A Burnable Book

A Novel

By: Bruce Holsinger

Narrated by: Simon Vance

In Chaucer's London, betrayal, murder, and intrigue swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of England's kings.

London, 1385: Surrounded by ruthless courtiers - including his powerful uncle, John of Gaunt, and Gaunt's artful mistress, Katherine Swynford - England's young king, Richard II, is in mortal peril. Songs are heard across London - catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the ends of England's kings - and among the book's predictions is Richard's assassination. Only a few powerful men know that the cryptic lines derive from a "burnable book", a seditious work that threatens the stability of the realm. To find the manuscript, wily bureaucrat Geoffrey Chaucer turns to fellow poet John Gower, a professional trader in information with connections high and low.

Gower discovers that the book and incriminating evidence about its author have fallen into the unwitting hands of innocents, who will be drawn into a conspiracy that reaches from the king's court to London's slums and stews - and potentially implicates Gower's own son. As the intrigue deepens, it becomes clear that John Gower, a man with secrets of his own, may hold the key to saving the king, and England itself.

Medieval scholar Bruce Holsinger draws on his vast knowledge of the period to add colorful, authentic detail - on everything from poetry and bookbinding to court intrigues and brothels - to this highly entertaining and brilliantly constructed literary mystery that brings medieval England gloriously to life.

©2014 Bruce Holsinger (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Listened to it twice!

Really enjoyed it. The story has many layers like an onion. Great narration. I like the change in the voice for each character. I listened to this book twice and still found many parts that I missed the first time around. There is a listeners note at the end of the story that gives you a great deal of information about the research done to get the facts straight which I appreciated. highly recommended

Medieval fiction

This was an interesting well researched book. It was gritty in portraying many of the characters and their daily lives. The concept was interesting and I enjoyed it.

Fantastic Narrator

Allow me to rave, rave, rave about the narrator. He elevates a story which is too violent for my sensitivities and probably too complicated for me to follow in audio form into a sublime experience. I want to read every book he has narrated. This one is beautiful in its writing and interesting in its historicity. I enjoyed this novel very much.

Unique historical who-done-it, how-done-it.

A rich telling of a mystery that is made even better by the interesting setting, the historical characters, and the moving plot. Highly recommended. Unlike other listeners I didn't find there to be too many characters, although it's important to know that many characters of title have 2 and sometimes 3 names - The Earl of Shrewsbury can also be Lord Tyler, or sometimes just the familiar Tyler. The writer could have avoided some of this confusion by sticking with one name. That said, if you've read any British history you're already accustomed to this title and name issue.
Very entertaining listen!

Rich in period detail

What did you love best about A Burnable Book?

How richly the period was portrayed. Sometimes it gave me pause because the author didn't always explain some of the language; leaving it to context. But I liked that and it didn't detract; once I accepted that I would understand in good time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There were so many interesting, well developed, characters that I couldn't say which was my favorite. Each has his own special appeal and there were about 5 on my "favorites" list.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

I was struck my his truly amazing "performance". He didn't just read his characters, he inhabited them, giving each it's own unique voice and doing it seamlessly. Simon is now on the top of my favorite performer list.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Garrow's wife, unexpectedly expressed her remorse over the loss of their child

Any additional comments?

I found this book richer, and more polished, than Ken Follett's Pillars; which will always be a favorite of mine, but if you like Follett I can't help but believe you will love Holsinger, who's prose are just a bit more complex and sophisticated than Follett's.

I was struck my the fact that there was no reference made of Richards trials and tribulations; especially his dependence on the "favorites" that got him into so much trouble. But this wasn't really about him, so I didn't make too much of it.

Excellent Medieval Story with historical facts to bring it to life.

Thanks to Simon Vance for bringing the story to life. Thanks to Bruce for writing of a time which I normally cannot bear because of the extreme brutality. The author didn’t ignore this aspect of medieval times but wasn’t constantly rubbing my face in it. Excellent storytelling.

promise not quite fulfilled

The story started out in a promising way, but the plot became complicated without being commensurately clever. There were quite a few characters whose motives were rather vague, and there were none that I pine to hear from again in future books. The story itself wouldn't have earned four stars from me, but it got an extra star for what struck me as authenticity in descriptions of the medieval setting. It was well read, so don't hesitate to try it if you are a fan of historical fiction.

Complex, interwoven story lines - great audio book

Would you listen to A Burnable Book again? Why?

I rarely listen to a book twice but the storylines are quite complex and I am sure I would hear new situations if I listened again.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

His reading of the material draws the listener in and engages without being overly theatrical.

Who was the most memorable character of A Burnable Book and why?

John Gower, the protagonist. Intelligent but not one of those "heroes" who know all, tell all and conquer all without breaking a sweat!

Any additional comments?

Very violent storyline but it engaged my interest and kept me awake in the middle of the night.

Need Ye a Goode Olde English Tale?

Excellent narration and very enjoyable twisting historical mystery set in the time of Chaucer, chalk full of famous personalities, written by a professor who obviously knows his stuff. If you are much on historical fiction, you'll probably have read Kathryn, as in the mistress of John of Gaunt who has some famous Henries in his line of descendants. I had to read along with the audio to keep all the names/ events straight at first. Many memorable characters that aren't always what they seem. Very good book.

Too many

Too many characters, too many narrators, too many dubious hooks upon which to hang too many twists. YET: each narrative is still fun to listen to; it's just the sheer unbelievability of the vast plot (in both the novel and the regicide senses) that overwhelms the listener/reader for the last third especially. If it had not tried to be both a suspense thriller encompassing England, Spain, and Italy as well as a true-to-life portrayal of nearly every rank of 14th-century urban society (poet, prostitute, prelate, public official, peer and prince), and how and when they intersect (and are even intersexed), but had been one or the other, it would be a better book. I hope Holsinger tries another, but with...fewer.