assignations (and assassinations), of immolations, of individual homes, of alpine trails unused for centuries; he identifies days of the week when key events occurred; he tells what people ate—and with whom they ate it. Among the many notable personalities he reanimates are Pierre Clergue (a priapic priest), the earthy Béatrice de Planisolles (whose stunning testimony to the Inquisitors is an adornment of the story), Arnaud Sicre (who executed a two-year “sting” operation against the Cathars), and Guillaume, Jacques, and Pierre Authié (a family of Perfects whose devotion withstood the flames that consumed them). Pierre supposedly commented at his execution that, if permitted to speak, he would convert everyone within his hearing. Weis describes the intricate (and often internecine) connections among the families and forces in the region, explaining how the Perfects were able to avoid capture and revealing how local authorities required the proscribed group of believers to attach a yellow religious symbol to their clothing.
A work of stunning scholarship and imagination whose appeal will be to determined readers rather than casual ones. (32 pages photographs, 16 color, not seen; 7 maps)Pub Date: April 18, 2001
ISBN: 0-375-40490-2
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.
Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.
During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorkerstaff writer Grann (The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession, 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.Pub Date: April 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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