THE RHETORIC OF DEATH
Paris, 1686: When The Bishop of Marseilles discovers that his young cousin Charles du Luc, former soldier and half-fledged Jesuit, has been helping heretics escape the king’s dragoons, the bishop sends him far away-to Paris, where Charles is assigned to assist in teaching rhetoric and directing dance at the prestigious college of Louis le Grand.
Charles quickly embraces his new life and responsibilities. But on his first day, the school’s star dancer disappears from rehearsal, and the next day another student is run down in the street. When the dancer’s body is found under the worst possible circumstances,
Paris, 1686: When The Bishop of Marseilles discovers that his young cousin Charles du Luc, former soldier and half-fledged Jesuit, has been helping heretics escape the king’s dragoons, the bishop sends him far away-to Paris, where Charles is assigned to assist in teaching rhetoric and directing dance at the prestigious college of Louis le Grand.
Charles quickly embraces his new life and responsibilities. But on his first day, the school’s star dancer disappears from rehearsal, and the next day another student is run down in the street. When the dancer’s body is found under the worst possible circumstances, Charles is determined to find the killer in spite of being ordered to leave the investigation.
- Berkley
- Paperback
- October 2010
- 384 Pages
- 9780425236642
Buy the Book
$15.00
About Judith Rock
Judith Rock was a dancer and choreographer; actress and playwright; professor and police officer; lecturer and researcher and most recently, a novelist. Each of those passions and adventures have deepened and expanded her writing.
Praise
“Rock’s superb historical debut opens with 28-year-old Charles du Luc arriving in 1686 Paris to serve as a teacher in a Jesuit school…With an experienced writer’s ease, Rock incorporates details of the political issues of the day into a suspenseful story line. Fans of Brother Cadfael, another military man turned priest sleuth, will be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly
Discussion Questions
Discuss the significance of the arts, especially ballet, as a vital part of education during this period in France’s history. Charles was an accomplished dancer as a youth but he took a very different path from his ballet training in school. Why do you think he ended up where he did, first as a soldier and then training to be a priest?
Being new to Louis Le Grand, and with a checkered past he’d rather keep hidden, Charles had much to lose by investigating Philippe’s death. What do you think his reasons were for involving himself in the investigation?
Discuss the devious characters in the novel. How do some use their duplicitous nature for good, and others for evil?
When Charles finds the hidden staircase above the bakery he thinks “The stairs change everything.” What do you think he means by this? Do you think Philippe’s murder could have been avoided had the staircase not existed?
This time period (late 1600s) in France straddled modernity and medieval times. Do you think it affected the characters and their actions throughout the novel? Why or why not?
Religious persecution and power are main themes throughout the course of the novel. Discuss why religion was so tied up in government and education.
Le Picart summons Charles to his chamber and orders him to find Philippe’s killer, even though he realizes it is against God’s will. He asks, “What human action, after all, is completely free of sin?” Why do you think Le Picart wants Charles to find the killer?
Charles has participated in untoward acts in his past, but has chosen a life of service to God and the church. Do you think, based on his character and actions throughout the novel, that this is a true calling for him? Why or why not?
After M Doute disappears and Pernelle is hiding in Charles’ chamber, Charles says his prayers but they do not bring him his usual peace (p 303, manuscript), as he listens to Pernelle’s breathing deep into the night. Do you think it is because he is questioning his calling as a priest?
Jealousy runs rampant throughout the novel and is the reason for several characters’ demise. Discuss how the time period might have spurred those feelings.
Do you think Charles’ love for Pernelle takes away from his love for God?
Towards the end of the novel when Charles sees the Jeanne d’Arc statue, he realizes that belief in personal truth is better than power. Is this something that Charles considers throughout the novel when dealing with power structures in place (ie: church, college, caste, and government)?
Do you think the Society/church is just like every other power structure in France at the time?
Do you think Charles will stay with the church and become a priest?