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The Devil's Library
"A gripping, atmospheric debut. I couldn't put it down."
Eve Harris, Booker longlisted author of 'The Marrying of Chani Kaufman'
"Pugh's first novel is a magnificent achievement. Let us hope he returns to enthral us with another very soon."
David Dickinson, author of the Powerscourt series
The Otiosi? As far as Mathew Longstaff knows, they’re just a group of harmless scholars with an eccentric interest in the works of antiquity. When they ask him to travel east, to recover a lost text from Ivan the Terrible’s private library, he can’t think of anything but the reward - home. A return to England and an end to the long years of exile and warfare.
But the Otiosi are on the trail of a greater prize than Longstaff realises - the legendary ‘Devil’s Library’. And they are not alone. Gregorio Spina, the Pope’s spymaster and Chief Censor, is obsessed with finding the Library. It’s not the accumulated wisdom of centuries he’s after - a swamp of lies and heresy in his opinion - but among the filth, like a diamond at the centre of the Devil’s black heart, Spina believes that God has placed a treasure, a weapon to defeat the Antichrist and pitch his hordes back into hell.
Only Longstaff, together with the unpredictable physician, Gaetan Durant, can stop Spina using the Library to plunge Europe into a second Dark Ages. The two adventurers fight their way south, from the snowfields of Muscovy to the sun-baked plains of Italy, where an ageing scholar and his beautiful, young protégé hold the final piece of the puzzle. But is it already too late? Can the four of them take on the might of the Roman Church and hope to win?
Eve Harris, Booker longlisted author of 'The Marrying of Chani Kaufman'
"Pugh's first novel is a magnificent achievement. Let us hope he returns to enthral us with another very soon."
David Dickinson, author of the Powerscourt series
The Otiosi? As far as Mathew Longstaff knows, they’re just a group of harmless scholars with an eccentric interest in the works of antiquity. When they ask him to travel east, to recover a lost text from Ivan the Terrible’s private library, he can’t think of anything but the reward - home. A return to England and an end to the long years of exile and warfare.
But the Otiosi are on the trail of a greater prize than Longstaff realises - the legendary ‘Devil’s Library’. And they are not alone. Gregorio Spina, the Pope’s spymaster and Chief Censor, is obsessed with finding the Library. It’s not the accumulated wisdom of centuries he’s after - a swamp of lies and heresy in his opinion - but among the filth, like a diamond at the centre of the Devil’s black heart, Spina believes that God has placed a treasure, a weapon to defeat the Antichrist and pitch his hordes back into hell.
Only Longstaff, together with the unpredictable physician, Gaetan Durant, can stop Spina using the Library to plunge Europe into a second Dark Ages. The two adventurers fight their way south, from the snowfields of Muscovy to the sun-baked plains of Italy, where an ageing scholar and his beautiful, young protégé hold the final piece of the puzzle. But is it already too late? Can the four of them take on the might of the Roman Church and hope to win?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
93 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Tom Pugh
6 books14 followersTom Pugh is author of The Devil's Library, The Golden Cage, and The Lord of Worlds, a trilogy of fast-moving thrillers set in sixteenth century Europe. After studying art history, Tom invented a career as a travelling copywriter and teacher, living and working in London, Sydney and Tokyo before settling in Berlin with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 17, 2022
Confesso que fiquei um pouco desiludida com este livro. Estava há espera de muito mais. Achei tudo muito previsível, não fui surpreendida em nenhum momento, parecia uma história já contada e recontada e acho que tinha tudo para ser um grande livro.
Se é bom? É. Mas não é o tipo de livro que deixe a pensar, ou que se diga: "um dia vou querer ler outra vez!". A propaganda do livro parece sugerir algo mais, algo mais macabro e aliciante. Fala na Biblioteca do Diabo, ou seja, uma biblioteca repleta de livros que foram banidos em especial pela religião católica. Voltamos a falar nos horrores da inquisição, nas loucuras da santa igreja, do que a falta de conhecimento leva à crença das pessoas. Aqui temos os Otiosi que procuram a biblioteca para poderem partilhar conhecimento.. o mais ridículo é que muitas das crenças "do antigamente" ainda há quem acredite nelas nos dias de hoje.
Mas bem, se é um livro que se lê bem lê-se, se se vai ler algo novo? Não.
Se é bom? É. Mas não é o tipo de livro que deixe a pensar, ou que se diga: "um dia vou querer ler outra vez!". A propaganda do livro parece sugerir algo mais, algo mais macabro e aliciante. Fala na Biblioteca do Diabo, ou seja, uma biblioteca repleta de livros que foram banidos em especial pela religião católica. Voltamos a falar nos horrores da inquisição, nas loucuras da santa igreja, do que a falta de conhecimento leva à crença das pessoas. Aqui temos os Otiosi que procuram a biblioteca para poderem partilhar conhecimento.. o mais ridículo é que muitas das crenças "do antigamente" ainda há quem acredite nelas nos dias de hoje.
Mas bem, se é um livro que se lê bem lê-se, se se vai ler algo novo? Não.
September 23, 2024
Não foi propriamente um livro que adorei. A premissa é boa mas acho que se perde um pouco ao longo da narrativa, porque quer chegar a muito lado. De qualquer maneira não dei por mal empregue o tempo que despendi nesta leitura
August 13, 2025
Comprei o livro pelo título! Tinha algumas expectativas, pois livros sobre conspirações históricas, religião duvidosa, deuses, chamam por mim! Se o livro superou essas expectativas? Não! E só não lhe dou uma cotação mais baixa porque valeu pelas últimas 100 páginas.
Muito confuso ao início, o que me deixou logo desorientada.
Está considerado como thriller histórico com muito mistério à mistura. Ambientado no século XVI, com personagens históricas que tão bem conhecemos (família Medici, por exemplo) e com perseguições ao conhecimento e saber (Inquisição, etc.)
Encontramos no enredo uma rede clandestina que tenta proteger os livros proibidos, conspirações, missões secretas. Claro que temos também os conflitos de poder, da fé e da liberdade de pensamento.
Viajamos de Moscovo até Nápoles e acompanhamos personagens demasiado complexas, mas percebemos que lutam até ao fim pelo conhecimento e até se esquecem de si próprios (atenção ao cão Sparrow, adorei!)
São capítulos não muito curtos, e que por vezes se tornam aborrecidos, mas de leitura rápida. Mais para o fim, conseguem levar-nos a momentos de reflexão filosófica.
Gostei, no entanto, de que o autor tenha recriado tão bem o século XVI. Imaginamos aquelas cidades sombrias e com um clima opressivo.
Se gostas de mistérios históricos, bibliotecas secretas, thrillers intelectuais, este livro é para ti! Mas vai com calma e não leves as expectativas muito elevadas!
Muito confuso ao início, o que me deixou logo desorientada.
Está considerado como thriller histórico com muito mistério à mistura. Ambientado no século XVI, com personagens históricas que tão bem conhecemos (família Medici, por exemplo) e com perseguições ao conhecimento e saber (Inquisição, etc.)
Encontramos no enredo uma rede clandestina que tenta proteger os livros proibidos, conspirações, missões secretas. Claro que temos também os conflitos de poder, da fé e da liberdade de pensamento.
Viajamos de Moscovo até Nápoles e acompanhamos personagens demasiado complexas, mas percebemos que lutam até ao fim pelo conhecimento e até se esquecem de si próprios (atenção ao cão Sparrow, adorei!)
São capítulos não muito curtos, e que por vezes se tornam aborrecidos, mas de leitura rápida. Mais para o fim, conseguem levar-nos a momentos de reflexão filosófica.
Gostei, no entanto, de que o autor tenha recriado tão bem o século XVI. Imaginamos aquelas cidades sombrias e com um clima opressivo.
Se gostas de mistérios históricos, bibliotecas secretas, thrillers intelectuais, este livro é para ti! Mas vai com calma e não leves as expectativas muito elevadas!
April 16, 2023
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
August 27, 2022
In 1562 two men are hired to retrieve two books. An English man, Mathew Longstaff, and a French man, Gaetan Durant. Their mission is to steal the books and to deliver them to the leader of the Otiosi, a movement of free-thinkers dedicated to save knowledge from the Inquisition, preventing the burn of important books by the Catholic Church.
They end up being deceived by Gregorio Spina, the Pope's spy and censor.
Together they save Otiosi's leader and his daughter and the four, along with Longstaff, go on a quest to find the Devil's Library before Spina.
This enticing historical thriller, based on real events, has well developed characters and the plot keeps us in suspense until the end. The ending keeps the story open, so we really don't know what path the characters choose in the end of the adventure, and it's left to the reader's imagination.
They end up being deceived by Gregorio Spina, the Pope's spy and censor.
Together they save Otiosi's leader and his daughter and the four, along with Longstaff, go on a quest to find the Devil's Library before Spina.
This enticing historical thriller, based on real events, has well developed characters and the plot keeps us in suspense until the end. The ending keeps the story open, so we really don't know what path the characters choose in the end of the adventure, and it's left to the reader's imagination.
December 29, 2018
(...)... No entanto, é uma bruta leitura que me deixou fascinada com os seus mistérios e revelações, e com a esperança de que esta biblioteca e outras semelhantes, ainda estejam escondidas e preservadas, à espera por serem descobertas pelas pessoas certas, e se forem, que essas descobertas não sejam ocultas ou filtradas por quem essas descobertas comprometem.....(...)
Opinião completa no blog: http://www.umblogentrebibliotecas.pt/...
Opinião completa no blog: http://www.umblogentrebibliotecas.pt/...
September 26, 2017
Sorry, I just could not get along with this book. The characters seemed unconnected and I just could not summon the interest to persevere and find out how they all were related. It seemed quite well written, but the plot did not grab me. I gave it a fair go, and its very rare I can't finish a book, but I could not manage this one.
August 21, 2018
Gostei muito das personagens. No entanto a história centra-se demasiado nas viagens oferecendo menos história e intrigas do que inicialmente esperara.
April 1, 2020
Não consegui terminar, não por não gostar, não faz o meu gênero de livro.
Tentei 4x mas não consegui.
Tentei 4x mas não consegui.
November 20, 2022
Promete ser uma grande aposta, acaba por ser uma desilusão... Lamentável...
September 28, 2016
Epicurus, Greek Philosopher (b 341 BC d 230 BC). "He regarded the unacknowledged fear of death and punishment as the primary cause of anxiety among human beings, and anxiety in turn as the source of extreme and irrational desires. The elimination of the fears and corresponding desires would leave people free to pursue the pleasures, both physical and mental, to which they are naturally drawn, and to enjoy the peace of mind that is consequent upon their regularly expected and achieved satisfaction." (Stanford Philosophy Web Site.
Tom Pugh, like any great writer, can tell stories. He is very good in details and to establish a real world for his readers. The novel "The Devil's Library" is not what the title seems. In the 16th century, the Church's vice grip on their laity was loosened, first by a smashing blow, in 1450 with The Gutenberg Bible, and then, in 1517, from Luther's Thesis. This story takes place in 1550's. The Church is on a rampage to dismiss anything against its laws, especially a reported copy of Epicurus' poetry. There are those sent to find it, like Matthew Longstaff, Englishman and soldier, and those sent to destroy it, like Gregorio Spina, a dark-eyed ally to the Pope.
At first, I thought this was yet another Dan Brown spin-off. You know the plots: there is a secret document that would ruin religion or the world in general, and the characters are set on a journey to find it. Yes, there is, as Hitchcock would say "a McGuffin", in this case the library which would liberate humankind and cut the ties to the crushing Church. But Pugh has taken another approach. The paragraphs are action-packed and storyline, not the over-philosophical or long-winded background speeches. Instead, he presents us with historical sites, even archaic words, like a card game called "Landsknecht" or "katzbalger" or "germander", for example.
To me, the most creative and believable character was Aurelie. She is the captive of the leader of the Otiosi, a group who wants to expose Epicurus and start the Renaissance, one sans the Church. But "captive" is how her flight was perceived. She becomes the student of Giacomo Vescosi, who teaches her to think and feel and read and write. He passes her a wealth of knowledge. She holds Truth and Wisdom and the secret of the Ancients. This is how careful he is to describe her, in a key scene when she has to pass information:
"Aurélie was dressed as a serving girl, an artful smear of flour down one cheek. Her long blond hair –a rarity on the streets of Florence –was neatly bound, hidden beneath a coif. She was playing a role, puffing out her cheeks and gormlessly moving her jaw from side to side. She walked along Via dell’Agnolo, past stalls and dyers' workshops. The street was crowded with people returning from a hanging outside the Porta alla Croce, but Aurélie wasn’t going so far. She strode past the open gate of a hostelry and made a pantomime of having forgotten her errand. No one appeared to notice. She walked back and ducked inside, lingering a moment in the shadows. A baby cried nearby, the sound drifting through an open window and Aurélie heard a woman’s calming lullaby."
This blend of research and lucid description makes Pugh a novelist to follow and to admire.
Tom Pugh, like any great writer, can tell stories. He is very good in details and to establish a real world for his readers. The novel "The Devil's Library" is not what the title seems. In the 16th century, the Church's vice grip on their laity was loosened, first by a smashing blow, in 1450 with The Gutenberg Bible, and then, in 1517, from Luther's Thesis. This story takes place in 1550's. The Church is on a rampage to dismiss anything against its laws, especially a reported copy of Epicurus' poetry. There are those sent to find it, like Matthew Longstaff, Englishman and soldier, and those sent to destroy it, like Gregorio Spina, a dark-eyed ally to the Pope.
At first, I thought this was yet another Dan Brown spin-off. You know the plots: there is a secret document that would ruin religion or the world in general, and the characters are set on a journey to find it. Yes, there is, as Hitchcock would say "a McGuffin", in this case the library which would liberate humankind and cut the ties to the crushing Church. But Pugh has taken another approach. The paragraphs are action-packed and storyline, not the over-philosophical or long-winded background speeches. Instead, he presents us with historical sites, even archaic words, like a card game called "Landsknecht" or "katzbalger" or "germander", for example.
To me, the most creative and believable character was Aurelie. She is the captive of the leader of the Otiosi, a group who wants to expose Epicurus and start the Renaissance, one sans the Church. But "captive" is how her flight was perceived. She becomes the student of Giacomo Vescosi, who teaches her to think and feel and read and write. He passes her a wealth of knowledge. She holds Truth and Wisdom and the secret of the Ancients. This is how careful he is to describe her, in a key scene when she has to pass information:
"Aurélie was dressed as a serving girl, an artful smear of flour down one cheek. Her long blond hair –a rarity on the streets of Florence –was neatly bound, hidden beneath a coif. She was playing a role, puffing out her cheeks and gormlessly moving her jaw from side to side. She walked along Via dell’Agnolo, past stalls and dyers' workshops. The street was crowded with people returning from a hanging outside the Porta alla Croce, but Aurélie wasn’t going so far. She strode past the open gate of a hostelry and made a pantomime of having forgotten her errand. No one appeared to notice. She walked back and ducked inside, lingering a moment in the shadows. A baby cried nearby, the sound drifting through an open window and Aurélie heard a woman’s calming lullaby."
This blend of research and lucid description makes Pugh a novelist to follow and to admire.
July 14, 2017
A Great Adventure!
A very interesting and well crafted historical thriller that brings a fresh perspective on the role of the Church and dissenters during the time of Sir Nicolas Bacon. Fast paced and thoughtfully plotted, the author captures and holds the reader's attention, making The Devil's Library one tough book to put down.
A very interesting and well crafted historical thriller that brings a fresh perspective on the role of the Church and dissenters during the time of Sir Nicolas Bacon. Fast paced and thoughtfully plotted, the author captures and holds the reader's attention, making The Devil's Library one tough book to put down.
July 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this novel. I've always wondered what all was in the Vatican 's library. This novel had a lot of speculation and I found myself reading and turning the pages as Fast as I could to find out what happened next. I''be always enjoyed reading books set in ancient times. Highly recommended.
November 8, 2017
Erudituon
Want to feed your esoteric mind? This novel is not as erudite as the work of Umberto Eco, but the adventure of the freebooter and plague doctor chasing the lost writings of classical philosophers and astronomers in the larger conflict of humanism versus Catholicism makes for interesting reading.
Want to feed your esoteric mind? This novel is not as erudite as the work of Umberto Eco, but the adventure of the freebooter and plague doctor chasing the lost writings of classical philosophers and astronomers in the larger conflict of humanism versus Catholicism makes for interesting reading.
June 23, 2018
I was never bored while reading this book - it is a nice historical treasure hunt story, with several interesting bits of information regarding post-Luther Europe. However, it focuses too much on the chase and so does not leave much time for puzzles and riddles in the same manner as the Da Vinci Code, yet the cast is varied and interesting - especially the bromance between Longstaff and Durant.
July 7, 2017
I couldn't put it down
Excellent from start to finish. Extremely well researched and woven into a swashbuckler. I would highly recommend reading this and look forward to the author's next book.
Excellent from start to finish. Extremely well researched and woven into a swashbuckler. I would highly recommend reading this and look forward to the author's next book.
July 28, 2017
I found the book dreadfully boring. Not once did I feel any suspense or fear for the characters even in life threatening situations. The action was predictable, including the ending. I don't understand all the five star reviews on Amazon. You mileage may vary.
November 14, 2019
O tema é interessante, podia ter sido mais explorado.
Demora a chegar ao assunto principal, explorando mais as personagens do que a biblioteca em si.
Mas é bom no geral.
Demora a chegar ao assunto principal, explorando mais as personagens do que a biblioteca em si.
Mas é bom no geral.
December 2, 2019
A busca da Biblioteca do Diabo é o ponto forte deste livro, o que vai levar a muitas aventuras para a encontrar e o melhor será o vencedor
December 28, 2020
Disappointed
Good until nearly the end foun the bad guy’s turning up at the last minutes a bit predictable as the good guy’s had made no attempt to cover their tracks
Good until nearly the end foun the bad guy’s turning up at the last minutes a bit predictable as the good guy’s had made no attempt to cover their tracks
February 25, 2020
This one was a very sensational read. The author did well in espousing certain controversial themes of the Christian faith. The action and sword fighting scenes were intense. It's not always you get to read such a suspenseful book. Kudos to the author for writing such an enjoyable tale.
January 14, 2018
Good Read
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book a great adventure with a historically accurate breadth to it enjoyable and entertaining, a good read
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book a great adventure with a historically accurate breadth to it enjoyable and entertaining, a good read
July 9, 2019
3.5 stars
February 15, 2020
What's next
I really really enjoyed this wonderful book, it was such a refreshing take on a part of history,fantastic, more please
I really really enjoyed this wonderful book, it was such a refreshing take on a part of history,fantastic, more please
February 23, 2020
É uma história de aventuras , está bem contada e principalmente bem integrada no tempo. Muito interessante.
June 11, 2021
A capa é bonita e fica por aí...
March 27, 2022
Não consegui terminar o livro.
A história é confusa e não tem surpresa.
A história é confusa e não tem surpresa.
February 19, 2023
Dois meses depois, consegui terminá-lo. Finalmente.
April 20, 2023
3.5 ⭐
História interessante.
O único senão é que demora para desenvolver e depois concluí-se em 10 ou 20 páginas.
História interessante.
O único senão é que demora para desenvolver e depois concluí-se em 10 ou 20 páginas.
June 17, 2016
Somewhat difficult to follow at first, however, this story becomes and interesting race by differing religious viewpoints to find the fabled Devil's Library. The books in this library presumably provide the answers to life. Catholic extremists are anxious to suppress the books in these early days of the Inquisition and it's attendant horrors. Lutheran extremists want the books made available to further the work of humanist scientists. Two mercenaries on the hunt have personal quests of their own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews