by John Arden
First published 1989
John Bale pulls his rough woolen habit closer as he steps into the churning world of sixteenth century England. A friar bound by ancient vows, he finds himself swept into the massive religious and political transformations reshaping his nation. The old certainties of Catholic tradition clash violently with the new Protestant reforms. Kings rise and fall. Monasteries crumble. Common people suffer while nobles scheme for power and position. Bale must choose between the security of his religious calling and the dangerous currents of change swirling around him. His decisions will test everything he believes about faith, duty, and survival. This sweeping tale captures one man's struggle to find his place when the very foundations of society shift beneath his feet. At its heart lies the question of how an ordinary person maintains integrity when extraordinary times demand impossible choices.
Genres: drama, historical-fiction, political-thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: duty-vs-conscience, fish-out-of-water
Setting: England
Period: 16th Century
532 pages · Paperback · Minerva/Methuen