Vom Thema hatte mich dieses Buch zunächst angesprochen, allerdings hat es mich am Ende eher verwirrt zurückgelassen - mir schien einfach zu viel in dieses doch eher kurze Buch hineingepackt und so manche "überraschende Wendung" schien mir ein überzogener Versuch zu sein, die Spannung auf Kosten der Glaubwürdigkeit zu erhöhen.

Vielleicht schaue ich irgendwann noch einmal in ein weiteres Buch des Autors, das hier fand ich aber eher schwach. ( )

I enjoy historical novels especially when they involve mystery and intrigue. An Instance of the Fingerpost by Ian Pears comes to mind as a particular favorite. Bayard's novel is similar while adding a contemporary mystery with its counterpart set at the end of the Elizabethan era.

Henry Cavendish is a disgraced Elizabethan scholar, fooled by a forgery of a poem supposedly written by Walter Raleigh. As a result, Henry has chosen to turn to tutoring and odd jobs in Washington, D.C. As the story begins he has reconnected with Alonzo Wax, a college friend and a book collector. The eccentric Wax, perhaps the most interesting character in the novel, has purloined part of a letter that sheds light on the fabled "School of Night", a secret congregation of illustrious Elizabethan-era intellects like Raleigh, Christopher Marlowe and a brilliant but little-known scientist named Thomas Harriot. The school delved into theology, philosophy and science perhaps bordering on alchemy, in a manner thought traitorous and blasphemous. Wax apparently commits suicide, but he also reveals his discovery to Cavendish, and to Clarissa Dale, a woman Wax met at a lecture who claims psychic visions of Harriot, and to another antique book collector.

At Wax's memorial service, Henry is approached by the supposed owner of the letter, an English antiquities collector named Bernard Styles, and offered a handsome sum to find and return the letter. No sooner than he starts to inquire about this Wax's devoted assistant is murdered and Wax's collection is stolen. Henry and Clarissa uncover clues that lead them to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, near where Harriot studied Native Americans during the failed attempt to establish an English colony. There they find Wax in hiding, claiming the letter points to a treasure. Clues then lead the trio to Syon House in England, the ancestral seat of the Earl of Northumberland, where Harriot once lived.

Through all of the contemporary adventures there are flashbacks provided in interpolated chapters set in the historical Elizabethan era featuring Thomas Harriot and his love, Margaret Crookshanks. The combination of the ancient mystery, lost treasure, and suspenseful intrigue, make this an historical novel that I can recommend to all. ( )

Novelist Louis Bayard likes to build his fiction around real people (Edgar Allan Poe, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln), although in “Mr. Timothy” he imagines a famous fictional character, Tiny Tim, all grown up. In his 2010 effort, “The School of Night,” his focus rests on Thomas Harriot, a prominent 17th century English scientist who is little remembered today, although a recent biography may help.

Harriot knew William Shakespeare, at least according to the novel, and was a pal of Sir Walter Ralegh (the novel includes an interesting discussion of why this spelling is favored here over the more familiar Raleigh). Harriot, Ralegh and other prominent men of the day used to meet at night to discuss topics frowned upon when discussed during the day, such as atheism. This they called the School of Night, which surprisingly has relatively little to do with Bayard’s plot.

It seems that Harriot has left behind a treasure map so vague that it isn’t even clear if the treasure, whatever it might be, is in the United States (he had once visited the colonies) or England. People die, or in some cases appear to die, while scholars compete to find the prize.

Bayard shifts his story back and forth from 2009, where the treasure hunt takes place, to 1603, where we find Harriot discovering love with a servant girl almost as brilliant as he is.

My enthusiasm for Bayard’s novel seemed to rise and fall as the pages turned. Sometimes it seemed wonderfully clever and other times contrived. ( )

A fun thriller centered around another gaggle of modern-day book hunters (Elizabethan and Shakespearean this time around) and their 17th-century quarry. The contemporary protagonist is Henry Cavendish, a likable and scholarly loser surrounded by friends who may or may not share his goals. And who may not be his friends at all, for that matter. The part of the story set in the early 1600s revolves around Thomas Harriot, a close friend of Walter Raleigh and beer buddy of Christopher Marlowe and that whole gang. Harriot has a servant girl who impresses him and becomes much more as he delves into his own research on the usual (for that group) topics of alchemy, astrology, paganism and the like. The contemporary story is a chase to nail down the provenance and legitimacy of a particular document which has all the makings of launching an all-out treasure hunt. How things are resolved is not at all given away prematurely, and lots of interesting twists take place in both timelines. I really, really liked the understated and subtle wit throughout, and the final plot turn on the contemporary front was especially good. Overall, a fun and very interesting read for fans of the book hunter theme and fans of that particular period of history. ( )

Fun contemporary-historic novel with crime noir elements. Lots of Elizabethan details for the history nut. My favorite parts were the Elizabethan "flashbacks." Loved learning about the "school of night" and about Thomas Harriot. I also enjoyed Margaret as a possible enlightened woman of that time. ( )

A treasure hunt, coded map deciphering, familiar and intriguing historical figures -- sounds like a good read. But what a disappointment! I expected so much more from an author whose previous books have been enjoyable. This story was slow and boring. Perhaps the greatest flaw was the characters -- not a single one was strong enough to inspire either like or dislike. ( )

The School of Night was an engaging page-turner. It reminded me somewhat of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness because of the School of Night and some of the same characters. What is the treasure? Who Killed Who? Where does the map lead? What was the letter about? Who was Walter Ralegh? Who was Thomas Harriot? What is or was the School of Night? Why is it back in session? Follow the story; follow the map; intrigue, mysteries, answers, treasure, and love is found within. ( )

The School of Night was an engaging page-turner. It reminded me somewhat of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness because of the School of Night and some of the same characters. What is the treasure? Who Killed Who? Where does the map lead? What was the letter about? Who was Walter Ralegh? Who was Thomas Harriot? What is or was the School of Night? Why is it back in session? Follow the story; follow the map; intrigue, mysteries, answers, treasure, and love is found within. ( )

When his old friend, Alonzo, commits suicide, Harry finds himself thrust into a mystery relating to an old letter from Sir Walter Raleigh, a resurrection of the old, nighttime scholarly pursuits, and two romances, one from the past and his own which may be more than he can survive. ( )

Synopsis

“A shared quest and a mysterious cabal, four centuries apart . . .

When Henry Cavendish attends the funeral of an old friend, the last thing he expects is to be given a business proposition. A handsome sum to retrieve a document that was in his friend’s possession when he died ; a letter from Sir Walter Ralegh. Henry accepts the challenge, despite severe misgivings about his sinister new employer.

Four centuries earlier, in Elizabethan England, another quest is playing out. Thomas Harriot, once a member of the mysterious School of Night, a group whose members included the toast of Elizabethan society, has shut himself off from the world. Working day and night, he devotes himself secretly to his experiments.

As both searches deepen, the two men realise that there are forces at work against them. Harriot’s work is threatened by discovery and Henry’s search becomes a deadly one, when someone close to him dies in mysterious circumstances. The School of Night is the story of a quest that spans centuries, of alliances forged in unexpected circumstances and of men who will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

I have always been a fan of Louis Bayard beautifully written historical thrillers but I have to say I was a little disappointed with this one.

The dual narrative worked well, weaving the past and present into a deftly plotted story, except I MUCH preferred the Elizabethan sections to the modern day treasure hunt. The Elizabethan characters Thomas and Margaret are compelling and empathetically engaging. I strongly felt their modern day counterparts and their story was not drawn as well. In fact thinking about it, it is the modern day thread that caused me not to enjoy it as much as I was expecting, I found I was racing through Henry and Clarissa’s story to get back to the characters I really cared about, Thomas and Margaret

I can understand other reviewers saying the modern sections reads like a better written version of The Da Vinci Code and unfortunately I agree with them. Louis Bayard’s previous works include The Pale Blue Eye (which follows a young Edgar Allen Poe solving a very dark and terrible mystery and Mr. Timothy, a literary masterpiece continuing the story of Dickens' Tiny Tim. Maybe if I had not read his previous works I would not have such high expectations but I found The School of Night rather light, not up to the author’s previous standard.
( )

well written with extreme attention to detail.
Great historical fiction, and a mystery to boot. ( )

There's a whole lot of history out there that one doesn't really get a chance to run into in the course of just living life, and one of the nicer things about historical fiction is that it can draw your attention to interesting characters and events you were unaware of. This is the case with The School of Night, which drew my attention to Thomas Harriot, an English scientist and natural philosopher of the late 16th to early 17th century, who really did a remarkable amount of cool scientific things for someone that I'd never heard of; look him up if you want to see. He's really a sign of why it's important to publish; if he had published anything of his discoveries, he'd probably be a household name.

The titular School of Night is interesting as well, a group including some famous names - Marlowe, Raleigh - led by Harriot, who purportedly discussed all sorts of matters scientific and religious, including atheism, a dangerous matter for the times. So there would seem to be quite a book here to be told about this... and yet, in a real sense, this isn't the story that Bayard wants to tell. The School of Night does come up, but it's far from the focus of the story, and more of its impetus.

So what is the focus? It's a treasure hunt, led by a current (i.e. 2009) disgraced English professor, Henry Cavendish, who is executor of the estate of his old friend, the book collector Alonzo Wax's, after Wax's suicide. Cavendish is further hired by another collector, Bernard Styles, to find a letter by Raleigh that Wax had allegedly taken. And in the course of executing Wax's estate and finding this document, Cavendish and a female associate, Clarissa Dale, get involved in looking for a treasure hidden long ago by Harriot, a quest that takes them to some surprising places and to some interesting discoveries.

Clarissa is also possessed of visions of Harriot and some people of his era, and so we also get pieces of what's going on at Syon House, the seat of the Earl of Northumberland. This is written in a different style, and you do get a hint of what Harriot was likely up to research-wise at the time, which was interesting; one feels that this book by itself , with Harriot and his female assistant Margaret and the people of their time, would have been more interesting, if taken up and developed more thoroughly. As it is, between everything, the book is a bit of a muchness, and not in a positive way.

I don't want to take that too far, though; for this sort of book, which wants to be a historical fiction thriller with some romance, I'd really like to see some more that's not just a conventional story. There are a number of twists to the tale, but by and large, they weren't surprising if you've read this sort of thing before; some of them were really quite obvious, and didn't feel like they were meant to be so. Even in the side with dealing with Harriot, by and large, the story was altogether predictable, if well written. It's a fast and fluid read, and there's something to be said for that, but you definitely won't be breaking any new land.

All told, this is a competently written book, enjoyable enough for what it is, and I like knowing about Harriot now, but I'd only really recommend it if you're a fan of these sorts of stories and want another one to try. Otherwise, I'd look elsewhere. ( )

I had a very difficult time staying interested in this story. Maybe just not the right time or the right mood. I'll have to try again at a later date, however, I just didn't feel any connection to the story at all. It felt very much surface and no depth. ( )

Louis Bayard plays with the holes in history, taking inspiration from fact and fiction and utilizing the open mysteries of the past as much as the verifiable records that we actually have. The result, particularly in this case, is a quick, loose novel that has a strong modern sensibility. Of course, that pace and tone are also influenced by the dual narrative of this text. I have been a fan of Bayard since reading his 'Mr. Timothy' a while back, but this is the first time I have seen him weave together modern and historical narrative lines. The first line takes place in the first decade of the 21st century, while the second goes back to the 1600s, the time of Thomas Harriott (a contemporary of Christopher Marlowe and Walter Ralegh).

The plot concerns a document from the 1600s that was recently "obtained" by one antiquities collector and subsequently "stolen" by another (the particular verbs depend on the perspective from which one is viewing the event); that document and its movements lead to suicide, murder, and even treasure hunting as the novel unfolds. Bayard has done the mystery/thriller story before and is a deft hand at shaping it, but this most recent novel also has elements of adventure which work well, though a few of the twists fit a bit strangely.

And there are twists. Twists galore, in fact. The best reveal -- at least for those of us who appreciate Bayard's literary sensibilities -- is at the very end, of course, but the novel has more than enough reveal and counter-reveal throughout to keep everyone on tip-toes. One thing to know about Bayard's books, however, is that they rarely wrap up on a happy note. Those who like their mysteries cozy and their thrillers straightforward in the end may not like the heavy irony and even melancholy notes that dominate the final pages of this book. But then, we can't all have happy endings, can we?

Overall, this was an enjoyable historical-literary mystery-thriller (can we fit any more genre descriptors in there?) that successfully balances its dual narratives and thoroughly engages the reader right to the bitter end. ( )

What a wonderful blending of murder mystery, literary treasure hunt and a story within a story. The back story is centered on historical figures--King James I of England, Walter Raleigh, Kit Marlowe, Shakespeare and Thomas Harriot, a true Renaissance Man. Harriot writes a letter which will set off a sequence of events 400 years later. Henry Cavendish, a disgraced Elizabethan scholar, follows the letter's trail back to Harriot's home in England and uncovers the true treasure. Suicide, murder, misguided friendship, romance and visions are all part of the journey. ( )

An interesting read, moving back and forth between twentieth century scholars and the sixteenth century mystery they're trying to solve. Not a truly solid storyline, and it feels disjointed at times. I was disappointed by some of the plot twists near the end, but overall it kept me interested enough to keep reading. ( )

With a dual plot of intertwining story lines, Bayard tells the stories of both Thomas Harriot, known as England's Galileo, and Henry Cavendish, a disgraced Elizabethan scholar. When Henry is hired by a man fueled by a hidden agenda, he and a new accomplice, a woman named Clarissa who suffers from mysterious visions must track down a letter that has great value in both modern and Elizabethan ages.

I have enjoyed all of Bayard's historical thrillers, but this one disappointed me. He took an interesting historical premise: a secretive group of humanist thinkers meeting to discuss radical ideas in science, religion and politics - and Da Vinci Coded it up with a cardboard villain, his hulking sidekick, and too many improbable feats of derring-do. I know the reading public loves a fast-paced book, but this one bought its fast pace at the expense of the development of a truly intriguing story. I hoped to learn a lot more about the ideas of Walter Ralegh, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Harriot. This is the first of Bayard's novels set - partly - in contemporary times, and his modern-day characters were nowhere near as colorful and interesting as the historical characters Bayard usually creates. For me, the book only came alive during the historical bits, and they were too short. ( )

The School of Night by Louis Bayard weaves two story lines together to structure the overall story. The novel opens with a current day Henry Cavendish contending with the funeral of his friend, the assignment to find a missing collectible letter and a mysterious female. The second story line involves a group of Elizabethan England academics (including Sir Walter Raleigh) and their formation of the School of Night--a group that met at night to discuss ideas regarding religion, the dark arts and politics--that were considered dangerous during the time period. One member of the School of Night, Thomas Harriot, authored the now missing letter; believed to point towards a treasure.

Plot twists, alternating story threads, and a couple of murders keep readers following along. Readers that enjoy treasure hunting themes and historical fiction, especially of Elizabethan England, will enjoy this book. ( )

In 16th century England, a group of noted Elizabethan scholars gathered in secret to discuss potentially heretical ideas; this group is known to modern historians as the “School of Night.” 400 years later, Henry Cavendish and his friend Alonzo Wax sought to create such a philosophical school of their own. Years later, Alonzo is dead and has named disgraced academic Henry the executor of his affairs. On the day of Alonzo’s funeral, Henry is approached by noted book collector Bernard Styles regarding an old letter that had been “borrowed” by Alonzo. This letter is purportedly written to Thomas Harriot, a lesser known member of the School of Night, and may just contain the location of a valuable treasure…

The School of Night contains all the elements of the modern historical thriller. There’s a lost treasure, secret codes, murders, and prominent historical figures. What sets Bayard’s novel apart, however, is the story of Thomas Harriot that is told throughout the novel.

Less is known about Harriot as compared to his colleagues Walter Raleigh and Christopher Marlowe, but his numerous achievements are revealed both in the present story and in sections set in early 1600s England. These past chapters are largely a love story, in which Harriot shares his knowledge of optics with learned servant girl Margaret Crookenshanks. As Harriot and Margaret’s love story unfolds, it also brings to light Harriot’s scientific achievements. The historical sections are very well done, and are some of the most interesting parts of the novel.

The present-day characters are admittedly less intriguing than some of the past character, although they are well developed. The romance between Henry and femme fatale Clarissa Dale simply pales to Thomas and Margaret’s. The “thriller” sections also move a bit slow in parts, and much of the search for clues is a bit dull due to the characters having ready access to the internet and Google. Finally, there’s also the strange addition of Clarissa’s purported visions, which don’t really fit with the rest of the novel and are never really explained.

Although it does have flaws, The School of Night is an interesting read about an interesting historical figure.

A review copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.

Also at http://lisally.wordpress.com

This School hasn’t mastered all its lessons

Sometimes when I see a novel as well-reviewed as this one is, I have to wonder, “Have I been reading these books too long?” For with many a thriller, the thrill is gone. Now, I don’t want to give you the impression I’m trashing this novel. Aspects of it were very good, but my response overall was mixed.

Normally, this is where I’d launch into a detailed synopsis of at least part of the plot, but the potential for spoilers is so great that I’m going to be more circumspect than usual here. The School of Night opens with a funeral. Protagonist Henry Cavendish is eulogizing Alonso Wax, one of his oldest friends. No one can understand why Alonso killed himself. He was an intellectual, a bibliophile, and a passionate collector. During the funeral, Henry spots an attractive woman he does not know. (Hmm, I wonder if we’ll see her again?) And afterwards, the disgraced scholar learns that he is the executor of Alonso’s will. In the course of those duties, many suspicious facts and characters come to light. Then the bodies start piling up. What was Alonso up to before his death?

So begins a mystery/treasure hunt set in the present day. The mystery being researched intimately involves the historic figure Thomas Harriot. And a second narrative thread, unfolding alternately with the contemporary tale, is set in Harriot’s time. To be honest, I think I enjoyed the historic tale more than present-day tale that frames it. For starters, Harriot was a fascinating figure about whom I knew nothing previously. He was a contemporary of Walter Raleigh, Kit Marlowe, William Shakespeare, and several other major figures. He was a brilliant and accomplished intellect. As written by Bayard, he was also a very sympathetic character—which is more than I can say for the contemporary characters, who were fairly unlikeable and unappealing to a man. It’s awfully hard to get invested in characters if you don’t like them. It’s a significant flaw. Another was the fact that major “revelations” were so well-telegraphed that you’d have to be fairly obtuse not to see them coming. I just mentioned two issues that may lead you to believe the writing of this book was not strong, but, actually, it was. The writing and use of language was above average.

As with many other such novels, there was a romantic sub-plot. Two, in fact; one in the present and one in the past. I found the historic relationship engaging, interesting, and moving. I found the present-day relationship laughable, and I’m not the only one. When the lady first tells the gentleman, “I love you,” Bayard writes, “To which my first response, I’m ashamed to say, was a guffaw.” Yes, a proclamation so ridiculous that even the object of her affection can’t take it seriously. How can the reader?

I think that Mr. Bayard is a talented writer, but that his skills don’t lie in the contemporary thriller genre. If he sticks to the period fiction, I’ll be back for more. Especially if he returns with equally fascinating characters living in such a pivotal time! ( )

Lost treasures and secret societies are not new subjects to the literary world, but Louis Bayard has managed to uncover a literary and historical figure with a background just mysterious enough to keep readers turning pages, but that hasn’t been done before. The School of Night is Louis Bayard’s latest work of historical fiction/literary thriller that weaves a modern hero’s quest in with Thomas Herriot’s life as a member of the underground group The School of Night.

Disgraced Herriot professor Henry Cavendish finds himself executor of his good friend’s estate. After his friend’s funeral, Bernard Styles, a mysterious stop-at-nothing-to-get-what-he-wants antiques collector appears wanting something from the estate: a letter relating to a secret society called The School of Night. Soon, the beautiful Clarissa Dale appears inquiring about the same item. Suddenly, Henry is pulled into an adventure that takes him from Washington, DC, to the Carolinas and all the way to Thomas Herriot’s England.

Bayard takes readers back to the early 1600s when an interest in alchemy was blasphemy and treasonous. His skilful transition between modern and older language styles makes the two stories come alive and feel real. His characters are engaging and lively. I enjoyed every aspect of this story. I found myself wanting to learn more about Herriot and his love interest than I did about Clarissa and Henry, but that is likely just the romantic in me.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and a good mystery. This book will keep you reading until the end! ( )

I love historical fiction and this book is right up my alley.
There was enough action, self deprication, mystery, and prose.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. ( )

gets the job done, and quite well. ( )

I am a big fan of this type of literary/historical mystery adventure and this book did not disappoint. It weaves the stories of Thomas Harriot, a little-known scientist who was friends with Christopher Marlow, Walter Raleigh and others of that era, and a former English professor down on his luck who finds himself on a treasure hunt of sorts in modern times, following clues laid out by letters and other documents from Harriot's time. Bayard is a strong storyteller, but he also has a beautiful writing style that includes colorful descriptions and intriguing turns of phrase that made the reading experience delightful on many levels. I was familiar with his work in the sense that I knew of other books he had written, but had previously never read any of his efforts. After finishing The School of Night, I plan to go back and read some of his earlier works. ( )