《书目》(Booklist)书评

Cowan's poetic short novel on the relationship between love and death begins with the discovery of a scroll recording the thoughts of friends and family shortly after a loved one's death. The comments were gathered by twelfth-century French troubadour Marcebru as he mourned the death of Amedee de Jois, who died mysteriously, possibly, rumor has it, as a result of her connection to the Cathars, a heretical sect persecuted by the church. As the bitter poet travels the French countryside searching out those who knew his beloved, he rediscovers her through them, and he gains a deeper understanding of the meaning of death and of his own life. Ultimately, it is Amedee's death that reaffirms his desire to immerse himself completely in his own life. While revealing how love transforms a lover even after the beloved's death, Cowan also explores the tradition of courtly love and the Cathars' struggle to survive and, more subtly, examines the power of words over the deeper meaning of life. (Reviewed April 15, 1998)1570623392Bonnie Johnston