Belle's Song
Belle's Song is a historical novel set in 14th century England, written by K.M. Grant.[1] It is about a group of pilgrims going to Canterbury to visit St. Thomas' shrine. The happenings in the book are described by Belle, the main character of the story. It is heavily implied in the novel that this pilgrimage inspired Geoffrey Chaucer to write his book, The Canterbury Tales.
Plot
The novel begins with Belle explaining her daily life. She introduced herself to the reader. Her father was a bell-founder. However, after Belle's mother died, the house became a mess, as Belle was not a practical girl. Her father did not teach her bell-founding, but she was given the job to guard the bell, and shout if anything went amiss. However, Belle did not take this job seriously, and when the rope attached to the bell broke, she shouted too late, causing the bell to break off her father's legs. Belle, driven by shame and guilt, resorted to self-harm, using a pumice stone to scrape off her skin. One day, in the village, she met a boy around the same age as her, named Luke. He was described as pale and thin, looking for a pair of spectacles in a shop. They become friends almost immediately. Belle learns that Luke was a soon-to-be monk, and was travelling with a few pilgrims to Canterbury, where he would become a novice. Belle was determined to go on pilgrimage too, to pray for his father's legs to be revived. However, Belle had no horse, so she decided to walk to Canterbury. However, on the day of departure, she met Walter, a squire's son, who was also going on pilgrimage to Canterbury, supposedly to pray for the return of her sister, who eloped with a French knight. Walter lent Belle his sister's horse, Dulcie, and Belle accepts this happily.
Along the journey, Belle is a constant companion to Walter, leaving Luke feeling left out, and causing gossip among the other pilgrims that there was a love between Walter and Belle. However, Walter's father did not seem to mind this. Belle also meets the Summoner, described as a smelly, ill mannered and disgusting man, who threatens Belle on several occasions. As time went on, Master Chaucer reveals to Belle many secrets, including treasonous plots. However, when Belle questions Master Chaucer if he has any other secrets, he refused to say so. As the book progresses, Belle falls in love with both Walter and Luke, however, Luke, although he loves Belle too, refused to kiss her due to his vows upon being a monk. Belle also taunts Walter to kiss her, but he replies that his love for her is courtly, and kissing was only for the lower class. This was just an excuse, however, because it is revealed that Walter is homosexual later on in the book, and was in love with Luke, too. When they reached Canterbury, Luke was transformed into a monk, and the pilgrims went back to their destination. However, it was discovered that the Summoner had a black, smelly book, discovered by accident when the pilgrims realize that he had been stealing items from the other pilgrims. In this book were records of the sins of powerful figureheads, including Master Chaucer himself, and Summoner uses this book to blackmail the people into paying him to keep their secret. Belle kept this book inside Poppet, her doll, for safekeeping.
When they reached London, Walter and his father paid a visit to the king, and Belle promised the King to make London loyal to him. Belle succeeds this by using the black book. However, when Belle's father was arrested, Belle fled to see him, only to find herself imprisoned too. In the trial, Belle's father walked to prove that he could do so, but Summoner read out two passages to the public. One included an accusation against Master Chaucer, for rape. However, the case was dropped because the lady herself did not wish to press charges any longer. The second on was an accusation that Walter was homosexual, but Belle lied to protect Walter, saying that they were lovers. The court released them later. However Luke, being turned out of the monastery due to fighting, was shocked to hear this, and turned cold to Belle. However, when Master Chaucer gave him a story, his heart relented, and he kissed Belle. They were later married. Walter went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
References
- ↑ Grant, K. M (2011-01-01). Belle's song. New York: Walker & Co. ISBN 9780802722751.