The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin by Douglas Bond

The story is told by a chronicler, who attends early school with John Calvin – French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation in the early 16th century. The venom of his voice and his actions are very clear.

The author’s writing is brilliant in every aspect, the word choice and tone; the story reflecting the “iron self-disciplined” character of John Calvin; and the atmosphere of painful reality of the 16th century Paris’ burnings of those who dared to question clergymen. This historical fiction is “set in the times and places when and where John Calvin lived and worked. Though it is fiction, the reader may accept Calvin’s words in dialogues, sermons, discussions, and debates with confidence.”

Young Calvin displays brilliance from early school years. He is the envy of his schoolmates. His knowledge is far above his age, and what seems ahead his time. It comes across as from another world. From early on, he isn’t afraid to speak up or ask what isn’t supposed to be questioned.

The chronicler’s envy of Calvin’s brilliance makes him develop uncanny ability to be invisible and follow Calvin’s each move until arrival in Paris, where he becomes visible, simply by approaching Calvin and asking him for “honor of attending upon him.”

In Paris, while Calvin studies for priesthood at Sorbonne, two events occur: Calvin hears of Martin Luther and chronicler overhears about spies of the Sorbonne commissioned by priests and doctors. Two men with two different goals lead to the Betrayal, which has an unexpected twist.

@Facebook/BestHistoricalFiction