New Today: Brigid of Kildare by Heather Terrell
Terrell’s latest novel (after The Map Thief and The Chrysalis) weaves the historic tale of Ireland’s beloved Saint Brigid with a contemporary thread involving an appraiser of medieval relics.
While readers who like their history pure will chafe at the modern bits in Brigid of Kildare (Ballantine), Terrell handles these parts as ably as she does those that introduce us to Ireland’s only woman bishop. The resulting novel is likely more palatable for the uninitiated than a straight-up history might be.
Interestingly, Terrell graduated magna cum laude, focusing on art history, from Boston College. She was also called to the Bar, and spent over a decade as a litigator with several Fortune 500 companies. It’s refreshing to read a novel by a successful lawyer set outside of the courtroom. The world doesn’t need another Grisham, but I can’t imagine anyone reanimating Saint Brigid with quite Terrell’s deftness and delicacy.
While readers who like their history pure will chafe at the modern bits in Brigid of Kildare (Ballantine), Terrell handles these parts as ably as she does those that introduce us to Ireland’s only woman bishop. The resulting novel is likely more palatable for the uninitiated than a straight-up history might be.
Interestingly, Terrell graduated magna cum laude, focusing on art history, from Boston College. She was also called to the Bar, and spent over a decade as a litigator with several Fortune 500 companies. It’s refreshing to read a novel by a successful lawyer set outside of the courtroom. The world doesn’t need another Grisham, but I can’t imagine anyone reanimating Saint Brigid with quite Terrell’s deftness and delicacy.
posted by Sienna Powers at 5:25 AM
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