THE ILLUMINATOR

Simon Jones nails the chivalry of master illuminator Finn and the strength and gentleness of Lady Kathryn as they maneuver through a world of treachery and double crosses in fourteenth-century England. Set before the Reformation, Vantrease’s novel revolves around Kathryn’s Blackingham Manor as she and her twin teenaged sons take in Finn and his teenaged daughter. As romance develops, so do revolution and betrayal. Sound writing, attention to historic detail, and superb character development--even among supporting characters--make for a good story. Jones’s reading elevates the work further with his own verbal depth and handling of each character. Even with an abridgment that diminishes the roles of several key characters, the combination of writing and narration is sublime. H.L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]