Valentine: A Love Story

by Chet Raymo

Little is known about Valentine, whose name symbolizes romantic love. Chet Raymo draws on the tradition that Valentine was a physician in love with the blind Julia to thread his way through the fabric of romance while illuminating the world of the Roman Empire of Claudius II―a time when Christian deaths provided public entertainment. The ideas in Valentine are startlingly relevant to our own globalization vs. fundamentalism, reason vs. superstition, the subversion of virtue by wealth―and the power of passionate love to overcome all obstacles to its consummation.

Genres: Historical Fiction

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Chet Raymo (born September 17, 1936 in Chattanooga, Tennessee) is a noted writer, educator and naturalist. He is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Stonehill College, in Easton, Massachusetts. His weekly newspaper column Science Musings appeared in the Boston Globe for twenty years, and his musings can still be read online at www.sciencemusings.com.

His most famous book was the novel entitled The Dork of Cork, and was made into the feature length film Frankie Starlight. Raymo is also the author of Walking Zero, a scientific and historical account of his wanderings along the Prime Meridian in Great Britain.

Raymo was the recipient of the 1998 Lannan Literary Award for his Nonfiction work.

Reviews

[Aisling Ceoil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story of love. But not a possession love as many people understand love. It’s a love story. Enjoyed reading it!

[Christy Lounder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book during February's "date with a book" event at the library. It was wrapped in red wrapping paper and I had no idea what it was. No title. No date of publication. Nothing. I took it home, because it seemed like an interesting idea to borrow something I knew nothing about. As I begin reading I noticed it was well written. It is in fact a fictional story of how St. Valentine came to be. It takes place in old Rome and other cities nearby. It is told by the father of Julia, a beautiful, blind young woman who was placed in the hands of Valentine when she was born. Their lives take on their own paths until they again cross many years later. The descriptions of the cities and the people are lively and give the reader a good sense of the time. The descriptions of the "games" that took place in the giant amphitheatre were disheartening but an accurate description of what "entertained" the people of that time.

I really enjoyed the way that the story was told by Julius, the father of Julia and later the jailer of Valentine. It also incorporated letters that were sent between Valentine and his best friend, Antonius.

I would have never picked this book but I really enjoyed it.

[Marta · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh horrible book, if i could give it 0 stars, i would. very misleading title, the love story it refers to doesn't take place until the last pages of the book...and even then it's very weak and unsatisfying. don't read this book!!!

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story ... a page turner ... I highly recommend it ... for mature readers ... I am looking forward to reading another of Chet Raymo's novels ... "In the Falcon's Claw: A novel of the Year 1000." I read the e-book on my kindle (i-pad) through my local library's e-zone.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really prefer Raymo's non-fiction, but he certainly proves he can write a historical novel.

[Allegra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual take on the Christian Martyr trope. I enjoyed the characters and depictions of life in the ancient world. The title is a bit misleading, so don't expect much romance.