The Sultan's eyes by Kelly Gardiner
Angus and Robertson, 2013.
Highly recommended. With The Sultan's Eyes, as with its
predecessor Act of Faith, Kelly Gardiner has created the
thinking person's historical romp. I thoroughly enjoyed this
imaginative and well researched tale of the inquisition.
This is excellent adventure against the historical background of
early printing which enabled the spread of ideas that lead to the
Enlightenment. Kelly Gardiner gives the reader a delightful heroine
in Isabella Hawkins. The novel features a fine supporting cast of
characters, and rich description of both Venice and Constantinople
Isabella has to flee Venice, when the inquisition arrives and poses
danger to herself and her friends. They have to outwit their old
enemy Fra Clement and they escape to Constantinople where the fame
of the four friends has preceded them and they have to juggle the
politics in the court of the young Sultan very carefully.
Isabella comes into contact with an old friend and his family also
in exile from England and has to reassess her understanding of his
behaviour and past. Her connections from the past tantalisingly
offer the poisoned chalice of freedom from exile and the right to
return to England. Will Isabella abandon her friends to return?
The reader observes as Willem and Isabella circle each other with
their feelings unsure of how they feel for each other, and wary of
the new people in their lives, who may break up the four adventurers
and exiles. The adaptation of a new life means that each takes their
own direction until the opportunity arises to print a lost book of
Hypatia.
An unexpected twist in the plot brings matters to a head and
Isabella has to work out who she loves and trusts in order to plan
her next move.
Kelly Gardiner has written an intriguing well researched story of
the Enlightenment with flair and aplomb and just enough 21st century
nouse. Her plotting and characterisation is a joy.
In a world of sparkly vampires and new adult readers this
intelligent story is highly recommended.
Michael Jongen