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| Plot Summary of Mirabilis |
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"
Blue Hen, Jun 2002, 25.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0399147535
In Anno Domini 1349, the Black Death has plagued the beleaguered the villagers of Villeneuve, France for two years. As the morale sinks lower, a miracle occurs at the Saint-Porchaire Church to provide hope that God has not abandoned the faithful. At the first communion of a teenage girl, Blanche Mirabilis levitates above the stunned townsfolk. Nine months later, she gives birth that many villagers believe is an Immaculate Conception.
However, years later, the church burns the miracle girl at the stake for committing heresy. As a teen, that infant Bonne Mirabilis becomes a wet nurse, but with her heritage no one will hire her, treating her like a pariah.
Wealthy Radegonde Putemonnoie is pregnant with her deceased spouse's child. If she gives birth to the heir she inherits her late husband's fortune. Radegonde hires Bonne as her wet nurse. As the town is under English siege and food becomes scarce except in the home of Radegonde, Bonne allows the less fortunate townsfolk, who previously avoided her like a leper, to drink from her ever flowing breasts.
Mirabilis is a powerful medieval historical fiction that vividly brings to life the period as few books do. The story line flows deeply and graphically so that the audience tastes, feels, and smells the mid to late fifteenth century yet not all the descriptions are quite glowing and upbeat as is typical of novels depicting the period. However, the theme is not to turn Villeneuve into the Eerie, Indiana of fourteenth century France, but instead through a strong cast show how every body needs someone to care and cherish them. Susann Cokal presents a wild, wacky, but wonderful debut.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Mirabilis |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- distant past/middle ages
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians
Yes
Conflict:
- War, general
Religion theme?
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- society
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 5 (an average amount)
Europe
Yes
European country:
- France
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style:
- a lot of play on words
- a lot of flashback and forwards
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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