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The Treasure of Montsegur: A Novel of the Cathars
For those who may not have experienced a wonderfully written novel of historical fiction, Sophy Burnham's Treasure of Montsegur is a must. Her words are entrancing; it is as if you are placed in the 13th century, in the midst of true-to-life characters living through the terrors of the Inquisition. Be sure to read the introduction which provides insight to Montsegur, the Cathars and their treasure, and the Inquisition--a terribly brutal and fearful time in world history. It has been some time since I have found a book difficult to put down--wanting to look ahead at the ending but uncertain of what I would find. Ms. Burnham is a very captivating writer--I will definitely look for her other books.

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There's so much to praise about this novel !
I am absolutely delighted with this novel. Rarely do I come across a novel that fully engages me on so many levels. Even more rare that such a novel would be set in 1200 France, as my tolerance for historical fiction in general is pretty low. Yet this novel captivated me. From the first paragraph I was hooked and wanted to know more. In the midst of a very busy work and life schedule, I found myself stealing time to read a page here, a chapter there. Excited about getting to the end but not wanting to really finish the book. "The Treasure of Montsegur" is written in the tradition of a tragic love story, yet its historical relevance is not diminished. The author provides a well-researched background on the Catholic Crusades in France that tortured and killed thousands of people during the 1200s. The novel is framed in the axiom that history repeats itself and is richly layered with historical, religious, spiritual, and tragic elements of the period.

Burnham tells the story in voices as layered as the storyline. The novel centers on the life of a woman named Jeanne. Found in a field by Cathers after the Crusaders raid her village. Jeanne is raised in the Cather faith and eventually becomes a revolutionary in the struggle to maintain the faith despite the Catholic Inquisitions. Jeanne is a fully realized character who loves, sins, betrays, falls, rises, heals. Using both narrative and first person (Jeanne), the author educates the reader on the horrors of the Cather annihilation while at the same time inviting the reader on a spiritual journey of love.

Burnham's writing is absolutely superb. The rhythm of the language and choice of words creates a reading space that provides immediate access to the period and the conditions under which people lived and tried to navigate their way through religious domination and spiritual fulfillment. On many occasions I had to research words and go beyond the first definition to find an archaic definition that would provide greater meaning to the sentence. At times, the reading experience was very much like piecing together a puzzle. The satisfaction of completing a puzzle comparable to the delight experienced each time I found a definition that fit. The story further motivated me to research the actual massacre at Montsegur, leaving me much better informed on the subject than I was prior to reading the novel.

I certainly hope that this novel finds its way into the classroom. What a wonderful way to initiate discussion on the Catholic Inquisitions. After having found an advanced reader's copy of the novel at a thrift shop, I consider this to be one of my greatest reading treasures. Highly recommended!

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Tragic History and Romance
In this historical novel, which takes place in the 13th C, the fate of the Cathars is examined through the eyes of Jeanne, a young orphan who joins this religious group but never really commits herself to the Albigensian (Cathar) version of Christianity. Historically, this group, which believed in pacifism, vegetarianism, chastity and charity work, was persecuted by the Catholic Church - in fact, a crusade was launched against them in the 13th C, and little is known of exactly who they were and what they believed. Author Sophie Burnham uses the character of Jeanne to champion the idea that these 'perfected heretics' were martyrs, and that the fortress of Montsegur, besieged by a hostile army, was their last stand as an alternative to the Catholicism in pre-Reformation Europe. The plot follows Jeanne, a complex and flawed young woman who appreciates and craves the companionship of this group, such as Lady Esclarmonde (based on a real woman, as many of the characters are), whose 'perfection' Jeanne envies, but cannot emulate. Jeanne makes bad choices in men, lives what in any age would be termed a 'loose' life at times, and even at the end of her life, cannot find earthly peace. The 'treasure' referred to in the title is real, and according to Burnham, even Hitler was interested in finding it. (You could also argue that, in the context of the novel, there is more than one 'treasure' that is lost and found by the characters.) In the world of the novel, Jeanne knows its location, but chooses to leave it a secret, with tragic consequences. Although I recommend reading this novel, I will say that at times, Jeanne and the plot left me frustrated. The misery experienced in the book becomes unrelenting - Jeanne does have an epiphany, and the ending is historically accurate, but I was left wanting more: more history, more answers, more spirituality.