Los elegidos

by Maxwell L. Foran

Upon the death of Friar Dominic Guzman in Rome in the year 1221, a list of three names is locked away with the depositions attesting to Dominic’s beatification, and a copy is sealed in an icon of the Virgin Mary that is eventually carried to New France. This list is the thread that binds the fates of ordinary people caught up in the grand sweep of historical events. It traces the lives of two 19th-century men across three continents, where each finds himself intertwined with a woman who has been visited by the Virgin Mary.

464 pages, Hardcover

First published March 10, 2005

Reviews

[Asa · Rating 4 out of 5]

About how a religious icon carries secrets across centuries, shaping people’s lives without ever challenging the empires carrying it. Basically, it’s the story of faith as historical luggage – always carried, rarely unpacked.

[Javier Cobo · Rating 2 out of 5]

No dudo de la calidad del libro, y la culpa es mía, por haberme dejado llevar por la sinopsis, pero me ha parecido tedioso a mas no poder.

Me esperaba un thriller con toques esotéricos, pero lo que me he encontrado son casi quinientas páginas en las que se desarrollan exageradamente las biografías de los protagonistas, de los cuales solo me llega a interesar Bernardo, para luego perdernos en esa trama pesadísima de la “Rebelión del Bajo Canadá”. Mucha curiosidad tiene que suscitarte el tema para no tener el deseo de saltarte páginas a lo largo que avanzas en la lectura.

Una de las virtudes que más valoro en un escritor es que sepa distinguir aquello que es interesante para el lector de aquello que, por mucho que desee contar, lastra el ritmo de lectura.
Foran no sabe hacerlo.

[Wally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a review on this book when it first came out and it said "Makes the Da Vinci Code read like a third grade reader". Very true! This book is only similar in that it is an historical thriller with a religious theme. Other than that it is much better than the Da Vinci Code in my opinion. Great characters and a great story!! Highly recommended read.

[Thalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable. Certainly unique. I was really excited to read a novel partly centered in Canadian History as I had just studied that particular time period ( the Rebellions ) and this novel certainly brings them to life

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book spans centuries and continents - Dominican friars, religious fervor, deceit, illicit love and visits from the Virgin Mary. This is much better than the Da Vinci Code!

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another take on the mysticism that the Davinci Code is concerned with.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have also translated this into the Romanian language - a very hard text, but wonderful in that I have learnt a lot about Canadian and Australian cultures.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. Similar in style to the "Da Vinci Code", but a better written novel.