AUTHORS' NOTES
LETTER TO READERS (from the book)
Dear Reader,
On our honeymoon, while visiting Mont-Saint-Michel, Regina remarked “It would be fun to have a gothic novel take place in a real gothic place like this.” From that inspiration grew this book. It has been an exhilarating journey. As we developed the plot, characters and inserted the drama of history and ideas, the book has grown beyond a simple gothic story. Most young married couples have to deal with enough without arguing over whose epic poem about Agincourt was authentically medieval. In some ways the book changed as our marriage deepened. It may have been impossible to finish the book any sooner than the 25th anniversary of our wedding.
The result is a book we have enjoyed writing and hope you will enjoy reading. Some already have read it as they helped shape the book. Some of them even requested a sequel! Perhaps literary professionals will find our written voice mundane, but we have purposely written it to respect traditional form, as that is the nature of the story we tell: traditional but with intriguing twists.
When we have read books like this, we have often wondered what was “fact” and what was “fiction.” We have researched thoroughly the period in which the novel occurs. It was not done in the strictest scholarly fashion. We used secondary and tertiary sources. Gina translated accounts from French sources, including a chronicle from Mont-Saint-Michel, but not much time was spent in nuance of the grammar. And while we plunged deeply into many sources of medieval history and culture, kept notes, and assembled a library, we did not footnote everything we learned about the era or events. Therefore, we do not knowingly contradict historic fact in this book. We deliberately dawdle over descriptions of medieval life, culture, and architecture as accurately as we can, since that is part of the entertainment. We hope all this transports you back 600 hundred years with us, and you savor the journey.
The descriptions of Mont-Saint-Michel are accurate for what were the conditions at the time of the novel, to the best of our discerning. We returned to the Mont with an early draft of the novel to make sure that paths our characters take and the rooms they occupied fit reality so much, that the reader with the text in front of him/her could duplicate their moves.
The major events which happen to our historic characters happened. We found as we drafted chapters that, in the spirit of the times, we could flesh out the brief accounts that books gave us. Physical descriptions and personalities of the historic figures were scarce, except for the royalty, and are generally fabricated to serve our opinions and the book. Among the historic people who appear as characters in our book are Abbe; Robert Jolivet, Vicar Pierre Gonault, Jean d’Harcourt, John Stewart and the royalty. Other nobles in the book who partake in actual events and about whom you are given a full name and a fact or two are generally real people. The dialog is fabricated, although we use many quotes attributed to royalty as well as their written documents.
The fictional characters gave us greater license to create the plot lines and themes of the book. Naturally, these are woven into historic events with historic people. We frequently give them roles in the momentous historic episodes which are not assigned to real people to help draw them into the era. Events in which they are the center of the action are probably made up. So, while Guillaume, Roger, Cicatrix, Paul, the lesser monks, Guy, Solange, the entire Basselin clan, and the peasants are fictional, we expect you will like playing history with them. Other minor and nameless characters help create a full vision of life at that time.
In deference to the place, we have kept French titles, proper nouns, and address in the dialog but avoid commonly known French phrases because the characters would not know that they are speaking a translation for your sake. We intentionally made the vocabulary more romantically medieval than modern. Please note in your mind’s ear that we have written the book with the French pronunciation. For example, “Guy” is pronounced with the hard g as “Gee” and Roger is pronounced “Ro-zhay.”
Since its inception the manuscript has undergone two major rewrites a decade apart, to flesh out characters, details, tone, and adjust the dramatic arc and more. Most of this was done by Michael with his less pious style. There are still passages about which we disagree. But like minor disagreements in our marriage, that does not stop us from moving forward together. We worked to make the manuscript perfect, yet realize this is nearly impossible. Regardless, it was time to move the book forward.
Enjoy then our best efforts stretched across decades and interrupted by obligations, and procrastinations. We wanted most of all to create a book that dealt with substance but was fun to read. We hope you agree on both counts.
Regina and Michael Molinelli
September 2020
Dear Reader,
On our honeymoon, while visiting Mont-Saint-Michel, Regina remarked “It would be fun to have a gothic novel take place in a real gothic place like this.” From that inspiration grew this book. It has been an exhilarating journey. As we developed the plot, characters and inserted the drama of history and ideas, the book has grown beyond a simple gothic story. Most young married couples have to deal with enough without arguing over whose epic poem about Agincourt was authentically medieval. In some ways the book changed as our marriage deepened. It may have been impossible to finish the book any sooner than the 25th anniversary of our wedding.
The result is a book we have enjoyed writing and hope you will enjoy reading. Some already have read it as they helped shape the book. Some of them even requested a sequel! Perhaps literary professionals will find our written voice mundane, but we have purposely written it to respect traditional form, as that is the nature of the story we tell: traditional but with intriguing twists.
When we have read books like this, we have often wondered what was “fact” and what was “fiction.” We have researched thoroughly the period in which the novel occurs. It was not done in the strictest scholarly fashion. We used secondary and tertiary sources. Gina translated accounts from French sources, including a chronicle from Mont-Saint-Michel, but not much time was spent in nuance of the grammar. And while we plunged deeply into many sources of medieval history and culture, kept notes, and assembled a library, we did not footnote everything we learned about the era or events. Therefore, we do not knowingly contradict historic fact in this book. We deliberately dawdle over descriptions of medieval life, culture, and architecture as accurately as we can, since that is part of the entertainment. We hope all this transports you back 600 hundred years with us, and you savor the journey.
The descriptions of Mont-Saint-Michel are accurate for what were the conditions at the time of the novel, to the best of our discerning. We returned to the Mont with an early draft of the novel to make sure that paths our characters take and the rooms they occupied fit reality so much, that the reader with the text in front of him/her could duplicate their moves.
The major events which happen to our historic characters happened. We found as we drafted chapters that, in the spirit of the times, we could flesh out the brief accounts that books gave us. Physical descriptions and personalities of the historic figures were scarce, except for the royalty, and are generally fabricated to serve our opinions and the book. Among the historic people who appear as characters in our book are Abbe; Robert Jolivet, Vicar Pierre Gonault, Jean d’Harcourt, John Stewart and the royalty. Other nobles in the book who partake in actual events and about whom you are given a full name and a fact or two are generally real people. The dialog is fabricated, although we use many quotes attributed to royalty as well as their written documents.
The fictional characters gave us greater license to create the plot lines and themes of the book. Naturally, these are woven into historic events with historic people. We frequently give them roles in the momentous historic episodes which are not assigned to real people to help draw them into the era. Events in which they are the center of the action are probably made up. So, while Guillaume, Roger, Cicatrix, Paul, the lesser monks, Guy, Solange, the entire Basselin clan, and the peasants are fictional, we expect you will like playing history with them. Other minor and nameless characters help create a full vision of life at that time.
In deference to the place, we have kept French titles, proper nouns, and address in the dialog but avoid commonly known French phrases because the characters would not know that they are speaking a translation for your sake. We intentionally made the vocabulary more romantically medieval than modern. Please note in your mind’s ear that we have written the book with the French pronunciation. For example, “Guy” is pronounced with the hard g as “Gee” and Roger is pronounced “Ro-zhay.”
Since its inception the manuscript has undergone two major rewrites a decade apart, to flesh out characters, details, tone, and adjust the dramatic arc and more. Most of this was done by Michael with his less pious style. There are still passages about which we disagree. But like minor disagreements in our marriage, that does not stop us from moving forward together. We worked to make the manuscript perfect, yet realize this is nearly impossible. Regardless, it was time to move the book forward.
Enjoy then our best efforts stretched across decades and interrupted by obligations, and procrastinations. We wanted most of all to create a book that dealt with substance but was fun to read. We hope you agree on both counts.
Regina and Michael Molinelli
September 2020
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Michael and Gina doing research in Honfleur in 1995; Michael at the Mont in 1995; Gina at the Mont in 1995
PARTIAL BIBLEOGRAPHY
Both Gina and Michael have read so extensively, it is not possible to list all the influences on our writing style and content for the book. So this bibliography is a list of books from which we directly drew information or read while writing the book with intent to learn about the time and place. For example, the fact we have read Wuthering Heights, The Canterbury Tales and The Once and Future King might have had influence, but we did not do so while specifically researching the book. On the other hand, while we have read the Christian Bible for reasons other than writing our book, the theology of The Church is so important to many of our characters, and the book is often quoted, it made sense to reference the source edition.
- All of Mont-Saint-Michel: History of the Abbey , Guide to the Visit – Simonnet, Nicolas; 1989 English Edition
- An Army of Angels: A Novel of Joan of Arc – Marcantel, Pamela; 1998 St Martins Griffin
- The Bible – New American Standard, 1981 edition
- Bibliographie Générale du Mont St. Michel - Dupont, Etienne
- Castle: Eyewitness Books – Gravett, Christopher (photos by Geoff Dann); 1993, Alfred A. Knopf
- Cathedral Churches of England – Pratt, Helen Marshall; 1910 Duffield and Company
- The Christian World of the Middle Ages – Hamilton, Bernard; 2003 Sutton Press
- The Chronicles of Enguerrande de Monstrelet - translated by Thomas Johnes, Esq; 1849
- Chronique du Mont-Saint-Michel (1343-1468) Tome I – Luce, Simeon; 1879, Paris Libraire de Firmior-Didot etc
- A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century – Tuchman, Barbara W.; 1978, Ballatine Books
- Entre ciel et mer, le Mont-Saint-Michel – Brighelli, Jean-Paul; 1987, Découvertes Gallimard
- Good King Harry: A Novel – Giardina, Denise; 1984, Ballatine
- Histoire Illustré du Mont Saint Michel: DPQ Gardia A History of France - Maurois, André; 1956, Farrar Straus & Cudahy
- A History of Architecture – Fletcher, Sir Bannister; eight edition, 1975 Charles Scribner’s Sons
- The Hundred Years War: The English in France 1337-1453 – Seward, Desmond, 1978 Atheneum
- Knight: Eyewitness Books – Gravett, Christopher (photos by Geoff Dann); 1993, Alfred A. Knopf
- Les Manuscrits du Mont-Saint-Michel – Leservoisier, J. L.; 1995, Éditions Ouest-France
- The Medieval Cookbook - Black, Maggie; 1992 Thames and Hudson
- Medieval Costume in England and France: The 13th, 14th and15th Centuries – Houson, Mary G.; 1996 edition, Dover Publications
- Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres – Adams, Henry; 1905, Princeton University Press
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel Citadelle De L”Archange - Lablaude, Pierre André; (Photographs: Daniel Chenot)
- Mont-Saint-Michel from A to Z – multiple authors: Decaëns, Henry; Goetz, Adrien; Guillier, Gérard; Baylé, Maylis; translated by Wood, John and Veronique; 1996 Flammarion
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Petites Monographies Des Grands Edifices de la France - Besnard, Charles Henri; 1911, Paris, H. Laurens
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel: Stone by Stone – Déceneux, Marc; 1996, Éditions Ouest-France
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel: Vu Du Ciel – Pélerin Hors Série, 2012
- The Middle Ages - Howarth, Sarah; 1993 Viking Press
- The Name of the Rose – Ecco, Umberto; 1980 Harcourt
- One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Towns in France – Greggio, Simonetta; 2006, Rizzoli International
- An Outline of European Architecture – Pevsner, Nikolaus; 1943 Penguin Book
- The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe – Homes, George (edited by); 1988 Oxford Press
- The Rule of Saint Benedict – St. Benedict of Nursai; 516 AD (Translation by Fry, Timothy, 1982)
- Saint Michel et le Mont-Saint-Michel - Mgr Germain, M. L’Abbé P.M. Brior et M. Ed. Corroyer, architect; 1880, Paris Libraire de Firmior-Didot etc
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Tour du Roi at the island entrance; The Montois Village as seen from Tour Basse; the Abbey as seen from the Graveyard
CHARACTER LIST
We list the characters of the book to help the reader keep track and distinguish the fictional ones from the historic ones. We tried to hide any spoilers, but read cautiously if you have not finished the book. They are listed in no particular order, probably.
- Guillaume du Cerf, fictional, the squire
- Père Roger, fictional, treasurer monk, uncle to Guy
- Marie-Solange Basselin, fictional, daughter of the Duke d’Avallon
- Sieur Guy Falaise de Cherbourg, fictional, knight, nephew of Roger and new master to the squire Guillaume
- Abbè Robert Jolivet, historic, Abbot of the Mont, absent much of the time,
- Père Jean Gonault, historic, Prior of the Mont who becomes Vicar
- Cicatrix, fictional, peasant woman
- Cosmas, fictional, Master builder
- Père David, fictional, Jolivet’s chaplain and aid
- Paul, the oblate, fictional, oblate best friend of Guillaume,
- Etienne, the Bastard, fictional, brother of Solange by her father and her stepmother Camille, before their marriage
- Frere Albert, fictional, old monk who is cellarer/treasurer
- King Henry V of England, historic, King and invader of France
- Thomas, Duke of Clarence, historic, brother of King Henry V
- Jean de Harcourt, Count of Aumale, historic, appointed by Dauphin to guard the Mont
- John Stewart, historical, Scottish Noble who led troops in the support of the Dauphinists
- Sir Gilbert Umfraville, historical, Aide to Duke of Clarence
- Earl of Hungtinton, historical, Aide to Duke of Clarence
- Sieur Lafayette, historical, Commander at Bauge
- Sieur Oliver de Mauny, historical, an officer of the Mont garrison
- Sieur Jean Guilton, historical, Soldier who made raids from the Mont
- Frère Ansel, fictional, musical monk with eating problem
- Frère Maurice, fictional, monk in charge of oblates
- Frère Matthieu, fictional, the hospitality monk
- Frère Henri, fictional, monk who instructs the others
- Frère Luc, fictional, monk with talking problem
- Frère Thomas, fictional, monk gate keeper
- Frère Bartholomew, fictional, monk assistant to Roger
- Frère Joseph, fictional, scriptorium master , chronicler
- Frère Benoit, fictional, former scriptorium
- King Charles VI, historic, mad French King
- Queen Isabeau, historic, French Queen born in Bavaria
- Princess Catherine, historic, daughter of Charles VI & Isabeau, Henry’s wife
- William Haiton, historic, Negotiated Treaty at Troyes
- Jean, the Duke of Burgundy, historic, leader of the Burgundians, met the Dauphin at the bridge
- Prince Charles, the Dauphin, historic, disowned son of Charles VI
- Duke Basselin d’Avallon, fictional, Solange’s father
- Duchess Camille, fictional, Duke’s third wife and sister of Eliane
- Duchess Eliane (Marie-Eliane), fictional, Solange’s mother, dead before the book starts
- Andre, Bertrand, Marc & Platt, fictional, dastardly Basselin brothers
- Jerome & Gregoire Couttereau, fictional, Norman brothers called to lay siege on Mont
- Captain Nicolas Burdett, historic, built bastille on mainland in 1424
- John Fastolf, historic, Governor of Normandy in 1420
- Le Bouteiller, historic, head of garrison at Rouen
- Guillaume Houdetot, historic, Populist leader in Rouen
- Saint Aubert, historic, Bishop of Avranche who starts Mont-Saint-Michel
- Sieur Jacques de Harcourt, historic, the Mont defender’s relative and military leader
- Vaurus, and Orace, historic, mockers of Henry at Meaux
- Simon & Jean, fictional, brothers, soldiers at Rouen
- Guillaume’s mother, fictional, has no other name
- Anne, fictional, Guillaume's sister
- Anne and Guillaume’s father, fictional, no other name
- Alexandre of Avranches, fictional, Guillaume’s squire
- Georges, fictional, Guy’s squire
- Sieur Laurent, fictional, knight at dubbing
- Sieur Bernard, fictional, knight at dubbing
- Sieur Lucien, fictional, knight often at Mont
- Sieur Thierry, fictional, knight often at Mont
- Sieur Jean, fictional, knight often at Mont
- Renault, fictional, Sieur Lucien’s squire
- Tilly and Paquier, fictional, Montois neighbors who help Solange
- Matthieu, Augustine, fictional, peasants Guillaume meets
- Lucie, Annette, Dominique, Thomas, fictional, their daughters and son
- Florian the cobbler, fictional, of Honfleur
- Gabriel, fictional, Mont black market butcher
- Christophe, Andre/Nicholas, fictional, Solange’s body guards
- Gizelle, fictional, Guillaume’s horse
- Jean Montmoret d’Armagnac, fictional, secretly related to Solange, 'nuff said
- Sir James Edelin, fictional, English liaison with Etienne
- Sieur Didier de Beaumer d’Honfleur, fictional, Guillaume’s master, died at Agincourt
- Sieur Roland de Beaumer d’Honfleur, fictional, father of Guillaume’s master, dies at Mont
- Sieur Gilbert de Beaumer d’Honfluer, fictional, deceased brother of Didier
- Albert, fictional, Cicatrix' husband with boy and girl and old man baker “grandfather”
- Squire Laurent Haulden, historic, commander of Tomblaine 1423
- Briand de Chateaubriand, historic, the admiral of Brittany
- Jean de la Haye, historic, baron of Coulonces from Maines, land attacks after naval victory
- Pierre Sureau, historic, Jolivet’s comptroller
- Dunois, historic, temporary captain of the Mont
- Louis d’Estouteville, historic, lord of Auzebosc, last Mont captain
- Frère Edward of Cornwall, fictional, monk from the English Mount Saint Michael
- Richard & Marie, fictional, Paul’s brother and sister-in-law
- Agnes, fictional, Paul’s sister
- Philippe & Denis, fictional, Paul’s nephews
- Marie, fictional, Paul’s mother
- Paynel, de la Luzerne, de Mons, Passais, Briqueville, Beauvoir, historic, knights in the final battles of the Mont
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Salle des Hôtes; Cloître; Scriptorium
CHAPTER SUMMARY LISTING HISTORIC EVENTS
In this part, we list the historic events by chapter. Frequently one or more of our fictional character participates in an historic event but any actions they perform are fictional. Dialog spoken by historic characters is our own creation but is often based on reports and written supporting documents. This has some spoilers in, so beware!
PROLOGUE: Vision - AVRANCHES, BRETAGNE - OCTOBER 708 AD
The visions of the Bishop as detailed are based on historic record.
PART 1
CHAPTER I: Retreat - NORMANDY - NOVEMBER 1415
The Battle of Agincourt was historic and the details and the names in Guilluame's poem are also historic.
CHAPTER II: Love - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - DECEMBER 1415
CHAPTER III: Rampage - SAINT DENIS - JUNE 1416
The events on the afternoon in Saint Denis are historic.
CHAPTER IV: Return - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - AUGUST 1416
Abbè Jolivet was historically known for not spending too much time at the Mont.
CHAPTER V: Fortifying - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - 1416 - 1417
The construction of the fortifications as described are historic.
CHAPTER VI: Ousted - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - APRIL 1418
CHAPTER VII: Squire - THE ROAD TO ROUEN - JUNE 1418 AD
The final paragraphs describing the events around and inside Rouen are based in historic fact.
CHAPTER VIII: Siege - ROUEN - DECEMBER 25, 1418
The events of the siege including the joust, the people in the moat, the conditions of surrender, etc. are historic.
CHAPTER IX: Betrothed - BURGUNDY - FEBRUARY 1419
CHAPTER X: Home - THE WAY TO HONFLEUR - FEBRUARY 1419
The popular prophecy of a virgin maid becoming a hero of France are historic.
CHAPTER XI: Parley - VERNON - MAY 1419
There is historic evidence that some sort of meeting between Jolivet and Henry V occurred.
CHAPTER XII: Bridge - MONTEREAU - SEPTEMBER 10, 1419
The events as described in detail are historic.
CHAPTER XIII: River - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - APRIL 1420
The changing of the course of the Cousenon River is historic.
The monks writing to the Pope about Jolivet is also historic.
CHAPTER XIV: Appointed - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 1, 1420
The appointment of Jean de Harcourt is historic.
The nature of Jolivet's transgression is historic.
CHAPTER XV: Treaty - TROYES - MAY 20, 1420
The events of the treaty signing are historic, but we take license with dialog, actions, and details.
The comment about tennis balls is a wry reference to Shakespeare's play Henry V, and not history.
CHAPTER XVI: Departure - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 21, 1420
The departure of Jolivet is historic, but we take license with the tone of the departure.
CHAPTER XVII: Maid - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - LATE JUNE 1420
CHAPTER XVIII: Omen - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - JULY 1420
CHAPTER XIX: Knight - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - AUGUST 6, 1420
The description of the dubbing ceremony and celebration are based on historic fact.
CHAPTER XX: Intrigue - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1420
Historically there was smuggling, bribery, and other means to get food to the Mont.
CHAPTER XXI: Warning - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1420
CHAPTER XXII: Arrest - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 29, 1420
The description of the feast day are based on historic facts.
The arrest is fiction but follows similar attempts made to raid the Mont at other times.
PART 2
CHAPTER XXIII: Conscription - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - OCTOBER 1420
CHAPTER XXIV: Rendezvous - NEAR LA ROCHELLE - WINTER 1421
The entry of Scottish troops into the struggle is historic.
CHAPTER XXV: Isolation - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - FEBRUARY 1421
CHAPTER XXVI: Vigil - LOIRE VALLEY - MARCH 22, 1421
The Battle of Bauge is historic
CHAPTER XXVII: Garrisoned - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - APRIL 1421
The actions of the historic characters are based general events at the time.
CHAPTER XXVIII: Lost - ARRAS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1421
Description of the army movements and the battle of Arras are historic.
CHAPTER XXIX: Fire - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 20, 1421
The fire in the choir is historic.
CHAPTER XXX: Rebuilding - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - NOVEMBER 10, 1421
CHAPTER XXXI: Discovery - PARIS - MARCH 7, 1422
CHAPTER XXXII: Family - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 1422
Accounts of the progress of the war are historic.
CHAPTER XXXIII: Delay - CONE-SUR-LOIRE - AUGUST 1422
Accounts of the progress of the war are historic
CHAPTER XXXIV: Revelation - BURGUNDY - OCTOBER 1422
CHAPTER XXXV: Chronicles - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL – DECEMBER 6, 1422
CHAPTER XXXVI: Bakery - PARIS - MAY 1423
CHAPTER XXXVII: Ransom - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1423
Accounts of the progress of the war are historic.
The trivia about long bows and tennis are historic.
CHAPTER XXXVIII: Mud - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL BAY - NOVEMBER 1423
The crossing is fiction, but the nature of the crossing is gleamed from fact.
CHAPTER XXXIX: Confession - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - DECEMBER 1423
CHAPTER XL: Decree - NORMANDY - JANUARY 1424
The decree is historic.
CHAPTER XLI: Duty - PARIS - FEBRUARY 1424
CHAPTER XLII: Hero - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MARCH 1424
The visit by Jacques d'Harcourt is based on historic evidence.
CHAPTER XLIII: Disclosure - NORMANDY - APRIL 1424
CHAPTER XLIV: Wedding - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 25, 1424
CHAPTER XLV: Bastille - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - JUNE 1424
The construction of the Bastille and the tightening of the siege are historic.
CHAPTER XLVI: Battle - VERNEUIL - AUGUST 17, 1424
The battle at Verneuil are historic.
PART 3
CHAPTER XLVII: Blockade - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - AUGUST 1424
The blockade is historic.
CHAPTER XLVIII: Letters - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - OCTOBER 1424
CHAPTER IL: Deprivation - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - DECEMBER 1424
CHAPTER L: Despair - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - FEBRUARY 1425
CHAPTER LI: Birth - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 9, 1425
CHAPTER LII: Navy - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL – MAY 25, 1425
The naval battle is historic.
CHAPTER LIII: Sabotage - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - JULY 18, 1425
The traitorous acts of the historic character are documented.
CHAPTER LIV: Vows - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1425
Louis d'Estouteville is installed as commander of the Mont.
The ceremony of a monk taking his final vows are based on historic fact.
CHAPTER LV: Sortie - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - OCTOBER 1425
EPILOGUE: Garden - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL – 1431
References to the Maid and the trial are historic.
PROLOGUE: Vision - AVRANCHES, BRETAGNE - OCTOBER 708 AD
The visions of the Bishop as detailed are based on historic record.
PART 1
CHAPTER I: Retreat - NORMANDY - NOVEMBER 1415
The Battle of Agincourt was historic and the details and the names in Guilluame's poem are also historic.
CHAPTER II: Love - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - DECEMBER 1415
CHAPTER III: Rampage - SAINT DENIS - JUNE 1416
The events on the afternoon in Saint Denis are historic.
CHAPTER IV: Return - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - AUGUST 1416
Abbè Jolivet was historically known for not spending too much time at the Mont.
CHAPTER V: Fortifying - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - 1416 - 1417
The construction of the fortifications as described are historic.
CHAPTER VI: Ousted - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - APRIL 1418
CHAPTER VII: Squire - THE ROAD TO ROUEN - JUNE 1418 AD
The final paragraphs describing the events around and inside Rouen are based in historic fact.
CHAPTER VIII: Siege - ROUEN - DECEMBER 25, 1418
The events of the siege including the joust, the people in the moat, the conditions of surrender, etc. are historic.
CHAPTER IX: Betrothed - BURGUNDY - FEBRUARY 1419
CHAPTER X: Home - THE WAY TO HONFLEUR - FEBRUARY 1419
The popular prophecy of a virgin maid becoming a hero of France are historic.
CHAPTER XI: Parley - VERNON - MAY 1419
There is historic evidence that some sort of meeting between Jolivet and Henry V occurred.
CHAPTER XII: Bridge - MONTEREAU - SEPTEMBER 10, 1419
The events as described in detail are historic.
CHAPTER XIII: River - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - APRIL 1420
The changing of the course of the Cousenon River is historic.
The monks writing to the Pope about Jolivet is also historic.
CHAPTER XIV: Appointed - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 1, 1420
The appointment of Jean de Harcourt is historic.
The nature of Jolivet's transgression is historic.
CHAPTER XV: Treaty - TROYES - MAY 20, 1420
The events of the treaty signing are historic, but we take license with dialog, actions, and details.
The comment about tennis balls is a wry reference to Shakespeare's play Henry V, and not history.
CHAPTER XVI: Departure - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 21, 1420
The departure of Jolivet is historic, but we take license with the tone of the departure.
CHAPTER XVII: Maid - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - LATE JUNE 1420
CHAPTER XVIII: Omen - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - JULY 1420
CHAPTER XIX: Knight - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - AUGUST 6, 1420
The description of the dubbing ceremony and celebration are based on historic fact.
CHAPTER XX: Intrigue - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1420
Historically there was smuggling, bribery, and other means to get food to the Mont.
CHAPTER XXI: Warning - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1420
CHAPTER XXII: Arrest - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 29, 1420
The description of the feast day are based on historic facts.
The arrest is fiction but follows similar attempts made to raid the Mont at other times.
PART 2
CHAPTER XXIII: Conscription - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - OCTOBER 1420
CHAPTER XXIV: Rendezvous - NEAR LA ROCHELLE - WINTER 1421
The entry of Scottish troops into the struggle is historic.
CHAPTER XXV: Isolation - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - FEBRUARY 1421
CHAPTER XXVI: Vigil - LOIRE VALLEY - MARCH 22, 1421
The Battle of Bauge is historic
CHAPTER XXVII: Garrisoned - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - APRIL 1421
The actions of the historic characters are based general events at the time.
CHAPTER XXVIII: Lost - ARRAS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1421
Description of the army movements and the battle of Arras are historic.
CHAPTER XXIX: Fire - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 20, 1421
The fire in the choir is historic.
CHAPTER XXX: Rebuilding - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - NOVEMBER 10, 1421
CHAPTER XXXI: Discovery - PARIS - MARCH 7, 1422
CHAPTER XXXII: Family - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 1422
Accounts of the progress of the war are historic.
CHAPTER XXXIII: Delay - CONE-SUR-LOIRE - AUGUST 1422
Accounts of the progress of the war are historic
CHAPTER XXXIV: Revelation - BURGUNDY - OCTOBER 1422
CHAPTER XXXV: Chronicles - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL – DECEMBER 6, 1422
CHAPTER XXXVI: Bakery - PARIS - MAY 1423
CHAPTER XXXVII: Ransom - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1423
Accounts of the progress of the war are historic.
The trivia about long bows and tennis are historic.
CHAPTER XXXVIII: Mud - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL BAY - NOVEMBER 1423
The crossing is fiction, but the nature of the crossing is gleamed from fact.
CHAPTER XXXIX: Confession - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - DECEMBER 1423
CHAPTER XL: Decree - NORMANDY - JANUARY 1424
The decree is historic.
CHAPTER XLI: Duty - PARIS - FEBRUARY 1424
CHAPTER XLII: Hero - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MARCH 1424
The visit by Jacques d'Harcourt is based on historic evidence.
CHAPTER XLIII: Disclosure - NORMANDY - APRIL 1424
CHAPTER XLIV: Wedding - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 25, 1424
CHAPTER XLV: Bastille - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - JUNE 1424
The construction of the Bastille and the tightening of the siege are historic.
CHAPTER XLVI: Battle - VERNEUIL - AUGUST 17, 1424
The battle at Verneuil are historic.
PART 3
CHAPTER XLVII: Blockade - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - AUGUST 1424
The blockade is historic.
CHAPTER XLVIII: Letters - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - OCTOBER 1424
CHAPTER IL: Deprivation - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - DECEMBER 1424
CHAPTER L: Despair - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - FEBRUARY 1425
CHAPTER LI: Birth - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - MAY 9, 1425
CHAPTER LII: Navy - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL – MAY 25, 1425
The naval battle is historic.
CHAPTER LIII: Sabotage - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - JULY 18, 1425
The traitorous acts of the historic character are documented.
CHAPTER LIV: Vows - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - SEPTEMBER 1425
Louis d'Estouteville is installed as commander of the Mont.
The ceremony of a monk taking his final vows are based on historic fact.
CHAPTER LV: Sortie - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL - OCTOBER 1425
EPILOGUE: Garden - MONT-SAINT-MICHEL – 1431
References to the Maid and the trial are historic.
