Cadwallader, Robyn - The Anchoress (BOM April2015)

[Renee]

This topic is for the discussion of The Anchoress: A Novel by Robyn Cadwallader



Book Synopsis
'Robyn Cadwallader does the real work of historical fiction, creating a detailed, sensuous and richly imagined shard of the past. She has successfully placed her narrator, the anchoress, in that tantalizing, precarious, delicate realm: convincingly of her own distant era, yet emotionally engaging and vividly present to us in our own.' Geraldine Brooks



'An intense, atmospheric and very assured debut, this is one of the most eagerly anticipated novels of the year ... This one will will appeal to readers who loved Hannah Kent's bestselling Burial Rites.' Caroline Baum


Set in the twelfth century, The Anchoress tells the story of Sarah, only seventeen when she chooses to become an anchoress, a holy woman shut away in a small cell, measuring seven paces by nine, at the side of the village church. Fleeing the grief of losing a much-loved sister in childbirth and the pressure to marry, she decides to renounce the world, with all its dangers, desires and temptations, and to commit herself to a life of prayer and service to God. But as she slowly begins to understand, even the thick, unforgiving walls of her cell cannot keep the outside world away, and it is soon clear that Sarah's body and soul are still in great danger...


Sometimes freedom means locking yourself away ...

[Kirsty]

St Christopher's Priory. Crawford, English Midlands. St Crispin's Day, 19 November, 1255. Ranaulf.

Here we meet Father Ranault who has come to St Christopher's to start a scriptorium. We begin to discover the link between the two locations and perhaps an inkling of what is coming.

[Renee]

I still don't have a copy of this, hopefully come in at the library soon. Are you enjoying it so far Kirsty?

[Kirsty]

I am enjoying it but it is a bit different. I don't normally read books about the church but this is keeping me engaged.

[Kirsty]

Sarah
So there is a bit more info coming out about Sarah's history and I am hypothesising about why Sarah has committed to God by locking herself away. Just don't think I could do it. Could you?

[Kirsty]

Sarah
So there is a bit more info coming out about Sarah's history and I am hypothesising about why Sarah has committed to God by locking herself away. Just don't think I could do it. Could you?

[Kirsty]

Sarah and Ranaulf.

I'm about 100 pages in now and we have seen Sarah and Ranaulf meet. It is now that I have worked out why Sarah has isolated herself from the world with the exception of offering guidance to woman. Sarah is suffering and we can see the results of that. We also learn more about the patriot supporting Sarah. Interesting as to why.

[Kirsty]

On finishing the book I realised that the last 200 pages were full of sties so intertwined I couldn't just stop and post. There are revelations, births and deaths. Everything changes for everyone. Their realisations are astounding, but it is Sarah and Father Renault who develop the most. In the final pages of the story we read about contentedness and connectedness.