The Lost Book of the Grail by Charlie Lovett

 

Arthur Prescott is happiest when surrounded by the ancient books and manuscripts of the Barchester Cathedral library. Increasingly, he feels like a fish out of water among the concrete buildings of the University of Barchester, where he works as an English professor. His one respite is his time spent nestled in the library, nurturing his secret obsession with the Holy Grail and researching his perennially unfinished guidebook to the medieval cathedral.

But when a beautiful young American named Bethany Davis arrives in Barchester charged with the task of digitizing the library’s manuscripts, Arthur’s tranquility is broken. Appalled by the threat modern technology poses to the library he loves, he sets out to thwart Bethany, only to find in her a kindred spirit with a similar love for knowledge and books—and a fellow Grail fanatic.
 
Bethany soon joins Arthur in a quest to find the lost Book of Ewolda, the ancient manuscript telling the story of the cathedral’s founder. And when the future of the cathedral itself is threatened, Arthur and Bethany’s search takes on grave importance, leading the pair to discover secrets about the cathedral, about the Grail, and about themselves.

REVIEW: After reading Lovett's The Bookman's Tale last year, I couldn't wait to pick up more by this author -- his deep and abiding love of both literature as an art form and books themselves as a worthy medium for that art is exciting and shines through every page. The Lost Book of the Grail does not disappoint! The small town of Barchester has a host of quirky yet believable characters who are constantly engaged in a battle between preserving their town's rich history and remaining relevant in the modern world. Arthur Prescott, a local bibliophile and secret Grail enthusiast, is at the center of this ongoing local struggle while also battling the same forces of history and change in his own life.  English history, and particularly the history of the Church of England, is woven throughout the narrative, as are the legends around King Arthur and the Holy Grail. This story is lively and engaging, full of mystery and literary sleuthing -- I highly recommend it! 5 stars.