gradynbell.com

Superbly written and obviously extremely well researched. The parallels with the modern world are quite alarming and show how devastating religious intolerance can be. For any who doubt the resolve of the Muslim fanatics that now threaten our world, a look at the 12th and 13th Century should provide a “wake up call” to what may be in store. Although a novel, it is based upon real events and demonstrates real attitudes that people who believed themselves to be good once held, and the brutality that ordinary people can inflict upon their neighbours if hypocrisy and extremism is left unchecked. A compelling read, with lessons about tolerance and a warning that society should heed as a matter of urgency. I look forward to the next instalment.

Anonymous Reader

THE DOVE AND THE DEVIL

Gradyn Bell, Trafford Publishing, 2006, $26.09, pb, 379pp, 1412070163

This novel takes place in the 13th century and centers on the family of Simon de Montfort, father of the famous de Montfort of English history. The story is set in southern France, in the region known as Occitania or the Occitane, where the marvelous troubadours of musical fame sing and develop their unique style in the langue d’Oc. But there is a more serious threat lying in this region, one that the Pope in Rome hopes to abolish: the Cathar heresy. Simon has been asked to lead the effort to eradicate this heresy, a Christian one within a Christian country. In the midst of this destruction, a number of dramas develop. One is the first Inquisition. Another is the story of Domingo da Guzman, who eventually becomes St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican order. And, finally, a major drama develops between Guy de Montfort, Simon’s youngest son, and Maurina, a young Cathar woman in the south of France whose brother and father are members of the Cathar church.

This book is the first of a trilogy that will eventually follow the de Montfort family to its eventual destruction at the Battle of Evesham in England in 1265. In this first volume, the reader sees how Simon the elder gets his nickname of the Devil (and the Wolf). His relentless and merciless pursuit of those who practice the Cathar religion is brought out in this novel, with the backdrop of love and mercy between Guy and Maurina as they try to survive and help others without the knowledge of Simon’s father. At the same time, Maurina carries a parcel that may contain a valuable wanted by both sides of the conflict.

I found the line between fiction and historical content in this novel quite interesting, and the drama keeps the reader interested. — Brad Eden

http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/hnr-online.htm

“Zen Satori in London’s super trendy Hoxton Square was the scene for the European launch of The Dove and the Devil, the first novel in Gradyn’s trilogy recounting the tragic persecution of the Cathars in 13^th Century France.”

Gradyn sets the scene at the beginning of thereading of her novel, The Dove and the Devil.

As the plot unfolds in the readings, the audience’s interest is captured.

Having piqued the audience’s interest, Gradyn begins the book signing.

Guests at the Zen Satori in London’s trendy Hoxton Square.

This is an article which appeared on a French Website - Cathares.org which was sent to me by its author, Philippe Contal. He gave me permission to translate it from the original French. I thought it was interesting because it shows just how much the story of the Cathars still permeates the psyche of the people who live now in what was Occitania, the setting of my novel, The Dove and the Devil. Montsegur is a fortress where the last major burning of the Cathars took place. That happened in 1244. It was a place where Cathars could come for prayer, retreats and where they were relatively safe. The word “Pog” which appears in the text is an Occitanian word for mountain.

Montsegur, Ariege, France July 17, 2006.

How many times have I climbed above the clouds making an assault on this citadel…? I remember the first time, in June 1970. I was with my grandfather Jean. Coming from a valley in the Ariege, he was passionate about the vast, wild countryside. There was everything there to make me, the adolescent, dream, the crystal clarity of the mountain lakes, the access to the bowels of the earth which led to the grottos, and the innumerable legends which have been passed down by the fireside for generations.

“Do you know the legend of The White Lady of Montsegur?” he asked me. “During storms you can see a white spectre on the ruined walls. It walks slowly along the top of the great wall…It’s Esclarmonde de Perella. Because she lived during the citadel’s last moment, Esclarmonde never stops coming back to these places that time has not erased from our memories.

After crossing the prat del cremat or the field of the burned, we had hardly begun to tackle the steep slope which led to the chateau when we found ourselves face to face with a stone column. Erected in 1960 by Dedat Roche, this monument had been installed to commemorate the burnings at the stake in 1244.

Als Catars do you see this stone? It was installed here so you won’t forget!

My grandfather had been telling me the history of the region for a long time. I knew about the heroic epic of those idealistic defenders who were Cathars. They might appear as extremists, certainly, for the stand they took. The acceptance of being burned at the stake rather than renouncing their faith might be considered very odd!

Like Esclarmonde who returns to haunt the walls of the fortress, the column affects anyone who pays attention to it.

My grandfather could talk for hours. His doctorates in medieval and ancient history were only a small part of his cultural heritage. He always punctuated his descriptions of the times with silences, as if he wished to make us digest his words.

Might it be possible, that behind these stories, there remain other things to be discovered? At twelve years of age then, my mind was always somewhere else, wrapped up in dreams, hopes and frustrations!

These memories were there when i climbed to the summit of the pog at Montsegur in the summer of 2006. Each year I make this pilgimage on my birthday. In July, very early on that morning, no one came to disturb the silence surrounding the mountain. Silence! Truth to tell it was enough to stop for only a few moments to discover the sleeping countryside usually hidden by all the comings and goings of people. Like the stars that seem to disappear with the coming of daylight, the noises of the birds, insects, the rustling of leaves, are all present during the day but find themselves equally stifled.

I made a stop at the foot of the column which appeared to guard the surroundings. A few branches twined around the base of the stone pedestal, a few sheets of paper: some laurel leaves and some poems had been left here!

The novel, The Dove and the Devil, is the story of the events that were set in motion one cold winter’s day in the year 1199 at a tournament on the estate of Thibaut of Champagne. It was then that Simon de Montfort, the father of the well known de Montfort in English history, first answered the Pope’s call to a Crusade. He never made it to the Holy Land and the reasons why he refused to go, having sworn his oath over a saint’s relics, were what first called him to the attention of Pope Innocent the Third. When the Holy Father called the Crusade against the Cathars in 1208/9, he was pleased to put this faithful son of Holy Mother Church in command of the first army ever to fight Christians in a Christian land.
A holocaust follows when this able soldier and son of the church, charged with ridding the world of a dangerous threat, sweeps into Occitania in the South of France. Over a million souls are wiped from the scorched face of the earth in what we now know as Languedoc and the modern notion of genocide is born.