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Beautiful Angels
Called “a compulsively quick read” and “a fascinating adventure story” by readers, Beautiful Angels follows the impact of the plague on the Medieval village of Bellanges.
When the black flag—the dreaded symbol of the pestilence—flies, villagers react in terror and hatred. As the “Great Mortality” claims its victims, they look for a scapegoat and find it in the Jews living among them, friends and neighbors for centuries.
Burning them is punishment for poisoning the public wells and food supply. Burning them is appeasement for God’s wrath. Only a few stand against the mob and this is their story.
A story of action and adventure, “Beautiful Angels” draws upon original sources to describe the impact of the plague and the prejudice of the Middle Ages against the Jews. Finally, it asks the discerning reader how he or she would react in a similar circumstance.
Although historic fiction, the narrative is written for modern readers.
When the black flag—the dreaded symbol of the pestilence—flies, villagers react in terror and hatred. As the “Great Mortality” claims its victims, they look for a scapegoat and find it in the Jews living among them, friends and neighbors for centuries.
Burning them is punishment for poisoning the public wells and food supply. Burning them is appeasement for God’s wrath. Only a few stand against the mob and this is their story.
A story of action and adventure, “Beautiful Angels” draws upon original sources to describe the impact of the plague and the prejudice of the Middle Ages against the Jews. Finally, it asks the discerning reader how he or she would react in a similar circumstance.
Although historic fiction, the narrative is written for modern readers.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2019
16 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Fleury Sommers
15 books4 followersI had the rather unique (I think) experience of being born and living in Chattanooga, TN before my family moved to New Jersey during the Jim Crow era. Because my family stayed in close touch with relatives in Chattanooga, visiting back and forth, etc., this straddling of the old south with the north provided me with an indelible perspective. (Without being too self-promotional, I wrote a book about it called The House on Wilburtha Road.)
I was educated in New York and Chicago and joined Cox Newspapers out of graduate school. Later, I worked in public relations at the then largest agency in the world before helping my husband build a very well-regarded regional firm.
Because I have a short attention span and love art and jewelry, I took ten years off to study gemology and metalsmithing and opened a gallery in Houston to show studio jewelry. And, I was proud to show the work of some of the most important artists working today. (Yes, all of us can do lots of things.)
I retired from the gallery after about ten years and returned to writing full-time. I did publish a couple of books about gemology and jewelry making.
The revolution in publishing has introduced me to splendid writers I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and, frankly, I'm having a wonderful time.
I was educated in New York and Chicago and joined Cox Newspapers out of graduate school. Later, I worked in public relations at the then largest agency in the world before helping my husband build a very well-regarded regional firm.
Because I have a short attention span and love art and jewelry, I took ten years off to study gemology and metalsmithing and opened a gallery in Houston to show studio jewelry. And, I was proud to show the work of some of the most important artists working today. (Yes, all of us can do lots of things.)
I retired from the gallery after about ten years and returned to writing full-time. I did publish a couple of books about gemology and jewelry making.
The revolution in publishing has introduced me to splendid writers I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and, frankly, I'm having a wonderful time.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 6, 2021
Moving
Fear, superstition, and true loving care all are encompassed in a book that will open eyes to the parallels between the Bubonic Plaque and Covid.
In the middle ages, the Jews were blamed for The Great Mortality...in the present, the people of China have been blamed for Covid. Rumors and superstitious conspiresy theories abound during each time. People were at a loss, trying to survive the best they were able, trying to contain the diseases. As in both instances, people gained faith, lost hope, felt hopeless and wondered if the sickness would ever end.
To those who gathered their courage to care for the sick and dying, to provide emotional and financial/material support to each other, and who did those jobs no one ever wants to do but must be done...they were the heroes then and the heroes now.
As much as things change, they stay the same. My hat is off for this writer
Fear, superstition, and true loving care all are encompassed in a book that will open eyes to the parallels between the Bubonic Plaque and Covid.
In the middle ages, the Jews were blamed for The Great Mortality...in the present, the people of China have been blamed for Covid. Rumors and superstitious conspiresy theories abound during each time. People were at a loss, trying to survive the best they were able, trying to contain the diseases. As in both instances, people gained faith, lost hope, felt hopeless and wondered if the sickness would ever end.
To those who gathered their courage to care for the sick and dying, to provide emotional and financial/material support to each other, and who did those jobs no one ever wants to do but must be done...they were the heroes then and the heroes now.
As much as things change, they stay the same. My hat is off for this writer
October 10, 2021
Beautiful Angels
This book, although a work of fiction, tells of the fourteenth century plague as seen through the eyes of “Everyman.” It contains everything one could wish for in a story: love, intrigue, hardship, betrayal, loss, and finally a somewhat happy ending. Ms. Sommers has done an amazing job of researching everything from medicine to recipes of that time. It’s a story of the fourteenth century and the twenty-first century, and should be required reading for everyone today!
This book, although a work of fiction, tells of the fourteenth century plague as seen through the eyes of “Everyman.” It contains everything one could wish for in a story: love, intrigue, hardship, betrayal, loss, and finally a somewhat happy ending. Ms. Sommers has done an amazing job of researching everything from medicine to recipes of that time. It’s a story of the fourteenth century and the twenty-first century, and should be required reading for everyone today!
November 20, 2021
They say that history often repeats itself. This book is about the black death that takes place in a small village. The characters are easy to connect with and the story is very engaging. It's sad, tragic but inspirational seeing how people can come together in the face of such horror. You also see the prejudices as well. The reader can't help but compare what occurred then to what we are dealing with today.
November 21, 2021
Great portrayal of 14th century life
I feel that this book was an accurate account of what life was really like in the 1300's. Just common ordinary folks trying to live the best they could for that time in history. Especially enlightening was the fact that they were beginning to understand the concept of cleanliness and how it relates to health. All facets of the human soul were explored. I am glad that I read this book.
I feel that this book was an accurate account of what life was really like in the 1300's. Just common ordinary folks trying to live the best they could for that time in history. Especially enlightening was the fact that they were beginning to understand the concept of cleanliness and how it relates to health. All facets of the human soul were explored. I am glad that I read this book.
December 1, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book. It was an interesting look at a small town in the 14th century that was hit by an epidemic of the Bubonic Plague, an illness that wiped out a large percentage of the population of Europe during this time. I felt that it offered a realistic look at what could have portrayed small time life during this time.
November 27, 2021
Interesting
An interesting look into western Europe in the days of the Black Plague, acknowledging the ignorance of the masses, the luck of the educated, and how everything bad was blamed on the Jews
An interesting look into western Europe in the days of the Black Plague, acknowledging the ignorance of the masses, the luck of the educated, and how everything bad was blamed on the Jews
December 2, 2021
A deeply moving story
I enjoyed this well-written fictional account of the impact of the Black Death on a small town in France. The characters are memorable, and the ending is true to them. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this well-written fictional account of the impact of the Black Death on a small town in France. The characters are memorable, and the ending is true to them. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews