x dismiss this message
Did you know you can edit this page?
-
Sign Into Shelfari
-
Choose something to edit
-
Save your contributions
see page history
Description edit
A dying English priest is dispatched from Rome as a canonical inquisitor in order to investigate the cult of sainthood that has grown around Giacomo Nerone in the desolate town of Calabria in Southern Italy. Reprint. NYT.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Monsignor Blaise Meredith: The devil's advocate who's sent to investigate the beatificatiion of Giacomo Nerone. Has terminal cancer and struggles with his faith.
- Dr. Aldo Meyrer: Jewish doctor, belongs to the Communist Party and is responsible for Nerone's death. Love triangle with Nina Sanduzzi and Neroni.
- Giacomo Nerone: English deserter that moves to Gemelo Minora and falls in love with Nina Sanduzzi, with whom he fathers a son, Paolo Sanduzzi
- Eugenio Cardinal Marotte: Roman cardinal in charge of overseeing the investigation of the beatification of Giacomo Neroni. Assigns it to Meredith, because he feels it will help him resolve Meredith's religious crisis.
- Petro Rosi: Husband of Maria Rossi
- Maria Rossi: The books open with her labor and how Dr. Meyer is unable to prevent her death and that of her unborn son, because the parents refuse a C-Section because they prefer to pray to their saints
- Reverend Anselmo Benincasa: Parish priest of Gemelo Minore, lives in sin with Rosa Benzonni
- Rosa Benzoni: Common wife of father Anselmo. Takes care of him when he gets very drunk.
- Aurelio Bishop Valenta: Bishop in charge of Calabria, where Giacomo Neroni lived. He becomes good friends with Meredith and helps him both to do his job in Neroni's investigation, and as a friend, to help Meredith solve his religious crisis.
- Nona Pattuci: Resident of Gemelo Majora
- Felici: The cobbler in Gemelo Majora
- Nicholas Black: An English painter who has been disgraced and is a closet homosexual. Is in complicity with the Contessa to get Paolo Sanduzzi, sdon of Nerone and Nina to become his lover
- Paolo Sanduzzi: Son of Giacomo Nerone and Nina Sanduzzi. Lusted by both the Contessa and Mr. Black.
- Countess Anne Louise de Sanctis: Patrona of the town. A widow who is in need of male companionship and love. Was rejected by Giacomo Neroni and hates Nina Sanduzzi and helped kill Nerone. Is using Mr. Black to gain access to Paolo Sanduzzi.
- Count Gabriele de Sanctis: The Contessa's dead husband
- MartIno: The Smith in town. Suffers a stroke
- Rosseta: Martino's daughter and love interest of Paolo Sanduzzi
- Teresina: Martino's other daughter
- Agnese: Contessa's Cook
- Carla Carene: Midwife at the time of Paolo's birth
- Sertafina Gambinelli: Midwife at the time of Paolo's birth
- Linda Tesonero: Midwife at the time of Paolo's birth
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Loyola Classics. (standard series)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Morris West (Author)
Awards edit
- National Book Award (Finalist, 1960: Fiction)
- James Tait Black Memorial Prize (1959: Fiction)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.
