The Saint's Mistress by Kathryn Bashaar

 Saint Augustine’s writings influenced the development of Western philosophy and Western Christianity. But before he became the bishop of Hippo Regius, North Africa, as a young man he fell in love with a peasant girl. And as a man of aristocratic blood, together they defied social norms and traditions.

Thagaste, North Africa, 371 AD. Leona, a goat shepherd’s daughter, helps at weaver’s shop. She catches an eye of Aurelius Augustine. At seventeen-years-old, he looks for students to practice his skills. He offers to teach Leona read. But this goes beyond teaching; their attraction to each other is mutual. When she gets pregnant, Aurelius is about to leave for Carthage to study rhetoric there. Defying norms as he is from a noble class and can't marry a peasant by Roman law or he'd have to forfeit all of his property. And with a help of a wealthy patron, they make Carthage their home for the next few years.

With the Roman Empire losing its grip in North Africa and the rise of Christianity, Augustine remains steadfast in Manichean believes. He refuses to join Christianity as some do to advance their careers. He wants to stay true to who he is. But life tests him and opens his eyes to rather heretical believes.

I enjoyed both characters very much. Aurelius’ excitement for philosophy and people who think is contagious. And he makes a mark as a charismatic orator. Leona is very rational and she is the voice for the poor. She fights for them to be fed when hunger strikes. She is a true example of what Christianity means: feeding a hungry person, comforting a distressed one, and caring for a sick one.

The time period is originally presented. It feels very real to experience the slipping power of the Roman Empire and the fear of people who are left to fend for themselves against savage tribes. The hardship of everyday life is well-felt and what the spreading Christianity brings is a balm for this kind of life. You can also feel the intense African heat and the warmness still radiating from the cobbled streets at the end of the day.

Superbly written. I was engrossed from the very beginning to the very end, with engaging and fully-developed characters offering a glimpse of their lives against the fourth century North African backdrop.

Release date: 22 September 2020

Source: Camcat Books