GERBERT'S BOOK

An unconventional monk rises to power in the 10th and 11th centuries, igniting a political struggle that abides even after his death.

Father Gerbert is a priest, a charismatic teacher whose unorthodox theological leanings, especially regarding the nature of human reason, flirt with heresy. Nevertheless, he is as ambitious as he is brilliant. Over time, he garners a reputation for being the “greatest teacher in Christendom” and becomes the tutor of young Prince Otto, soon to become emperor. Gerbert, though, amasses many enemies, partly as a result of his philosophical impertinence, partly because of his participation in political intrigues, but mostly because of his illicit relationship with Laila, an Islamic woman, a romance that bears children. Nevertheless, Gerbert ascends to the papacy, taking the name Sylvester, after a predecessor. Mustin chronicles Gerbert’s life by way of an ingenious plot—his closest friend, Father Zosimus, is asked to deliver the now deceased Gerbert’s diary to Pope Benedict, though it is in such a scattered state, Zosimus asks for time to prepare it and add his own reflections. However, Gerbert’s archenemy, Archbishop Arnulf, who considered Gerbert a “servant of the Great Opposer,” conspires to steal the diary. The bulk of the novel is the diary, including addenda composed by Theodore, a priestly scribe, who helps protect the manuscript from Gerbert’s enemies. The author’s complex portrait of Gerbert is utterly fascinating—he emerges as a troubled but holy man struggling to navigate the distance, if there really is any, between the temporal and the eternal. Zosimus candidly discusses not only his greatness, but also his “darker colors,” vulnerabilities that make Gerbert a memorably real protagonist. Further, the entire work thoughtfully and provocatively raises important questions about the true meaning of Christ’s teaching.

A thrilling blend of literary drama and theological inquiry.