I really loved this book which had lots of historical details about some really frightening happenings in France under Louis XIV. I knew about the persecution of the Huguenots, but not many of the awful things done to them in the supposed name of Catholicism. Well written and really engaging, this book was a joy to read. ( )

This is the true story of a young man who was taken from his parents at a young age because of the Huguenot religion of his parents, whose father, imprisoned, refused to recant his faith.

This takes place in France, in the Cevennes in the 17th century, in 1695, governed by the King of the Enlightenment Louis XIV, who sends his armed dragoons to destroy all those who refuse to convert to the Roman Catholic faith.

This young man, having just reached the age of majority, decides to leave the Dominican priory where he was raised, to join his cousin, an apothecary by trade, and to learn about pharmacopoeia like several generations of his paternal ancestors.

There, he fortuitously discovers the mysteries surrounding his origins, and deeply understands that the freedom of faith is the only acceptable one, refusing to submit to any guru who stirs up the frightened crowds.

He will know spiritual love in the person of his soul mate, a healer like himself, and together they share their knowledge of plant medicine and heal their fellow man, until he is denounced among others for not having recanted his faith.

He then decides to leave the country and goes to Switzerland to seek refuge.

I loved this story and the way the author describes it in great detail! I loved this disappeared profession of Apothecary, whose Latin names of plants sing wonderfully, their panacea, medicinal uses, which are today replaced by our pharmacy...

This is a very promising first novel where I escaped a hundred years before the French Revolution
with delight, in tune with the perfumes, colors and enchantments of Mother Nature!
An evocation of the life of my French ancestors very skillfully depicted by Jules Larimore! ( )