* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *
Rapture by Emily Maguire is set in the year 821 when Agnes of Mainz is five years old, having been born to an English Priest and a pagan mother who died in childbirth. Living in Germany in a city called Mainz, Agnes is raised by her father and grows up with a love of nature, books and reading. Her father regularly hosts dinners where a variety of guests from far and wide seek out his company to discuss scholarly topics and engage in academic debates.
Listening and learning at their feet, by the time she reaches adolescence, Agnes is adamant she doesn't want to become a wife and mother.
"It is said a boy can avoid war by lopping off a finger or toe. What part of me, Agnes wonders, might I sever to be freed from the bloody service required of girls?" Page 34Preferring not to become a nun either, Agnes is ambitious and wants to pursue a life where she can continue reading, studying and learning. It's not a spoiler - it's in the blurb - but Agnes disguises herself as a man and with the help of a Benedictine monk, she joins his monastery. The structure of Fulda monastery is a real culture shock and Agnes reflects on the daily structure of the Divine Office, beginning when bells rouse them at the darkest hour for Nocturnes.
"Afterwards only the barest couple of hours to rest before being roused to sing Lauds. Then every few hours the bells calling her back to the cold, stinking church for Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones. Every day at least one additional mass and sometimes two. Several days a week they sing Psalms for the deceased. Always, Vespers as the sun goes down and, finally, in the full darkness of night, Compline." Page 90These terms - Prime, Vespers, Compline - are often mentioned in many of the historical fiction novels I read and I wish I could remember their order and time of day. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Agnes's time adjusting to the schedule, learning the different tasks performed by the monks and of course how she conceals her true identity in a monastery full of men.
Fortunately the deception is realistic and believable and the narrative isn't heavily steeped in religious fervour. The theme of desire dominates the book as Agnes stifles her physical desires in pursuit of stimulating her mind and achieving academic accomplishment. There are threats to Agnes continuing her life's purpose, but I admired how she steadfastly remained true to herself.
Maguire's writing is exquisite and I enjoyed the snippets of debate Agnes has with other learned men in the tradition of the discussions held around her father's dinner table:
"This man, whose name she has long forgotten, always assumes the barbarian monk will support his bellicosity, always acts newly shocked that she condemns swords and fire as a first resort. He is an old man but has clearly never seen war or its ugly aftermath. That a Christian with differing views is better off headless is an easy opinion if you have never had to see the insides of a severed neck." Page 182Agnes is praised for her work as a scribe and scholar and for her knowledge of languages, not to mention her theological rigour and elegance of phrasing yet her subsequent career trajectory was a surprising one. I didn't love the way the author ended Agnes's time with the reader, but by then I'd already enjoyed a 5 star read and it wasn't enough to sway my rating.
With one of my favourite cover designs of the year, Rapture by Australian author Emily Maguire will appeal to historical fiction readers who have enjoyed books like Cuddy by Benjamin Myers or The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.
Highly recommended!
