| Format: | Ebook |
| Page Count: | 224 |
| Size: | 5.5 in x 8.5 in |
| ISBN-UPC: | 9781433526626 |
| ePub ISBN: | 978-1-4335-2662-6 |
| PDF ISBN: | 978-1-4335-2660-2 |
| Mobipocket ISBN: | 978-1-4335-2661-9 |
| Published: | January 31, 2012 |
The Hour before Dawn (Ebook)
By Penelope Wilcock
The Hour before Dawn (Ebook)
By Penelope Wilcock
Once again, author Penelope Wilcock reaches back through the centuries to the ancient monastery of St. Alcuin. Abbot John is undergoing deep, emotional shock after learning of the rape of his sister and murder of his mother; Father William is discovering his own vulnerability; and there, immersed in the daily routine of simple tasks, the brothers undertake the greatest task of nurturing the grace of God in their souls.
Book 5 in the recently continued The Hawk and the Dove series, The Hour before Dawn explores the psychological impact of grief and trauma as well as how one can be healed. Wilcock deftly weaves themes of the resurrection and ascension throughout the story, exploring the process of having survived suffering, but not yet having moved on. Characters eagerly await the coming dawn of restoration. Based on solid historical research, Wilcock’s representation of monastic life is authentic, rich with poetic prose and a sense of time and place.
The Hour before Dawn affirms our need for one another’s understanding and love as well as our need for a personal relationship with Jesus. Wilcock’s newest story helps readers understand the grieving process, make connections between the Bible and everyday life experiences, and nurture an attitude of understanding and kindness.
Author:
Penelope Wilcock is the author of over a dozen books of fiction and poetry, including The Hawk and the Dove trilogy. She lives a quiet life on the southeast coast of England with her husband and is the mother of five children.
Product Details
Endorsements
“Once again Penelope Wilcock drew me back into fourteenth-century monastic life with a fine mix of descriptive details and evocative language. The peaceful world of St. Alcuin’s Abbey is quickly shattered by a violent tragedy and its aftermath, creating genuine heartache, tension, and spiritual angst. The timeless themes woven throughout the pages of The Hour Before Dawn spoke to my heart, in particular William’s journey of faith and John’s hard-won understanding of the power of the Ascension. Even in the darkest moments of the story, hope tarries in the wings. A wonderful writer, a wonderful read!”
Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times best-selling author, Mine is the Night and Bad Girls of the Bible
“The Hour Before Dawn takes Penelope Wilcock’s saga of life at St. Alcuin’s Abbey to the next level. The emotions are real, vivid, and raw. Gritty realism and heart-wrenching suffering are layered into this story, counterbalanced by redemptive tenderness and noble self-sacrifice. Wilcock weaves a tale of complex interpersonal relationships against the backdrop of a medieval monastery. This novel is a brilliant exploration of what it means to be human—and more importantly, what it means to be a human remade in the image of Christ.”
Bryan M. Litfin, author, The Sword, The Gift, and Getting to Know the Church Fathers
“Penelope Wilcock has created a wonderful cast of characters for her medieval series. The Hour Before Dawn deals with the universal theme of evil and the Christian response, and sets the tale in a marvelously accurate fourteenth-century monastery. For the lover of medieval mysteries this is a book not to be missed.”
Mel Starr, author, The Unquiet Bones, A Corpse at St. Andrew’s Chapel, and A Trail of Ink
“The Hour Before Dawn shows vividly how the wrenching horror of cruelty can be overcome by the unspeakable beauty of restoration. I know of no other writer who sees so clearly into the souls of her characters as does Penelope Wilcock. And sees with such humor and love. Her prose is like rich, dark chocolate poetry. This book offers a deep well of mercy and grace and forgiveness—even forgiveness of self. Drink from it.”
Donna Fletcher Crow, author, Glastonbury: The Novel of Christian England and The Monastery Murders