From the Drop of Heaven: Legends, Prejudice, and Revenge
Based on historical figures and events in northeastern France, this novel takes place from 1572 to 1622. Catherine Cathillon is a peasant girl whose family lives in quiet seclusion. Her friendship and subsequent marriage to the high-born mayor’s son, Nicolas de la Goutte de Paradis, comprises most of this family saga. Catherine’s grandmother heals Nicolas of a snake bite and is later accused of sorcery. Martin is a Huguenot whose family has been massacred by religious zealots. He teaches Nicolas to read, and Nicolas teaches the inquisitive Catherine, but this education spells danger. Salomé is Nicolas’s previous lover, seeking revenge for imagined wrongs in an era when any infraction is deemed heretical. A vindictive priest plays a pivotal role in allowing events to overtake innocent people, who suffer unjust punishment as a result.
Subtitled “Legends, Prejudice, and Revenge,” the novel deals with superstition and rumor, and how one defends oneself against baseless charges. Several examples are fleshed out in the storyline, but not in an engaging way. The dialogue is not believable; italic asides detract; Martin’s German accent disappears; and Salomé is predictably villainous. Passage of time is simplistically dealt with, using phrases such as “another year passed” and “three years passed swiftly.” Chapters end abruptly then switch subject, creating a disjointed feel, and characters speak of things they haven’t been given knowledge of.
Based on intense research, this book will appeal to readers interested in the history of Alsace-Lorraine, when Catholic and Protestant factions were equally fanatical. The novel seems timely as social media inundates us with misinformation and baseless suppositions about random people. The overarching lesson is that it is man, not religion, which turns to evil. Catherine Cathillon de la Goutte de Paradis is the author’s 13th-generation grandmother. The author’s notes are generous, and a map would be welcome.