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Pilgrims

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Pilgrims

By: Matthew Kneale
Narrated by: Mark Elstob
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About this listen

1289. A rich farmer fears he'll go to hell for cheating his neighbours. His wife wants pilgrim badges to sew into her hat and show off at church. A poor, ragged villager is convinced his beloved cat is suffering in the fires of purgatory and must be rescued. A mother believes her son's dangerous illness is punishment for her own adultery and seeks forgiveness so he may be cured. A landlord is in trouble with the church after he punched an abbot on the nose. A sexually driven noblewoman seeks a divorce so she can marry her new young beau.

These are among a ragtag band of pilgrims that sets off on the tough and dangerous journey from England to Rome, where they hope all their troubles and their prayers will be answered. Some in the group, however, have their own secret reasons for going. Others, while they might aspire to piety, succumb all too often to the sins of the flesh.

A riveting, sweeping novel of medieval society and historic Englishness, Pilgrims illuminates the fallibility of humans, the absurdities and consolations of belief, and the very real violence at the heart of religious fervour.

©2020 Matthew Kneale (P)2020 W F Howes Fiction Historical Fiction

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Critic reviews

“An enthralling and wonderfully vivid novel from a master storyteller.” (Joseph O'Connor)

“Kneale's medieval world is animated with a refreshing lightness of touch.” (Sunday Telegraph)
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I loved everything about this book! It’s just wonderful! So much humour and perceptive descriptions of personalities and totally relevant to modern times

Fantastic narration, great story

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I couldn't stop listening. the characters are relatable, well acted and the world excellently researched and completely believable. I was transported to 13th century Europe. utterly excellent.

thoroughly enjoyable

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Matthew Kneale has written some excellent books, all based on substantial research and quirky premises. This is not my favourite of his but I enjoyed it from start to finish. It is in a wry manner extremely funny and may not appeal to those whose sensitivities disapprove of poking gentle fun at foolish ideas.

Delightful

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The best tale I have heard for a very long time. Full of human nature of high and low born in medieval Britain.

Perfect

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If I hadn't been reading for bookclub and I had to read , not listen to this I would have given up. I didn't connect with the characters, the creation of a medieval pilgrims' world , the narrator's voice........nope

Not for me

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