Labyrinth

Labyrinth

By Kate Mosse

Read by Emilia Fox and Anton Lesser

Published by Orion Books

Price: £16.99 Audio CD

This is a beautifully intelligent read. Kate Mosse, the co-founder of the Orange Prize for Fiction (www.orangeprize.co.uk), sets her tale on two timelines, one of which is at the time of the Cathar Crusades. If you’re not familiar with the history, I’d pop ‘Cathar Crusade’ into Google and gen up – it will really add to your enjoyment of the story if you know the background. I was pressing rewind a lot at the beginning of this novel, trying to figure out who was who. The crusades were basically a war, declared by the Pope in early 1200, against a religion (Catharism) seen as heretic.

The story begins with Alice Tanner in 2005 on an archeological dig in the mountains just outside Carcassonne, France  and then switches to Alais, a young woman inhabiting the same place in the 13^th century.

Whilst on the dig Alice wanders off alone and stumbles into a cave. Inside she finds ancient writing engraved into the rock walls that, for some reason, she can read. In a pit at the bottom of some steps are two decrepit skeletons, and an ancient ring with the symbol of the Labyrinth. As she murmurs the words she’s drawn into the past amidst echoes of Alais’ memories from centuries before. They are linked by the Labyrinth.

Rich description brings Alais and her jealous and deceiving older sister, Oriane to life. Alais is there when her father suddenly falls ill and dies. Just before his death he hands her an ancient book. He reveals that he is a member of a secret society called the Noublesso de los Seres. The Noublesso protect the ancient books and parchments that, when used wtih the ring, can summon the true Grail. Unfortunately, when her father gives her the secrets, he also gives her the responsibility of keeping those secrets from devious Grail hunters.

It’s read by two British actors, Emila Fox and Anton Lesser, is great for pulling the listener into the past and present characters. Anton Lesser’s wizened voice adds colour to the apprehensive atmosphere surrounding Alais. And although there are many characters within the novel both he and Emila Fox slip between character accents and personalities seamlessly, making for a top class production.