
The Religion
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Tim Willocks
About this listen
May 1565. Suleiman the Magnificent, emperor of the Ottomans, has declared a jihad against the Knights of Saint John the Baptist. The largest armada of all time approaches the Knights' Christian stronghold on the island of Malta. The Turks know the Knights as the "The Hounds of Hell." The Knights call themselves "The Religion."
In Messina, Sicily, a French countess, Carla la Penautier, seeks a passage to Malta in a quest to find the son taken from her at his birth twelve years ago. The only man with the expertise and daring to help her is a Rabelaisian soldier of fortune, arms dealer, former janissary, and strapping Saxon adventurer by the name of Mattias Tannhauser. He agrees to accompany the lady to Malta, where, amidst the most spectacular siege in military history, they must try to find the boy— whose name they do not know and whose face they have never seen—and pluck him from the jaws of Holy War.
The Religion is Book One of The Tannhauser Triology, and from the start of epic account of the last great medieval conflict between East and West, it is clear we are in the hands of a master. Not since James Clavell has a novelist so powerfully and assuredly plunged listeners headlong into another place and time. Anne Rice transformed the vampire novel. Stephen King reinvented horror. Now, in a spectacular tale of heroism, tragedy, and passion, Tim Willocks revivifies historical fiction.
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Critic reviews
“The ideal man to do justice to the conflict...gripping...a classic of its kind.” —The Mail on Sunday
"A novel of high adventure, blood, guts and romantic love...as master craftsman, [Willocks] tells his story with extraordinary pace.” —Literary Review
“An epic in which we can see the seeds of our all our modern woes.” —The Times (of London)
Boring
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The reader is more a performer than a narrator and is exceptional.
incredible
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Painfully Ignorant of Islam
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Excellent narration
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Ups and downs
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What is also remarkable is the author's evenhandedness in his portrayal of the two combatant sides. There are many things to admire in both the Christian and Muslim camps but religious fanaticism, of which both sides are guilty, is portrayed as the unreasoning and frightening force it can be. All in all it makes for some intense and, I found, thought provoking listening.
That aside, students familiar with the history of the Great Siege of Malta will recognize all of the key actions of the struggle and the author can be forgiven the device of having his main character present at, or even the instrument of, most of them.
As always, the narration of Mr Vance breathes life into the text and makes for a throughly enjoyable experience.
Highly recommended.
Not for the squeamish
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More please?!?!?
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Incredible!
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Great Characters
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The background of Malta was a perfect place to learn about the characters, and the tale of love, friendship and honor was well done.
Awesome
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