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The School of Night

3.3 of 5 stars 3.30 · rating details · 636 ratings · 153 reviews

An ancient mystery, a lost letter, and a timeless love unleash a long-buried web of intrigue that spans four centuries

In the late sixteenth century, five brilliant scholars gather under the cloak of darkness to discuss God, politics, astronomy, and the black arts. Known as the School of Night, they meet in secret to avoid the wrath of Queen Elizabeth. But one of the men,

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Hardcover, 338 pages

Published March 29th 2011 by Henry Holt and Co. (first published 2010)

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Aug 27, 2011 Deb rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed all of Bayard's historical thrillers, but this one disappointed me. He took an interesting historical premise: a secretive group of humanist thinkers meeting to discuss radical ideas in science, religion and politics - and Da Vinci Coded it up with a cardboard villain, his hulking sidekick, and too many improbable feats of derring-do. I know the reading public loves a fast-paced book, but this one bought its fast pace at the expense of the development of a truly intriguing story....more

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Jul 29, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, literature

Every book I've read by Louis Bayard I seem to love. His writing always propels me to wherever the story is. This story is set both in 2009 and in 1603. I thought the transition between the time periods superbly done. I had no confusion as to when or what was going on. This book seems to be more of a modern day chase to find a lost treasure, but it also gives an idea into the life of Thomas Harriot. In the present Henry Cavendish, a man with nothing left to lose, is grieving the loss of the one...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thrillers, fiction

A fun thriller centered around another gaggle of modern-day book hunters (Elizabethan and Shakespearean this time around) and their 17th-century quarry. The contemporary protagonist is Henry Cavendish, a likable and scholarly loser surrounded by friends who may or may not share his goals. And who may not be his friends at all, for that matter. The part of the story set in the early 1600s revolves around Thomas Harriot, a close friend of Walter Raleigh and beer buddy of Christopher Marlowe and th...more

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May 17, 2011 Lisa added it

Shelves: arc, fiction

In 16th century England, a group of noted Elizabethan scholars gathered in secret to discuss potentially heretical ideas; this group is known to modern historians as the “School of Night.” 400 years later, Henry Cavendish and his friend Alonzo Wax sought to create such a philosophical school of their own. Years later, Alonzo is dead and has named disgraced academic Henry the executor of his affairs. On the day of Alonzo’s funeral, Henry is approached by noted book collector Bernard Styles regard...more In 16th century England, a group of noted Elizabethan scholars gathered in secret to discuss potentially heretical ideas; this group is known to modern historians as the “School of Night.” 400 years later, Henry Cavendish and his friend Alonzo Wax sought to create such a philosophical school of their own. Years later, Alonzo is dead and has named disgraced academic Henry the executor of his affairs. On the day of Alonzo’s funeral, Henry is approached by noted book collector Bernard Styles regarding an old letter that had been “borrowed” by Alonzo. This letter is purportedly written to Thomas Harriot, a lesser known member of the School of Night, and may just contain the location of a valuable treasure…

The School of Night contains all the elements of the modern historical thriller. There’s a lost treasure, secret codes, murders, and prominent historical figures. What sets Bayard’s novel apart, however, is the story of Thomas Harriot that is told throughout the novel.

Less is known about Harriot as compared to his colleagues Walter Raleigh and Christopher Marlowe, but his numerous achievements are revealed both in the present story and in sections set in early 1600s England. These past chapters are largely a love story, in which Harriot shares his knowledge of optics with learned servant girl Margaret Crookenshanks. As Harriot and Margaret’s love story unfolds, it also brings to light Harriot’s scientific achievements. The historical sections are very well done, and are some of the most interesting parts of the novel.

The present-day characters are admittedly less intriguing than some of the past character, although they are well developed. The romance between Henry and femme fatale Clarissa Dale simply pales to Thomas and Margaret’s. The “thriller” sections also move a bit slow in parts, and much of the search for clues is a bit dull due to the characters having ready access to the internet and Google. Finally, there’s also the strange addition of Clarissa’s purported visions, which don’t really fit with the rest of the novel and are never really explained.

Although it does have flaws, The School of Night is an interesting read about an interesting historical figure.

A review copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.(less)

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Apr 03, 2011 Katie rated it 1 of 5 stars

So I haven't finished this book, but reading it is setting my teeth on edge.

1. I hate Elizabethan conspiracy theories. Most offensive among these is the ridiculous idea that the man we know as William Shakespeare did not write the works of William Shakespeare, but this School of Night bullshit isn't that far behind. Could these men have known each other? Yes, although to my knowledge Marlowe did not socialize with men like Raleigh and Percy, who were courtiers and members of the nobility. Havin...more So I haven't finished this book, but reading it is setting my teeth on edge.

1. I hate Elizabethan conspiracy theories. Most offensive among these is the ridiculous idea that the man we know as William Shakespeare did not write the works of William Shakespeare, but this School of Night bullshit isn't that far behind. Could these men have known each other? Yes, although to my knowledge Marlowe did not socialize with men like Raleigh and Percy, who were courtiers and members of the nobility. Having said that, there is no actual evidence of any kind that the 'School of Night' (or the school of atheism, whatever) existed, and the idea that they all died because of their involvement in this so called school is ludicrous. Raleigh had walked close to the line and even stepped over it on occasion for years, and involving himself in a plot to put Arbella Stuart on the throne, however limited his involvement, was asking for it. James could have cut his head off, but he commuted his sentence. Raleigh was finally executed in 1618 after crossing Spain and stealing their gold one too many times. If this stupid school existed (and I don't believe that it did), Raleigh's death had nothing to do with it. Marlowe's death is murkier, but no facts that would support a conspiracy have survived, and an absence of facts doesn't justify some insane theory about his death. We don't know what happened to a lot of personages more exulted than Christopher Marlowe. How did Lord Darnley really die? When and how did Edward V and his brother die? Did the Dauphin of France, Louis XVII survive the Temple? We don't know, and not knowing is not a sufficient foundation for a lot of made up bullshit.

2. Glaring and unnecessary historical inaccuracies. My favorite example was the description of the opposition of Raleigh and James I. One source of conflict? 'James was pious.' James was pious? Are you joking? James was very tolerant of Catholicism compared to his contemporaries (refusing to tolerate Catholic plots to remove him from the throne is not the same thing as being a religious crusader), not a pious zealot. He was a notorious profligate, he spent buckets of money, possibly had a succession of male lovers, and has never in any account I've read been accused of piety. Just because he was a scholar (and quite possibly the most accomplished scholar to ever occupy the English throne) and supported the first authorized English translation of the Bible does not mean he was a pious man. What really bugs me about all of this, and other statements like it, is that it's incidental to the plot and could have quite easily been removed. Bayard - whose other books I have really enjoyed - could have simply stated that Raleigh crossed the line with a King who had no long standing affection for him like Elizabeth did to save him from punishment. That statement would have been accurate, would have served the same purpose, and wouldn't have set my teeth grinding and made my head hurt.

3. He puts words in Christopher Marlowe's mouth. There are no words to describe how much this bothers me. Bayard is a competent writer who has authored some clever mysteries. That does not give him the right to put words in the mouth of one of the greatest English playwrights of all time, a revolutionary force in English Renaissance drama, and a greater talent than Shakespeare (sorry, Shakespeare fetishists, it's true). The words aren't even any good. Have Harriot talking. Have the Earl of Northumberland talking. Have Raleigh talking. Have James the effing first talking. Hell, put words in Shakespeare's mouth. But do not, for the love of god, presume to insert a clumsy passage in your book where Christopher Marlowe talks about why he became a playwright. If there were any justice in this world, the literary gods would strike you down with lightning for that one.

ETA (spoilers follow):
So before the last few chapters, after the Alonzo reveal but before the return of Clarissa, I was going to finish my review with a fairly charitable epitaph, that Mr. Bayard is a good writer who just got lost with this book. Which he did. It's a mess. He skips around between centuries and characters and locations and storyline and it's disastrous. He has all these characters who may be very real in his head but who are completely shallow on the page, and their storylines don't interest. It seemed that he contrived a couple of random love stories and a fake out ending (the same one as the Pale Blue Eye, I might add) and then just filled it in, not very well.

However, that was before I got to the reveal about the letter, which completely changed my opinion. It was awful. It was insulting. It's the biggest, dumbest, most wildly implausible Elizabethan conspiracy yet, and I wish Amazon would refund my money for this book, because I am quite frankly insulted. The plot of the book is set in motion by the second page of a letter, and at the end of the book, the modern day protagonist's love interest shows up with the first page. Which reveals that Shakespeare orchestrated the deaths of Marlowe, Raleigh, and the rest of the School of Night as revenge against his gay lover Marlowe, who jilted him. Oh, and his plays were all meant to draw attention to the School of Night and make fun of everything they stood for.

I would respond to this in detail, but it would give me a coronary, and his ending shouldn't be dignified by a response. I realize this is a work of fiction, but he's using a historical setting, and real people. If he wanted to have his own invented characters do this (oh wait, he did. The parallel between the modern day and historical stories was so clever! Except for the part where it wasn't), that would be one thing. Mystery writers do that kind of stuff all the time. But to abuse real people - great writers and men who shaped history, people who achieved more in a day than this writer will in his entire life - in this manner is insulting to those who care for history. To be clear, it is not the suggestion that either Marlowe or Shakespeare was gay that offends me. I could not care less about their sexual orientation. It's the conspiracy theory crap that makes me hate this book. Shakespeare as the mastermind who brought down someone as important as Raleigh because he was jilted by Marlowe in his youth is so awful you wouldn't find it in a cheap romance novel sold in a drugstore. When you're using tricks that a bodice ripper wouldn't stoop to, you need to put away your pen.(less)

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Nov 21, 2010 Jacqie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've really loved the Louis Bayard books I've read in the past, so I was pretty excited about this galley. Sadly, this book does not live up to his other efforts. I think the problem is that he's trying to keep two story threads going, and one of them is not as engaging as the other. The book starts in the present time, just after a funeral for the narrator's good friend. There's a purloined letter, a scholarly reputations in ruins, a secret code, and a mysterious woman. Seems like the right mix...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction

The School of Night by Louis Bayard straddles three genres - mystery, historical fiction, and adventure. Elizabethan historian Henry Cavendish has just lost his best friend, Alonzo Wax, who is an avaricious collector of historical manuscripts. At Wax's funeral, Henry is approached by another collector who says that Wax was in possession of the first page of a letter from Walter Raleigh which rightfully belongs to him. He offers to pay Henry to find and return it.

There are a couple of murders al...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Jaclyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

The School of Night has everything it takes to be a bestseller: plot twists (one too many, in fact), present-day sex, 16th-century sex, a giant Scandinavian named Halldor, a possibly murderous book collector - bet you never heard that one before! - and an ancient mystery that poses real danger to contemporary characters. It reminded me very much of The Da Vinci Code, only the ancient mystery was not religious.

Here's the premise: Henry Cavendish is "a disgraced Elizabethan scholar" whose best fri...more The School of Night has everything it takes to be a bestseller: plot twists (one too many, in fact), present-day sex, 16th-century sex, a giant Scandinavian named Halldor, a possibly murderous book collector - bet you never heard that one before! - and an ancient mystery that poses real danger to contemporary characters. It reminded me very much of The Da Vinci Code, only the ancient mystery was not religious.

Here's the premise: Henry Cavendish is "a disgraced Elizabethan scholar" whose best friend, book collector Alonzo Wax, has recently committed suicide. Henry, named executor of Alonzo's estate, is approached at Alonzo's funeral by Bernard Styles, a dapper old gentleman book collector, and his hefty sidekick Halldor. Styles tells Henry that before he died, Alonzo stole something from him - the second page of a letter written by Sir Walter Ralegh. Styles offers Henry $10,000 up front, plus $90,000 upon completion of the job, to track the letter down and return it to him. Henry joins forces with Clarissa Dale, a thirty-something "business major," who is suffering from visions that might be related to the letter. Soon Henry and Clarissa are drawn into a tangled web of mystery and deception that might just endanger their lives. Henry and Clarissa's story is woven with that of Thomas Harriott, a 16th-century scholar known as "England's Galileo," who might have hidden some really cool treasure somewhere. But Harriott has another treasure - an assistant housekeeper named Margaret Crookenshanks, who becomes his life's great love. As Henry and Clarissa stalk treasure in the 21st century, Tom and Margaret form their eternal bond in the 16th, until both worlds come crashing together.

I'm giving The School of Night two stars, even though I believe I gave The Da Vinci Code three, because I just wasn't really impressed. I cruised through it quickly enough, but I never felt completely engrossed in the story. Even at the most exciting points, I didn't have that hard of a time putting the book down and walking away. I also felt that where The Da Vinci Code was new and creative, The School of Night was simply a re-hash of old themes and stories that have gotten quite stale on recent bestseller lists. This book was written with the bestseller list in mind. And that's all well and good - I'm not proud, I obviously read The Da Vinci Code after all, although thus far I've managed to avoid The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - for some reason I had this idea that I was getting literary fiction. I don't know where I got that from - I must have seen The School of Night on a book blog. Yes, it's probably unfair of me to come down hard on the book because my unreasonable expectations were disappointed. Is it the book's fault that it wasn't what I expected it to be? No, of course not. But at the end of the day, it just didn't do much for me. I wasn't really invested in the characters, I didn't feel surprised by any of the so-called plot twists (of which there were many), and I just don't know what I got out of this book. Still, I suppose it's a great "summer book" or "beach book" if you believe in that sort of thing. Light, exciting (I guess), with the required "historical mystery" plot that has been so popular. Make room in your beach bags, kids. Otherwise, leave this one on the shelf and go read The Da Vinci Code if you must.(less)

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Apr 03, 2011 Brackman1066 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

A new Louis Bayard mystery is an event for me, and this one didn't disappoint. He experiments a little with his settings, and is clearly trying to push himself. All his previous books have been set entirely in the past; this one cuts back and forth with some interesting stylistic distinctions between the passages (the 17th-century scenes are all written in present tense; the 2009 scenes are all in the past tense, etc.). Bayard is a master of the flawed-but-sweet protagonist, and as always I enjo...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Will Byrnes rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was difficult to believe that Alonzo Wax was dead. He was a collector extraordinaire, books, papers, antiquities. He was also a tornado of a personality, who seemed rather an unlikely suicide. His friend, Elizabethan scholar Henry Cavendish, is surprised to learn that he has been named executor of Alonzo’s estate. Soon after, the sinister Mr. Styles seeks him out, eager to retrieve from Alonzo’s estate a document that he claims Alonzo stole from him. (think Sydney Greenstreet) The large gentl...more It was difficult to believe that Alonzo Wax was dead. He was a collector extraordinaire, books, papers, antiquities. He was also a tornado of a personality, who seemed rather an unlikely suicide. His friend, Elizabethan scholar Henry Cavendish, is surprised to learn that he has been named executor of Alonzo’s estate. Soon after, the sinister Mr. Styles seeks him out, eager to retrieve from Alonzo’s estate a document that he claims Alonzo stole from him. (think Sydney Greenstreet) The large gentleman accompanying Styles gives his request increased urgency, and the money he offers makes this an offer the cash-challenged Henry cautiously welcomes. The sought-after document was a letter from Raleigh to his friend Thomas Herriot. When Alonzo’s assistant is found dead in and a large collection of books is found missing missing from a temperature controlled vault, the game is afoot. What is this document, and why is it so heartily pursued? Who is Styles and what is he capable of?

The “School of Night” of the title refers to a group of late 16th and early 17th century intellectuals, giants of their time, both scientifically and literarily inclined. The group included Sir Walter Raleigh, Christopher Marlowe, George Chapman, and Thomas Herriot, among others. And how could anyone use an Elizabethan setting and not include at least a little William Shakespeare? Alonzo had sought to re-create his own version when he and Henry were students.

The story alternates settings between 2009 and 1603, counterpointing Henry’s relationship with co-seeker Clarissa Dale and Herriot’s relationship with his employee, Margaret Crookenshanks. Bayard also mirrors the friendships of Raleigh-Herriot and Alonzo-Henry. Structurally, this works pretty well. There is plenty of informational payload in The School of Night, a look into life in the early 17th century, a bit of scientific research, a bit of plague, some politics.

The action is fast-paced and engaging. There is enough to care about in Henry’s character, and maybe more in the characters of the 17th century figures. Danger and a sense of adventure abound and keep the action moving, both physically and intellectually. (view spoiler)

I found it rather clichéd that, near the end, there is a scene that is straight out of Agatha Christie, in which one character explains it all to those present. But overall I quite enjoyed the journey while learning a thing or two. Recommended beach reading for sure. It may be summer but class is definitely in.
(less)

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May 22, 2011 Kandice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, mystery

I read The Pale Blue Eye by Bayard first and was very impressed with the historical aspects of the book, the characters he created, and the world they inhabited. Upon finishing the book, I wanted to read his other works. This is the second book I've read and am somewhat disappointed after reading his other work first. To begin with, this book is only somewhat historical. While it draws upon history, it is set in the present. It lacks the depth and fullness of his other story. It is also somewhat...more

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May 02, 2011 Mary Bloodworth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thank you Louis Bayard for writing another historical mystery! It was truly fun to read this, and the wait was worth it.

Unfortunately, I can't do much summarizing of the story because the twists and turns begin shortly into the book, and I don't want to give anything away. The main character is Henry Cavendish, a down on his luck professor. His college friend Alonzo Wax has killed himself, and Henry is appointed the executor of the estate. Alonzo was an eccentric book and manuscript collector. (...more

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May 21, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: parallel-narrative, thriller

Although some of the denouments were predictable (even with the two or three twists), the overall story was interesting. I doubt I could have told anyone much about Thomas Harriot prior to reading the novel, so it was great to become just a bit more familiar with him - even if a great portion of his charcterization was fictional. I also thought the main contemporary character, Henry, was interesting; though I wish the whole romantic storyline hadn't happened. It's not that I hated the character...more

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Mar 12, 2011 Miles rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

In a perfect and indolent reviewing world (and an the inevitable excuse for brevity) I would sum up Louis Bayard’s “The School of Night” with the following:

“Stunning, simply stunning”

However, a book of this quality doesn’t deserve such an inconsequential review and with this in mind I will continue!

Confession, they say, is good for the soul and the opening line had me vexed!

“Against all odds, against my own wishes, this is a love story. And it began, of all places, at Alonzo Wax’s funeral. “

I w...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars

Alonzo Wax has taken his own life and his friends have gathered to say goodbye. Apparently this scholar and Elizabethan collector decided to jump off a bridge, leaving a final message with certain people - including his once close friend, Henry Cavendish - that read: The School of Night is back in business.

Henry is amazed as he sits with the funeral party thinking over is past relationship with Alonzo, wondering why such an energetic man would simply call it a day. When a woman dressed in scarle...more Alonzo Wax has taken his own life and his friends have gathered to say goodbye. Apparently this scholar and Elizabethan collector decided to jump off a bridge, leaving a final message with certain people - including his once close friend, Henry Cavendish - that read: The School of Night is back in business.

Henry is amazed as he sits with the funeral party thinking over is past relationship with Alonzo, wondering why such an energetic man would simply call it a day. When a woman dressed in scarlet walks into the venue, Henry is even more intrigued, but before he can get to the female he is waylaid by a man named Bernard Styles. He, too, is a rich collector and tells Henry that he wants a letter back written by the poet, Ralegh, that Alonzo stole from him. Henry is, after all, Alonzo’s executor and Bernard wants the letter found and returned immediately.

The School of Night is spoken of, as Bernard offers background on this 16th century group who were the most notable men of their time; men who got together to discuss everything that they weren’t allowed to discuss in public (being under royal rule) without having their heads cut from their bodies. Even Shakespeare mentions the School of Night in his own plays.

If the letter is real it could rejuvenate Henry’s own career, seeing as that he’s basically been erased from the academic world because of a mistake he made long ago. Henry soon finds himself looking at murder, revenge, and the woman in scarlet who appears once again to let Henry know about her ‘visions’ of Thomas Harriot - the leader of The School of Night - and a treasure that may still exist.

From the codes to the ciphers; from dual stories that offer the reader a look at what actually did occur in the 16th century, to a treasure hunt of mammoth proportions, this bestselling author has done it once again. The mystery is unsolvable, the characters are fascinating, and just when you believe that all is figured out, yet another door opens that keeps this book moving quickly from beginning until end. A fantastic read!(less)

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May 07, 2011 Lisa Guidarini rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wrote a long-winded review on my blog, but here I'll just summarize. Intertwining plots, one current day about two book collectors willing to go to almost any length to have a complete letter believed to have been written by Sir Walter Raleigh. Second plot-line Elizabethan, Thomas Harriot (real-life Elizabethan scientist) working on inventions in his laboratory. Book collectors believe, due to an obscure reference in the half of the letter they have seen, Harriot's buried treasure somewhere. B...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-crime, hist-fic

Disgraced Elizabethan scholar Henry Cavendish first learned about The School of Night from his close friend Alonzo Wax. In the 1600's, a group of English freethinkers, among them Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Harriott, Walter Raleigh, and William Shakespeare, met clandestinely to discuss such forbidden topics as atheism, science, and alchemy. Now, having attended Alonzo's memorial service, Henry is disconcerted by a proposition put to him by a noted book collector, Bernard Styles. Alonzo, it seems...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Susan Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book follows an increasingly common format of combining a story in the present with one in the past. It involves current day folks trying to solve a mystery from the past. It can be a quite entertaining story and this is one of the good ones. First of all, it involves Sir Walter Raleigh (now spelled Ralegh), Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare and the main character, Thomas Harriot. How can that company be anything but entertaining? I knew next to nothing about Harriot but was quite im...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Katherine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I wanted to love this book so much but, alas poor Bayard, I did not. I love early modern European historical fiction so much, and most of the action for the modern-day half of this book takes place pratically in my backyard. Bayard writes many beautiful passages but the half of the book that takes place in 2009 Washington,DC left me wanting better execution of plot and characters. I felt like I was reading National Treasure, only instead of Nicholas Cage we have a horny, self-pitting, disgraced...more

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May 10, 2011 Vincent rated it 3 of 5 stars

I feel like I have been reading more books lately that bounce back and forth between present and past quickly and often. This book gives present day Washington DC and 400 years ago London. The DC scenes are somewhat fun for anyone with some familiarity with the city, since local landmarks, bars, restaurants, libraries, and other social gathering areas are featured.
The plot centers around a character - annoying named Alonzo - who is a brilliant, eccentric guy who dies and leaves his friends and a...more

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Oct 09, 2011 James Schmidt rated it 5 of 5 stars

A better Saturday and (part of) Sunday have rarely been better spent: it's been a long time since I read a book straight through in a couple days and happily, this was one of them. I have read three of Louis Bayard's novels now...all of them are in the "team picture" of my favorite books. This one was so different than the other two, with a foot in the 21st century, but - in the end - still so much like the others. So much more humor than usual made it all the more fun...the love scenes were ten...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

The reveal on this slightly convoluted historical flashback novel makes you wonder what you missed. It also had the unfortunate condition of having no characters with whom to connect or like or want to succeed in any way. The protagonist is wimpy, and the other main character -- a fancy pants book collector -- treats everyone around him very badly. The most interesting parts of the book concern the secret society in question, The School Of Night, which features a cast of historical characters wh...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Book Duo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Louis Bayard writes great historical fiction full of mystery and adventure. The School of Night follows contemporary collectors (and ruthless ones at that) on the trail of a mysterious document from Elizabethan times. While the current day action is fast-paced and involving, the parts of the story that reveal the life and times of Thomas Harriot, a famous scientist and colleague of Sir Walter Raleigh, are the most intriguing. The plot involving a contemporary search to solve a mystery from the p...more

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Mar 22, 2011 Randal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: england, historicalnovel, mystery

If I were to break my rule of not reading books twice (because there are simply too many others to read), I might read this again. Not because I loved it so much, but because I'm just not sure at this point if it all hangs together or all falls apart. In any event, it's well-written, generally, with more than a standard count of interesting characters and a plot that moves very neatly between the present day and post-Elizabethan England. The mystery is engaging, but I can't escape the feeling th...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, historical, contemporary-fiction

In terms of plot this is Da Vinci Code-lite, but the writing itself is much better. There is, in a way, a caper element to it, with conspiracy theory thrown in. The characters, while not altogether realistic, are amusing and fun to hang out with. It alternates between modern day and the 1600s and I learned things about certain historical figures (e.g. Thomas Harriot, Walter Ralegh) I did not previously know. Of course, this being fiction, I also had to confirm a lot of suppositions. Regardless,...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Joanne rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, didn-t-finish

Trying to be The Da Vinci Code, but with a missing Elizabethan manuscript. It's got a missing book collector (supposedly dead, but no body), a mysterious beautiful woman who joins the search, a Bad Guy with a hulking bodyguard, etc. When the first body rolled out of a book vault on about page 30, it was hard for me not to laugh, and when the book switched back to 1609 or whatever, I just gave up.

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Feb 17, 2013 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY

THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT, his latest offering, continues this enchantment. But whereas he's previously written only historical mysteries (MR. TIMOTHY, THE PALE BLUE EYE, THE BLACK TOWER), THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT brings him into contemporary mystery storytelling. Specifically, this story is set in modern day Washington, DC...more THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY

THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT, his latest offering, continues this enchantment. But whereas he's previously written only historical mysteries (MR. TIMOTHY, THE PALE BLUE EYE, THE BLACK TOWER), THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT brings him into contemporary mystery storytelling. Specifically, this story is set in modern day Washington, DC and other locales as a failed academic, Henry Cavendish, must unravel the mystery of a missing Elizabethan letter -- or rather, a page from it -- before the man seeking it does harm to those he loves.

This being Louis Bayard, however, the past intrudes on the present, with many segments of the book taking place in the time the letter was written. Clever Bayard sets those long scenes in present tense, an amusing conceit that, ironically, grounds them in the past with a "you are there" feel.

Cavendish, the disgraced Elizabethan scholar, becomes executor of his late friend's estate after the friend -- Alonso Wax -- committed suicide. Alonso was a collector of rare books, and included in his collection was a page from a letter supposedly written by someone in Sir Walter Raleigh's clique (the "school of night" of the title). Another collector, Bernard Styles, pays Cavendish to retrieve the letter's page for him, telling Cavendish that Alonso had stolen it from him. Cavendish can use the money, so he agrees to find it in his friend's belongings.

But then...things happen. A friend and colleague of Alonso's is killed, trapped in the deceased's book vault as oxygen is sucked out of it to protect the books from a fire that doesn't start. A history of other deaths of collectors is uncovered, and suddenly Cavendish begins to suspect that Bernard Styles is not merely a collector of rare books and letters but an obsessive maniac who would do anything to add to his store of antiquated texts.

Cavendish eventually joins forces with a strange young woman, who'd been drawn to Alonso's funeral due to perplexing dreams dealing with the "school of night," and another eccentric who collects rare books and lives on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. There, he discovers a shocking surprise and also learns that Bernard Styles is hot on his trail.

Eventually, the crew ends up in England at the old estate at which Thomas Harriot (a colleague of Raleigh's) lived. Harriot, by the way, is the central character in the numerous flashbacks, and his story is as compelling as the modern-day yarn Bayard spins.

When the mystery is resolved--after much drama and high-risk shenanigans--Bayard attaches a coda to the story (as he did in previous books) that is as satisfying as the entire story itself, giving the reader a different angle on what went before and what might have been the motivations of a famous straggler in the "school of night."

Although at times I felt Bayard was adrift in the modern day portions of the books, this novel is an extremely satisfying historical mystery, offering much more than a who/howdunnit tale, filled with elegant observations on human nature and the "lost soul." I highly recommend it.
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Nov 09, 2011 Ariel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is my first Louis Baynard book and I really enjoyed it. I love historical fiction, adventure, and romance and this book had all three elements. This book reminded me of the movie National Treasure in that it involves academic type people in search for an object of historical significance. It even reminded a little Indiana Jones, Last Crusade as well *spoiler alert* when Claire reveals what side she is on. Claire reminded me of Elsa in the movie.

The plot of the book revolves around a disgrac...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Janette Fleming rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Synopsis

“A shared quest and a mysterious cabal, four centuries apart . . .

When Henry Cavendish attends the funeral of an old friend, the last thing he expects is to be given a business proposition. A handsome sum to retrieve a document that was in his friend’s possession when he died ; a letter from Sir Walter Ralegh. Henry accepts the challenge, despite severe misgivings about his sinister new employer.

Four centuries earlier, in Elizabethan England, another quest is playing out. Thomas Harriot,...more Synopsis

“A shared quest and a mysterious cabal, four centuries apart . . .

When Henry Cavendish attends the funeral of an old friend, the last thing he expects is to be given a business proposition. A handsome sum to retrieve a document that was in his friend’s possession when he died ; a letter from Sir Walter Ralegh. Henry accepts the challenge, despite severe misgivings about his sinister new employer.

Four centuries earlier, in Elizabethan England, another quest is playing out. Thomas Harriot, once a member of the mysterious School of Night, a group whose members included the toast of Elizabethan society, has shut himself off from the world. Working day and night, he devotes himself secretly to his experiments.

As both searches deepen, the two men realise that there are forces at work against them. Harriot’s work is threatened by discovery and Henry’s search becomes a deadly one, when someone close to him dies in mysterious circumstances. The School of Night is the story of a quest that spans centuries, of alliances forged in unexpected circumstances and of men who will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

I have always been a fan of Louis Bayard beautifully written historical thrillers but I have to say I was a little disappointed with this one.

The dual narrative worked well, weaving the past and present into a deftly plotted story, except I MUCH preferred the Elizabethan sections to the modern day treasure hunt. The Elizabethan characters Thomas and Margaret are compelling and empathetically engaging. I strongly felt their modern day counterparts and their story was not drawn as well. In fact thinking about it, it is the modern day thread that caused me not to enjoy it as much as I was expecting, I found I was racing through Henry and Clarissa’s story to get back to the characters I really cared about, Thomas and Margaret

I can understand other reviewers saying the modern sections reads like a better written version of The Da Vinci Code and unfortunately I agree with them. Louis Bayard’s previous works include The Pale Blue Eye (which follows a young Edgar Allen Poe solving a very dark and terrible mystery and Mr. Timothy, a literary masterpiece continuing the story of Dickens' Tiny Tim. Maybe if I had not read his previous works I would not have such high expectations but I found The School of Night rather light, not up to the author’s previous standard.
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Nov 12, 2012 Bev Hankins rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical-mystery, mount-tbr-2012

The School of Night by Louis Bayard has a really interesting premise. He starts with a secret society made up of Sir Walter Raleigh (oops, Ralegh--don't ask me why we've decided to ditch the "I"), Christopher "Kit" Marlowe, Thomas Harriot and others....the School of Night. A group of men who dare to think about such forbidden topics as alchemy and paganism, who question the existence of God and the meaning of life. In modern times, a page of a letter from Raleigh to Harriot comes to light and wi...more The School of Night by Louis Bayard has a really interesting premise. He starts with a secret society made up of Sir Walter Raleigh (oops, Ralegh--don't ask me why we've decided to ditch the "I"), Christopher "Kit" Marlowe, Thomas Harriot and others....the School of Night. A group of men who dare to think about such forbidden topics as alchemy and paganism, who question the existence of God and the meaning of life. In modern times, a page of a letter from Raleigh to Harriot comes to light and with it the promise of a hidden treasure.

Raleigh scholar and ousted academic, Henry Cavendish is drawn into the treasure hunt by his former friend and confidante, Alonzo Wax. Cavendish, Wax, and a mysterious woman named Clarissa work together to decipher Harriot's coded treasure map on the back of the letter....they're in a race against time and against the letter's alleged owner. A man with a load of wealth and a couple of heavy-duty thugs to back him up when push comes to shove. What treasure lies buried in the spot marked X on the map....and who will wind up with it? Those are the questions in Bayard's book.

As I said, an interesting premise. The synopsis grabbed me and made me want to read the book. But the book didn't live up to the promise. I really didn't find myself invested in the characters. Cavendish is a bit of a loser. And he didn't win me over as the underdog who will make good--the man down-on-his-luck who deserves better, so cheer him on! I really didn't care if he and his friends decoded the map and found the treasure or not. And....when they finally do decode the map...well, let me just say that it's all a bit of a let-down.

There is also the disjointed juggling of the current day treasure hunt story and the flashbacks to the days of Harriot. That didn't work so well either. Clarissa supposedly has visions (or nightmares or visitations or some such thing) where she "sees" what's going on back in Harriot's day. And, other than being the only way Bayard seemed to be able to think of to tell us all that historical stuff, it was all kind of pointless. The flashbacks didn't help Cavendish & company find the treasure, decode the map or anything. They were just there. Not very effective. But the funny thing is, Bayard's writing is so compelling that I had to finish the darn thing anyway. I couldn't NOT read it. Now I'm going to have to try another of his books just to see if he can write a better story. 'Cause a better story with his compelling writing style would be pretty awesome indeed. Two and a half stars for this one. Just.

This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.(less)

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About Louis Bayard

A staff writer for Salon.com, Bayard has written articles and reviews for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Nerve.com, and Preservation, among others. Bayard lives in Washington, D.C.

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Quotes from The School of Night

“Such a nice little pastiche. Of course, a true Elizbethan theater wouldn't have a roof, would it? Or such comfortable chairs. All the same quite charming.I wonder what play they're putting on now?

Oh, its ... Love's Labour Lost.

Well, isn't that apropos?

Is it?

I wonder if it's modern dress. No, I don't wonder at all.On that particular question, I have been quite driven from the firld. Everywhere one goes now it's Uzis at Agincourt, Imogen in jeans, the Thane of Cawdor in a three-button suit. Nest thing you know, Romeo and Julie will simply text each other. Damn the balcony. OMG,Romeo. ILY 24-7.” — 1 person liked it

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