The Fire and the Light

As the 13th century dawns, the Christian world is shaken by spiritual upheaval. In Rome, Pope Innocent III plots to crush a new heresy. In the Holy Land, crusading monks make a disturbing discovery about Jesus of Nazareth. In France, roving troubadours sing of a mysterious Grail that offers salvation through the intercession of a worthy lady. In the Pyrenees mountains, a woman will challenge the most powerful pontiff in history and hurl the Church into its greatest crisis of authority. Esclarmonde de Foix is the most popular maiden in Occitania's fabled courts of love. But her life is thrown into turmoil when she encounters a sect of heretics called Cathars. Esclarmonde is forced to choose between her love for a mysterious Knight Templar and her calling to lead these persecuted descendants of Christ's first followers. In the tradition of Mary Magdalene, she ordains women, teaches pacifism, and debates the future leaders of the Inquisition. Desperate to suppress her popular... Number of Words in Auth: 2 Formats : EPUB Number of Formats : 1 Has Cover : Yes All Identifiers : isbn:978-0-9816484-9-1 Single Author : Glen Craney Original Source : MIRC Files_New_01_11 Sorted Author by LN, FN: Craney, Glen Title Length : 022 Title Parm D : The Fire and the Light Title Parm F : The Fire and the Light Num of Aut : 1 Title Parm B : ( Record ID : 2065 Uncomma Author : Glen Craney Title Parm A : The Fire and the Light She will defy the most powerful pope in history. As the 13th century dawns across Occitania , a brash, charismatic viscountess named Esclarmonde de Foix champions her persecuted pacifist faith and shocks the Church by publicly debating its greatest monastic minds. Centuries later, she is still revered as the Cathar Joan of Arc . Spiritual upheaval shakes Latin Christendom. In Rome, Pope Innocent III plots to crush a growing dualist sect that preaches Christ's mission has been corrupted. In the Holy Land , warrior-monks make a disturbing discovery. In southern France , roving troubadours sing of a Holy Grail that offers salvation through the intercession of a worthy lady. And in the foothills of the Pyrenees , war clouds approach Esclarmonde's hunted heretics, who protect an ancient scroll containing shattering revelations. Declared outlaws by the Church, the Occitan knights who defend Esclarmonde's family and followers determine to make their last stand atop Montsegur , a haunting mountain keep that protects a sacred treasure. Their heroic resistance against the papal and French armies evokes the legendary defiance of the Jewish rebels against the Roman legions at Masada. Myth and history collide in this sweeping saga of crusading fanaticism, courtly romance, knightly valor, and monastic conspiracy set during the infamous Albigensian Crusade . Start reading The Fire and the Light today. * * * * * — Foreword Book-of-the-Year Finalist/Honorable Mention for Historical Fiction — NIEA Award for Best New Fiction — Nautilus Silver Award — IPPY Silver Award — Eric Hoffer Award Finalist/Honorable Mention — Da Vinci Eye Award Finalist * * * * * What Readers Are Saying: " I loved this book! Mr. Craney has woven a wonderful story around the little known facts and the many myths that surround St. Esclarmonde de Foix and the Cathars at Montsegur. Get thee to a bookseller!" — REV. MOTHER ANASTASIA, ABBESS OF THE ORDER OF ST. ESCLARMONDE "This book is clearly well-researched, but more importantly for a novel, it tells a thoroughly engrossing story." — ANN K. D. MYERS, THE HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY "A marvel of a tale, tied quite firmly into what facts there are, and woven deftly into a tapestry touching those facts and connecting them into a tale at once enjoyable and alarming. " — THOUGHTS AND PLACES REVIEWS "Tenets of the Cathar faith are explained and many of Esclarmonde's mystical experiences beautifully rendered." — BOOKCROSSING As the 13th century dawns, the Christian world is shaken by spiritual upheaval. In Rome, Pope Innocent III plots to crush a new heresy. In the Holy Land, crusading monks make a disturbing discovery about Jesus of Nazareth. In France, roving troubadours sing of a mysterious Grail that offers salvation through the intercession of a worthy lady.In the Pyrenees mountains, a woman will challenge the most powerful pontiff in history and hurl the Church into its greatest crisis of authority.Esclarmonde de Foix is the most popular maiden in Occitania's fabled courts of love. But her life is thrown into turmoil when she encounters a sect of heretics called Cathars. Esclarmonde is forced to choose between her love for a mysterious Knight Templar and her calling to lead these persecuted descendants of Christ's first followers. In the tradition of Mary Magdalene, she ordains women, teaches pacifism, and debates the future leaders of the Inquisition. Desperate to suppress her popular preaching, Innocent III launches the only crusade ever officially declared against fellow Christians.The outnumbered Occitan defenders make their final stand atop Montsegur, a haunting temple fortress where they protect a precious treasure. Their heroic resistance against the crusader army evokes the legendary defiance of the Jews against the Roman legions at Masada.The Fire and the Light is a sweeping epic of crusading fanaticism, courtly romance, and esoteric mystery set during the infamous Albigensian Crusade