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    The Scribe
    The Scribe
    The Scribe
    Audiobook18 hours

    The Scribe

    Written by Antonio Garrido

    Narrated by Tanya Eby

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The year is 799, and King Charlemagne awaits coronation as the Holy Roman emperor. But in the town of Würzburg, the young, willful Theresa dreams only of following in the footsteps of her scholarly father—a quiet man who taught her the forbidden pleasures of reading and writing. Though it was unthinkable for a medieval woman to pursue a career as a craftsperson, headstrong Theresa convinces the parchment-makers’ guild to test her. If she passes, it means access to her beloved manuscripts and nothing less than true independence. But as she treats the skins before an audience of jeering workmen, unimaginable tragedy strikes—tearing apart Theresa’s family and setting in motion a cascade of mysteries that Theresa must solve if she hopes to stay alive and save her family.

    A fugitive in the wilderness, Theresa is forced to rely on her bravery, her uncommon education, and the compassion of strangers. When she encounters Alcuin of York, a wise and influential monk with close ties to Charlemagne, she believes her luck might have finally changed. But the biggest secret lies between Charlemagne and her father. Theresa moves ever closer to the truth, bent on reuniting with her beloved father, only to discover that her family’s troubles are inextricably entwined with nothing less than the fate of an empire.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    TranslatorSimon Bruni
    Release dateDec 17, 2013
    ISBN9781480569713
    The Scribe
    Author

    Antonio Garrido

    A native of Spain, an educator, and an industrial engineer, Antonio Garrido was inspired by the stories of Jules Verne and Sir Walter Scott as a child. Although in his early career Garrido focused on technical writing, the discovery of a forgotten manuscript in 2001 led him to write his first novel, The Scribe, a finalist for the Fulbert Prize. Since then, he has become known for novels that reflect deep study of the cultural, social, legal, and political facets of specific historical eras. The Corpse Reader, a fictionalized account of the Chinese founding father of forensic science, won the Zaragoza International Prize and the Griffe Noire prize. The Last Paradise, a historical thriller, is his third novel and a winner of the Premio Fernando Lara de Novela. His work has been translated into eighteen languages. Garrido currently combines writing with teaching at the Polytechnic University and the Cardenal Herrera-CEU University in Valencia, Spain.

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    Reviews for The Scribe

    3.5/5

    22 ratings2 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I received The Scribe as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

      I find the early Middle Ages (500-1000) a fascinating, rich time period, but one that seems to be sadly neglected in historical fiction, so I was excited to dig into The Scribe, which takes place at the tail end of the 8th century during Charlemagne's rise to power.

      Theresa, the main character, defies gender conventions and seeks to become a parchment maker like her father. However, tragedy strikes, driving her away from her family and German homeland. While essentially exiled, she finds adventure and stumbles into a mystery that entwines the fate of her family with that of the Holy Roman Empire, with deadly consequences.

      I'm always a bit skeptical of historical fiction that centers around a woman who wields an anachronistic use of power, but despite my quibbles with the approach, the story is well done. There's romance, but it's sparing and complicated and didn't end up the way I'd expect. The setting is rough and gritty, and the supporting characters are especially well-drawn. A good read.

      Recommended.
    • 4/5
      ...trials and tribulations in Charlemagne's times!Having been taught to read and write by her father, all Theresa wants to do is be a scribe and parchment maker. Theresa is battling with the prejudice of a woman's place in society. Given that this tale takes place in medieval Würzburg of 799, at a time when women's roles were even more proscribed, we can hardly be surprised by the attitudes of those around her. Garrido's writing is vivid and brings home the sights, sounds and smells of the time, and the hardships of Theresa's occupation. (Thank you also translator Bruni) At this time the surrounding country is besieged by famine. Denizens of Würzburg are in desperate straits.A talented parchment maker and scribe Theresa is treated to all sorts of indignities by her fellow workers and especially the master parchment maker, the despicable Korne. When Theresa had to go into the deepest maceration pool to find her cow skin for her parchment making exam, let me say that my stomached heaved along with hers. After this first dramatic part I actually wondered how the story was going to continue or if I had somehow missed the pagination. Theresa's chapter appeared closed.But this is only the beginning as Theresa, escaping capture, traverses forests and mauriding Saxons, is rescued by and rescues a young soldier, and eventually finds her way to a Benedictine Monastry in Fulda. Here Theresa becomes a scribe to a Alcuin of York, a monk and herbalist. A man with deductive abilities that make me wonder if this master is a former incarnation of Sherlock Holmes. Alcuin is much more than a humble monk.There is more afoot though. Graft and corruption is linked to mysterious illnesses people are dying from. Murder and mystery are intertwined. Unusual friendships leaven the way.Then there is the relationship between Charlemagne and Theresa's father.With more twists and turns than a spider's web, this is an intriguing story of a young woman who dared to dream of more--albeit an incredibly stubborn young woman. A doorway into times of the past, portrayed with startling realism.A NetGalley ARC