Motherless child, Agnes lives with her father, a priest in ninth-century Mainz. She’s a brilliant and highly intelligent child with a deep knowledge and love for God. At eighteen she loses her father and with the help of a Benedictine monk, she disguises herself as man to study and devote her life to God.

She is known as John the Englishman and she forges a life for herself forsaking the traditional role of wife and mother. She becomes a scribe, a translator, a celebrated teacher and finally a Pope.

This is a fascinating story and said to be loosely based on Pope Joan which legend has it was a woman who disguised herself as a man finding her way through the Church hierarchy to become the Pope in 855.

“God has made me to excel at this work, she thinks. There is not another person on earth who sees things as I do. If she were say this out loud she would be whipped and worse. “

The research for this novel was exemplary, with every detail described beautifully to immerse us into the depth of ninth century society.

The religious context was the only thing that lost me at times but for those readers who know their bible, it may mean much more. Nevertheless, it wasn’t too much of a distraction.

Overall, this is one to check out. It’s fascinating.