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Death and the Devil: A Novel |
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Death and the Devil: A Novel |
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基本信息·出版社：William Morrow
·页码：400 页
·出版日期：2007年08月
·ISBN：0061349488
·条形码：9780061349485
·装帧：精装
·正文语种：英语
内容简介 在线阅读本书
In the year 1260, under the supervision of the architect Gerhard Morart, the most ambitious ecclesiastical building in all of Christendom is rising above the merchant city of Cologne: the great cathedral. Far below the soaring spires and flying buttresses, a bitter struggle is underway between the archbishop of Cologne and the ruling merchant families to control the enormous wealth of this prosperous commercial center—a struggle that quickly becomes deadly.
Morart is the first of many victims, pushed to his death from the cathedral's scaffolding by a huge man with long hair, clad all in black. But hiding in the branches of the archbishop's apple orchard is a witness: a red-haired petty thief called Jacob the Fox, street-smart, cunning, and yet naive in the ways of the political world. Out of his depth and running for his life, he soon finds himself engaged in a desperate battle with some very powerful forces.
Most dangerous of all is the killer himself—a mysterious man with remarkable speed, strength, and intelligence, hiding dark secrets that have stripped away his humanity and turned him into a cruel, efficient hired assassin who favors a miniature crossbow as his weapon of choice. But who is he killing for?
Jacob the Fox—uneducated and superstitious—fears the killer is the Angel of Death himself. But the wily Fox makes an alliance with some of the strangest of bedfellows: a beautiful clothes dyer, her drunken rascal of a father, and her learned uncle, who loves a good debate almost as much as he loves a bottle of wine.
Can this unlikely foursome triumph against the odds and learn the truth of the evil conspiracy before their quest leads to their death at the end of a crossbow arrow?
Readers who loved the richly textured setting and historical accuracy of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose will thrill to discover a new novel through which they can vicariously enter the medieval world. With its vivid evocation of both the rich and powerful and those struggling to survive another day at the bottom of society's rungs in the Cologne of 1260, Death and the Devil, the first novel by Frank Schatzing, sends a clear announcement to the literary world that an important new voice in fiction is here.
作者简介 Frank Schatzing is the author of the international bestseller The Swarm. A winner of the 2002 KÖlnLiteratur prize, the 2004 Corine Prize, and the 2005 German Science Fiction Prize, Schatzing lives and works in Cologne, Germany.
编辑推荐 From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. German author Schatzing, best-known for his environmental SF thriller
The Swarm (2006), uses the death of real-life architect Gerhard Morart, the designer of the cathedral of Cologne, as his starting point for this compelling historical suspense novel. Work on what would become the most famous church in Germany has been underway for a dozen years in 1260 when Morart falls from the unfinished building's roof—murdered, in the author's fictional scenario, as the result of a shadowy conspiracy. Unfortunately for the plotters, Jacob the Fox, a thief known for his fiery red hair, witnesses the act and actually hears the victim's dying words, leading the murderers to target Jacob and anyone he might have spoken to. The main mystery revolves around the motives of the plotters, whose identities aren't kept secret. Strong action sequences and a dramatic look at a time and place unfamiliar to most readers should help solidify Schatzing's reputation as a versatile storyteller.
(Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist Like his first novel published in English (The Swarm, 2006), German author Schatzing's medieval suspense tale buries a great story beneath unnecessary detail. The cathedral at Cologne, a Gothic first, was designed by Gerhard Morart, who died falling from its roof in 1260. Perhaps he was murdered, Schatzing suggests, setting up an intriguing premise: Did the sociopolitical and religious climate of the late Dark Ages persuade the church's enemies to kill the cathedral's creator? However, awkward translation, anachronism ("he swore for the nth time"), repeated clichés ("to hell in a handcart"), and a heavy dose of melodrama obscure the story and get in the way of building suspense. The characters, including the witty, carrot-topped sneak thief, Jacob, have some appeal, but they, too, tend to get lost in a morass of internal monologue and didacticism. Readers with a strong interest in the setting and subject may be willing to ignore the novel's clumsiness, but those expecting suspense won't sit still for a history lesson in lieu of a gothic mystery. Ackroyd's Clerkenwell Tales (2004) is the gold standard for this kind of thing. Baker, Jennifer
专业书评 From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. German author Schatzing, best-known for his environmental SF thriller
The Swarm (2006), uses the death of real-life architect Gerhard Morart, the designer of the cathedral of Cologne, as his starting point for this compelling historical suspense novel. Work on what would become the most famous church in Germany has been underway for a dozen years in 1260 when Morart falls from the unfinished building's roof—murdered, in the author's fictional scenario, as the result of a shadowy conspiracy. Unfortunately for the plotters, Jacob the Fox, a thief known for his fiery red hair, witnesses the act and actually hears the victim's dying words, leading the murderers to target Jacob and anyone he might have spoken to. The main mystery revolves around the motives of the plotters, whose identities aren't kept secret. Strong action sequences and a dramatic look at a time and place unfamiliar to most readers should help solidify Schatzing's reputation as a versatile storyteller.
(Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist Like his first novel published in English (The Swarm, 2006), German author Schatzing's medieval suspense tale buries a great story beneath unnecessary detail. The cathedral at Cologne, a Gothic first, was designed by Gerhard Morart, who died falling from its roof in 1260. Perhaps he was murdered, Schatzing suggests, setting up an intriguing premise: Did the sociopolitical and religious climate of the late Dark Ages persuade the church's enemies to kill the cathedral's creator? However, awkward translation, anachronism ("he swore for the nth time"), repeated clichés ("to hell in a handcart"), and a heavy dose of melodrama obscure the story and get in the way of building suspense. The characters, including the witty, carrot-topped sneak thief, Jacob, have some appeal, but they, too, tend to get lost in a morass of internal monologue and didacticism. Readers with a strong interest in the setting and subject may be willing to ignore the novel's clumsiness, but those expecting suspense won't sit still for a history lesson in lieu of a gothic mystery. Ackroyd's Clerkenwell Tales (2004) is the gold standard for this kind of thing. Baker, Jennifer
Geschichte von Koeln "The author achieved something remarkable...a thrilling crime drama in which he almost playfully delivers historical information."
EKZ "…splendidly researched crime story…explosive writing style. A highly intricate thriller…"
Neues Leben "This crime story is perfect for those who love tension packed thrills… For all devotees of intelligent crime stories…"
Compact Magazine "…author’s fluid writing…signifies a special gift for storytelling, but tells also of a profound joy for imagining a story."
Schuess Bonn "…story of the battle for supremacy at the top of Society, far beyond all other historical writings."
Rheinische Post "Versatile in language and with much feeling for historical flair, tension and wit."
Flug Magazine NRW "A crime story which fascinates through its detailed historical flair."
Library Journal "…a work of compelling originality ...a thriller that makes history not only palatable but quite entertaining. Strongly recommended…"
Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Strong action sequences…should help solidify Schatzing’s reputation as a versatile storyteller."
