Set in thirteenth-century Bruges\, this de but novel follows a young woman&rsquo\;s explorations of faith\, agency\, and love among a community of fiercely independent women.
\nAleys is sixteen years old and serious\, stubborn\, prone to religious visions. Sh e and her only friend\, a young scholar\, have been learning Latin togethe r in secret&mdash\;but just as she thinks their connection might become so mething more\, he abandons her for the monastery. When her family falls on hard financial times\, her father promises her in marriage to the unctuou s head of the weavers&rsquo\; guild\, and in desperation she runs away fro m home\, eventually finding shelter within a community of religious women who do not answer to the church.
\nAmong the hardworking and strong- willed Beguines\, Aleys glimpses for the first time the joys of a life of song\, friendship\, and time spent in the markets and along the canals of Bruges. But forces both mystical and political are afoot. Illegal translat ions of scripture\, the women&rsquo\;s independence\, and a sudden rash of miracles all draw the attention of an ambitious bishop&mdash\;and bring A leys and those around her into ever-increasing danger\, a danger that will push Aleys to a new understanding of love and sacrifice. -Publisher
\nFor adults. Registration required. Contact \;Ari \;at apappas@minlib.net with any questions.< /em>
\nAbout Janet:
\nJanet is a graduate of GrubStreet&rsquo\;s selective Novel Incubator program. A professor of epid emiology at Harvard Medical School\, Janet has written more than 300 paper s for scientific journals. Several years ago\, she began wondering whether she could convey more truth\, or different truths\, through fiction. She started Canticle while a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced St udy\, where she enjoyed the company of Lauren Groff\, Kaitlyn Greenidge\, and Min Jin Lee. Matrix and Canticle were inspired by the same fellow&rsqu o\;s lecture on literacy among medieval nuns. When she&rsquo\;s not sneaki ng hours to write fiction\, Janet is trying her hardest to write fact\, as a professor of epidemiology at Harvard Medical School and researcher in t he Division of Women&rsquo\;s Health at Brigham and Women&rsquo\;s Hospita l.
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