The Cloister

A Novel

By: James Carroll

Narrated by: James Carroll

From National Book Award-winning writer James Carroll comes a novel of the timeless love story of Peter Abelard and Héloïse, and its impact on a modern priest and a Holocaust survivor seeking sanctuary in Manhattan.

Father Michael Kavanagh is shocked when he sees a friend from his seminary days at the altar of his humble parish in upper Manhattan—a friend who was forced to leave under scandalous circumstances. Compelled to reconsider the past, Father Kavanagh wanders into the medieval haven of the Cloisters and stumbles into a conversation with a lovely and intriguing docent, Rachel Vedette.

Having survived the Holocaust and escaped to America, Rachel remains obsessed with her late father’s greatest scholarly achievement: a study demonstrating the relationship between the famously discredited monk Peter Abelard and Jewish scholars. Feeling an odd connection with Father Kavanagh, Rachel shares with him the work that cost her father his life.

At the center of these interrelated stories is the classic romance between the great philosopher Abelard and his intellectual equal, Héloïse. For Rachel, Abelard is the key to understanding her people’s place in history. And for Father Kavanagh, the controversial theologian may be a doorway to understanding the life he himself might have had outside the Church.

James Carrioll

James Carroll again reveals his literary gift of being a brilliant wordsmith in THE CLOISTER. In this work he presents three engaging stories that beautifully intertwine. An exceptionally good read for lovers of historical fiction.

A Story woven with confusion and light.

As I read the story line was somewhat predictable, and yet as I read the threads was filled with compassion, love and a deep understanding. I could not help to think that as corrupt and soiled as the Catholic Church, what makes it foundationally good is the real story of love that people live by day in and day out. It is not the clergy and their doctrine that make the faith, but the real story of truth and goodness that will not be watered down nor go away.

Great novel, awful audiobook

I tried listening to this but this brilliant author made a bad choice in narrating this himself. Read the book.

Rare Gem

I find this book captured my full attention- an excellent historical novel that captures real issues with Christianity, in particular, Catholicism. There is no doubt that The Jewish people have paid a heavy price for the success of "The Church" throughout history. They have been, and continue to be, blamed for killing Christ. James Carroll weaves this story in a way that makes the conflict in the argument remain out in the open. I appreciate his style and honor his integrity to the factual elements he portrays.

Enlightening. Thoughtful. Rare.

thank you for writing this one. very moving and worth reading again someday. no more words necessary.