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    Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages
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    Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages
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    Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages
    Ebook376 pages5 hours

    Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages

    By Vanitha Sankaran

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    “Watermark is a powerful novel about the destructive forces unleashed by ignorance and superstition.  Readers will care deeply for the courageous Auda.”
    —New York Times bestselling author Sharon Kay Penman

     

    Watermark is a magnificent debut by Vanitha Sankaran—an atmospheric and compelling novel about the search for identity, the power of self-expression, and value of the written word, set during the dark days of the Inquisition in Medieval France. Readers who were captivated by The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease or Geraldine Brooks’s People of the Book will be enthralled by this thrilling journey to a colorful and dangerous past.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 13, 2010
    ISBN9780061989971
    Unavailable
    Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages

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    Reviews for Watermark

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      How prejudice and ignorance can rule. A papermaker and his albino/mute daughter are caught and tortured by the inquisition. Very good description of papermaking of that time.
    • 4/5
      Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha Sankaran is set in 1320 in a small town in France. The main character is Auda, an albino girl thought to be a devil child from the moment she was born.Auda is mute but can read and write having been raised by a papermaker. It's rare for women to read let alone write during this period, and Auda's striking features put her very existence in danger when the Inquisition comes to town.If you love paper at all, you'll revel in this book as the plot follows the early creation of paper using rags. The subsequent use of paper by the wealthy and the avoidance by the Church was fascinating to me and I couldn't get enough.Interweaved between these historical facts is Auda's story as a mute albino woman who doesn't want to marry and her efforts to survive and prosper in France during the 1300s.The novel also includes a short history of paper-making at the end, including a recipe for making paper.Watermark is an exciting read, laced with fear, danger and a love for paper, stories and verse. Perfect!
    • 5/5
      a tender love story between a poet paper maker (mute albino, Auda) and her beloved Jaime. great evocation of medieval superstitions and fear of Inquisitors, far-fetched but still wonderful
    • 2/5
      The novel, set in the 13th century, starts as the protagonist’s mother goes into labor. It’s a difficult birth, and ultimately Auda has to be cut from the womb. The midwife discovers that Auda was born albino – surely a sign that she is the devil’s spawn. While the mother dies on barn floor, the midwife runs to the river to kill the cursed child – but the midwife can’t bring herself to drown the baby, so she cuts out its tongue instead. At that point, Auda’s father Martin arrives on the scene and takes charge before more harm can come to his child.

      After the scene of Auda’s birth, we skip forward in time and meet her again as a young woman. She’s deeply invested in her father’s paper-making business, although paper is slow to catch on. Most of the population is illiterate, and the nobles and churchmen who do read and write can afford higher-quality parchment made from animal skins. Furthermore, there’s a stigma attached to paper because it has spread to Western Europe via Moorish Spain. These setbacks don’t deter Martin and Auda – they believe paper will pave the way to a more literate populace and are unusually forward-thinking people devoted to the common good.

      Meanwhile, the Inquisition has kicked into high gear. The book is centered in Narbonne, near Carcassonne, where the Inquisitors violently suppressed the Cathar heresy. Auda in particular is in grave danger; as an albino, many superstitious locals already believe she is a witch. But that’s not the only unusual thing about Auda. She’s also literate – her father taught her to read and write so she could communicate without her tongue – and engaged in writing a book of herbal remedies. Later, she finds employment at the palace as a scribe where she gets into the habit of composing risqué poems for the amusement of the Vicomtesse and her friends – including a feisty feminist ballad in which a young maiden repels the advances of a lusty priest. In short, Auda is busily painting a gigantic bull’s eye onto her forehead.

      Auda’s sister Poncia is worried that Auda is in danger, so she tries to arrange a marriage between Auda and a wealthy miller. Poncia thinks that if Auda can lead a normal life, she will be less suspicious; she also worries about Auda’s welfare upon their father Martin’s death. Auda agrees to meet the miller, but he’s fat, old, and worst of all – illiterate. She immediately turns down his suit, justifying her decision with rhetorical questions like “Why did everyone assume a woman had to marry and keep house?” or explaining, “To create a thing of beauty – was that not what everyone wanted? Poncia with hopes for a child, Martin with his paper. And Auda? All she had ever wanted was to find her voice.” Somehow Auda was programmed with a 21st century feminist sensibility, despite the fact that she was born in the 13th century.

      Then Jaime appears on the scene. He’s young and handsome, unlike the dreaded miller, and he’s an artist. Jaime is a poor painter who makes religious portraits to order for noble patrons, but he also pursues a private passion for simple sketches of daily life. This is yet another anachronism in a book that bursts at the seams with historical inaccuracies – Jaime’s passion for sketches of ugly fishwives and other commoners is several centuries ahead of his time. Auda and Jaime go on dates, and at one point Auda actually visits him in the room he’s renting at a local brothel.

      The Inquisition does eventually catch up to Auda and Martin, and it’s Poncia who points the finger. Martin is killed, but Jaime manages to bust Auda out of the city jail before her execution. The two flee Norbonne together and start a new life.

      There’s not much to recommend THE WATERMARK. The writing is dull, and behind the eccentricity of a tongueless albino protagonist, the plotline is pure cliché: Auda is a proto-feminist who rejects the traditional role of women in favor of passion for her work and lover. Sankaran put some effort into research, but none of her characters act like they belong in the thirteenth century and at key points in the story, even the historical wallpaper peels away. Definitely a pass.
    • 5/5
      an amazing story of paper making and the first watermark set in the middle ages, and of course the trails and life of a family of papermakers.
    • 4/5
      Auda’s arrival into this world was tragic; during child birth her mother had to make the tough choice- save her own life or that of her newborn child. Now an adult, how did Auda’s mother’s decision to save her life put her in harm’s way? Auda is raised by her father, a papermaker by profession, a somewhat new trade for the time. She spends her days away from the glaring eye of the public; Auda is mute and in an age of Inquisition, when superstition and ignorance overshadowed reason, her differences were seen as a threat. Now that she is a woman, her sister Poncia tries to arrange a marriage for Auda in an attempt to save her from the small mindedness, but it sets into motion a series of events that spiral out of control. Auda’s attempts to be a good sister and daughter only make matters worse. Will she find love or will she lose everything near and dear to her?Great book about the Middle Ages! Religion, the Inquisition and the spread of the written word was a scary yet vital time in our history. The book centers on Auda but gives a good picture of expectations and assumptions during this time: class standing, the church and love. I found the book riveting and it kept me turning the page, it did feel a bit rushed at the end but the story is still solid. I would recommend to historical fiction fans, especially those interested in the medieval period.
    • 3/5
      Watermark, as it related to the beginning of paper-making was interesting. The plot development was well done. However, as the author, Vanitha Sankaran, began her descent towards the finale, the story very quickly began to weaken. Disappointing.
    • 3/5
      I’ve finished reading this book a few weeks ago and, to me, this was decent reading material, however, I feel that there could have been be a lot more added to this story to make you really connect with the characters. At times I've felt like emotions between the characters were rushed and gaps in the story bothered me. (I would post up a couple of examples but I do not want to spoil anything for anyone.)All in all, it was a nice story, but could have been better.When I am reading a book where I am just enthralled into the story it would be extremely difficult for me to put it down, however, with this I didn’t have any problems setting it aside.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. I thought the writer did a good job with communicating Auda's thoughts and feelings without letting her talk with words. I loved the descriptions of papermaking and learned a lot about the difference between parchment and paper--and that one could be a tool of heretics. I can't wait to read her next book.
    • 4/5
      An albino in medieval France was often thought to carry the Devil's Mark, and in a fit of fear and superstition, a midwife's assistant cuts off newly born Auda's tongue and renders her mute for life. Auda not only survives, but is loved by her father and sister, sheltered and protected against those who may wish her harm, and against the threat of the Inquisition seeking to burn heretics.Her father, a papermaker and scribe, teaches her to read and write. Her courage and intelligence bring her to the favorable attention of the vicomtesse of Narbonne. Her exposure to lyrics of previous troubadours inspire her to write her own stories.But fate has other things in store for our damsel, and she falls to into the hands of the Inquisitors and is accused of being a heretic. Will she find a way to survive or will she succumb? Will she find the love she craves and a life without fear?A good first novel, and in general it carried a good pace. I thought some of the characters could have done with more development, but on the whole, I liked it.
    • 5/5
      Vanitha Sankaran's Watermark is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction that will completely immerse you in the story within the first few pages. Auda is a unique and interesting character and it is impossible not to be immediately drawn into her life. Her struggles are the same struggles universal to women of the time period, but are amplified by her physical and educational differences. Auda and the other characters in Watermark are realistic and well-written, and come to vivid life through Sankaran's imaginative descriptions.Sankaran's writing style if phenomenal. Her depiction of 1300s France - the people and small towns - as well as details of papermaking and scribing, are well-researched and artistically portrayed in Watermark. Auda's story is engrossing and memorable. Once I picked up Watermark, it was unimaginable that I would put the book down until I had devoured every last word. Fascinating and expertly paced, Watermark is a definite literary gem.
    • 5/5
      4.5 out of 5 StarsFrom the Back Cover: The daughter of a papermaker in a small French village in the year 1320 - mute from birth and forced to shun normal society - young Auda finds solace and escape in the wonder of the written word. Believed to be cursed by those who embrace ignorance and superstition, Auda's very survival is a testament to the strength of her spirit. But this is an age of Inquisition and intolerance, when difference and defiance are punishable "sins" and new ideas are considered damnable heresy. When darkness descends upon her world, Auda - newly grown to womanhood - is forced to flee, setting off on a remarkable quest to discover love and a new sense of self...and to reclaim her heritage and the small glory of her father's art. My Review: In this impressive debut novel, Vanitha Sankaran crafts a very original tale centered around a very different kind of heroine. Auda is born an albino and the story opens with the gruesome circumstances of her birth, where a decision made by a superstitious midwife's apprentice renders her mute for life. Fast forward twenty years to Auda as a woman grown. Auda lives and works with her father, a papermaker. Her father and sister have done a good job of protecting Auda from the outside world, but her sister has recently married and moved out of her father's home, and things are changing in Auda's world. Auda can't speak, but she can read and write, and in addition to copying texts for her father, she writes stories of her own and dreams of sharing them with the world. But her sister has other plans for her, to see her married and to remain safely hidden away. "What form of story do you like best?" This is what Auda writes on a little slip of paper, the first question she wants to ask of the man her sister has arranged for her to marry, and it was the moment I lost my heart to her. It's also the moment I realized I was in trouble, because people like Auda living in times like those didn't have happily ever afters. I had to tell myself not to get attached to her and her hopes for a full and happy life. And oh, how Auda yearns to live a full and happy life. She's intelligent and inquisitive, and has reached the point in her life where she's ready to stretch her wings. But Auda's kind heart combined with her sheltered existance keep her from fearing the cruelty of others, and thus she goes along a little naively, unaware that seemingly innocent actions can draw unwanted attention. Which is unfortunate, for the town of Narbonne is on edge. An endless season of rain has ruined crops. Fear of heresy is sweeping through the country and priests are flocking to Narbonne to root out the cause of the evil weather. As heretic pamphlets begin surfacing more frequently in the town, the Inquisition turns its eyes to those who write, and to those who make the paper for them to write upon. "If a man hears an evil idea, unless his mind is bent toward evil, he will not dwell on it, will forget it before long. But if that same idea is written, he will be drawn back to it, again and again. Evil has a temptation and man is bent toward it." Auda's father comes under heavy suspicion and that means trouble for Auda. The story is compelling and well-paced, leading up to some pretty intense climactic scenes that keep the reader hooked right up to the sweet and satisfying conclusion. There were a couple of scenes that seemed to have been written specifically to draw attention to little nuggets of research the author found interesting (as explained in the author's note), but for me they came off as awkward rather than enlightening, since they didn't really have anything to do with the story. Minor quibbles, though. I thought this was a refreshingly original novel, fast-paced and very enjoyable with touches of poetry and story-telling. I loved the setting of this book, in the little seaside town of Narbonne rather than in a big cosmopolitan city like Paris and I enjoyed reading a story about someone who lives in the shadow of the lord of the land, rather than reading another story from the point of view of the nobility. Highly recommended for anyone looking for something different in historical fiction and interested in getting a glimpse of facets of medieval life not often explored
    • 4/5
      Fair-haired Auda has been mute since birth, and due to her strange looks and lack of speech, has been sequestered away from society for most of her life. Living as an assistant to her father, the paper maker, Auda dreams of one day penning her own work of art on her father's pages. Though Auda and her father lead a quiet existence, life in their bucolic French village is becoming increasingly fraught with unease, as some in the town are being accused of heresy against the Church. But Auda has more pressing problems, for her sister is contracting a marriage between the young girl and the town's unattractive miller, a situation that causes Auda no end of unease. In order to escape his attentions, she contracts herself to the vicomtesse as a scribe in the castle. As she spends her days copying poetry from the crumbling parchment of the past, Auda discovers that a group of inquisitors are bearing down on the village and that their intent is to burn those who they deem to be heretics. Soon Auda comes to realize that she and her father are in grave danger by the rumors of heresy swirling around the village, and that they may have to sacrifice everything to save themselves and the ones they love. Told with a bewitching style and voice, Watermark is a dark swirling tale of secrecy and fear, set in a time where being different can be deadly.From the moment I plunged into this tale, I realized that it was going to be a dark and treacherous ride. The story opens with the very dramatic scene of Auda's troublesome entrance into the world, leaving her motherless and disfigured. I knew just by this passage that Auda's life would be one fraught with difficulty and pain, and though there were some very joyous moments in the story, the tale lived up to my expectations.I liked Auda and felt a strange protectiveness throughout the story. She was, in essence, an intelligent innocent, unschooled in the ways of the world, yet still independent and brave. Though most of her life was spent hidden and isolated, she had the same dreams and wishes for herself that most young girls have: to find love, to be respected and valued in the community, and to practice her art. She was not the type of character to feel pity for because she never sunk into pity for herself, choosing instead to lead her life with wonder and acceptance. She had very strong family ties and I really liked the relationship between her father and herself. She was not only his apprentice but his friend and confidante, weathering the hardships of life right alongside of him. Their relationship was sharply contrasted with the relationship she had with her older sister, Poncia, who was always meddling and lecturing, trying to be the maternal force in Auda's life. I had a strong dislike for Poncia and felt her to be at times very cruel.Towards the middle of the book, Auda gets the chance to form a romantic relationship with a fellow artist. This was a nice aspect of the plot and tended to drown out the darker elements of the story, giving a nice balance to the narrative. As she begins to blossom in new ways, she grows beyond her small world of isolation and forges her way into the world surrounding her. The relationship between the two lovers was unique because it was not only forged in seduction and attraction, but also in mutual respect and admiration for one another's craft. Though the lovers have a difficult time rising above their situations and dangers, they are steadfastly loyal to one another and in the end are rewarded for it. I do wish that there had been a bit more focus on their relationship in the book because I really enjoyed reading about their times together and thought that it would be interesting to watch their relationship grow a bit more.There were also a lot of great inside details on the craft of papermaking in the book. It's a craft that I had been curious about but knew very little of. The details of paper making were imparted with a great deal of clarity and filled in the plot very nicely. So much about this type of artistry would probably be foreign to most readers, but it was all conveyed with enthusiasm by the author and made for very interesting reading and speculation. I had no idea that it was such a detail oriented craft and that it was not at all popular in its early days.The sections that dealt with the town's harassment by the inquisitors was truly frightening. Most of the suspected heretics were nothing of the kind, yet they were made to stand trial and torture and were most always executed, no matter what their level of guilt. It was in these sections that the story became gritty and raw. The fear of the Inquisition was a palpable vein running through the characters' lives and it seemed no one was safe from being arrested and burned in this town that had previously been peaceful and sheltered. This aspect of the plot felt very authentically documented and was thoroughly realized within the narrative, and at times, it was the crux of the story. Even the nobles of the town did not escape suspicion, though they were more capable of bartering themselves out of harm's way than most of the other villagers. I think that the author was amazingly adept at creating tension and fear in these scenes, and for me, these were the parts of the story that really stood out with distinction.This book had a great dark and foreboding atmosphere and some very moving and dramatic plot elements that gave the story an edge over most other historical fiction of this kind. At times though, I felt that the plot moved a bit slowly and in a more roundabout way than what I had been expecting, and I found at times that I had to be patient with the story. If you are the type who enjoys historical fiction that centers around lesser known times and events, I think this book might be of interest to you. Readers who enjoy courageous and independent female characters might also appreciate this book. Though the book was involving, it was not overly dense, and aside from the plot lagging at times, it was an entertaining read. There are also few surprises tucked into the narrative as well, which I think will draw its readers deep into the recesses of the story and give them something to ponder.
    • 3/5
      I guess I'm the first person not to be jumping up and down with joy after reading this novel, a story about a mute abino girl who is the daughter of papermaker in the middle ages, but here goes.. First, what I didn't like: Poncia, Auda's sister. If that woman wasn't already getting slapped around, I would have jumped in there and slapped her around myself. Her and her self rightousness had me cringeing throughout the reading of this. Also, despite fascinating facts regarding early papermaking (love the recipes in the back of the book by the way!) I found the book dull at times as nothing much seems to be going on. The Inquistion has come and everyone is wondering who is a heretic and Auda is falling for a painter and writing or reading verses of love everyday. That sums up the middle. Finally, the moment of betrayal in the end: I seen it coming and thought Auda dumb for not seeing it herself.End of complaints. Here is what I liked: Auda's writing. Upon finding numerous written verses about or by women, Auda realizes that in them, women have no choice and she pens her own verses, giving women a choice in the story. "The old verses never let women decide, choose what to want. They are always victims of a man's choice. I wrote something different. I wrote these tales. To spread the word. She chooses, not the men." Obviously, Auda is a woman ahead of her time. I also liked that last quarter except for its predictablity. I liked how Auda stuck to her guns. I also thought that despite its dullness at moments, the novel was very educational about the Inquistion in France and the effects it had on the people, priests and peasants and noblemen alike.Not a bad book, but I wasn't enthralled and I didn't find myself thinking of it long after setting it down, nor was I on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I wish to part with a final quote that appeared often throughout the reading of this that I liked: "Women are no lesser than men, men no lesser than women."
    • 3/5
      In a time when women had few opportunities, let alone a young girl who is born albino and due to being albino, had her tongue cut out and rendered mute, Auda is trying to thrive. The book begins with her birth in 1300, Auda's mother dies from a rough child birth where Auda had to be birthed by a crude cesearean section and she is born a "white witch" and she was deformed due to her unfortunate birth. Then "Watermark" jumps to 1320, when Auda is a grown woman, her sister is off and married and she is at home helping her father with his papermaking business. She reads adn writes and has dreams, skills that are a necessity for someone who is mute. During a time of the Inquisitions, Burnings of witches and Heretics, and the Crusades against Jews and Infidels, being something "different" is a curse. Through Auda's trials and tribulations, the author takes you through her journey of survival, love and the art of papermaking.I am not sure how I feel about this book. I felt absolutely ZERO connection with Auda. Generally, I fall for the underdog and cheer them on. With this story, I just didn't care as much as I would normally. I didn't want anything bad to befall her but I didn't feel that strong pull that a reader should feel. I thought the historical aspect of the story was amazing and especially the art of papermaking was extremely interesting. I felt the dialogue was underwhelming. There is definitely SOMETHING there, but I feel that something was missing. That "spark" was gone. I just wasn't wowed but I also didn't despise it. It was readable but not re-readable for me.
    • 5/5
      From my blog...Watermark by Vanitha Sankaran is a beautifully scripted tale of a woman, born an albino, trying to get by in the Middle Ages during the time of the Inquisitions. The story begins in 1300 Narbonne, France with Elena struggling with a difficult birth and anxiously awaiting her husband Martin and their young daughter Poncia's return with a midwife, however it is a healer he returns with. Biatris sends her assistant to gather herbs while she assesses the situation, concluding she must cut the baby from the womb, saving one life, but ending another. When Biatris' assistant sees the baby, born without pigmentation, she takes the baby to the river to drown, but instead chooses to cut the baby's tongue out to prevent her from speaking the Devil's word. The story then jumps to 1320, Auda is happily living with her father and her sister Poncia has settled down into married life with Jehan. Poncia wants to find someone willing to marry her sister, since more and more Inquisitors are arriving daily. One Inquisitor writes about finding the "white witch", alluding to Auda, yet she feels relatively secure even with herself while at home with her loving, artistic father. Auda would rather be happy than safe, staying unmarried and making paper with her father. She is educated, when most women are not and Auda enjoys her freedom and shares the same dream as her father, to one day make paper, reading, and writing common amongst all people; lofty goals for her poor father, even loftier for one who is being sought after. Martin has been commissioned by the Vicomtess and she has agreed to hire Auda as her scribe, but at what cost? The Watermark is an exceptionally well-written novel that easily captivates the reader and commands the reader's attention until the very end. Sankaran chose an intriguing historical setting for her novel and it is evident through her writing that she has extensively researched this time period. It is with vivid detail the reader is transported back to the Middle Ages, to the sites, the sounds, and people of the time, from the Inquisitions, the heretics and daily accusations to love, ambitions, and awaking artistic movements. Auda not only is a strong charater, she is also an easy-to-like character who despite all adversity is true to herself, her dreams, goals, and ambitions. Watermark is a brilliantly crafted narrative that I would highly recommend to all readers.