beautiful soup reviewed Nicked by M. T. Anderson
"God hides secrets around us to remind us that the world itself is a marvel."
4 stars
Absolutely delightful historical fiction centered around the real life heist of the holy corpse of St. Nicholas in 1087. Anderson is a hell of a writer but what I loved most about this one is that it chooses to take medieval stories and myth seriously, choosing to dwell in ahistoricity (or as the author puts it, "the willful inaccuracy demanded by the European Middle Ages themselves") and the effect is very entertaining. It's a perfect way to approach the period, where it feels like everyone has built their identities around stories and traditions handed down to them. "There is no line between vision and delusion."
At the same time, it's remarkable how much of this madcap story is actually based on historical events. Ok, there definitely wasn't a dog-headed guy there. (Unless.....?) It feels like a time when nothing is really known and anything is possible. Maybe you have a …
Absolutely delightful historical fiction centered around the real life heist of the holy corpse of St. Nicholas in 1087. Anderson is a hell of a writer but what I loved most about this one is that it chooses to take medieval stories and myth seriously, choosing to dwell in ahistoricity (or as the author puts it, "the willful inaccuracy demanded by the European Middle Ages themselves") and the effect is very entertaining. It's a perfect way to approach the period, where it feels like everyone has built their identities around stories and traditions handed down to them. "There is no line between vision and delusion."
At the same time, it's remarkable how much of this madcap story is actually based on historical events. Ok, there definitely wasn't a dog-headed guy there. (Unless.....?) It feels like a time when nothing is really known and anything is possible. Maybe you have a weird dream and your abbot tells you that it means you're going to have to steal a saint's corpse. Maybe a monk and a relic thief fall in love. The world is full of wonders. Hilarious, fun, queer, a treat for fans of the more bizarre side of the Catholic church or for anyone interested in medieval European history.
