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Triptych
Triptych is a historical novel composed of three narratives receding in Belgium in 1914, Spain in 1492, and France in 1356. They trace the journey of a mysterious statue of the Black Madonna, one of many such statues often found in meadows and riverbeds and associated with miracles. No one knows who sculpted them or why. In Tryptich we meet Geneviève Lespinasse, trained by her father to become an accomplished sculptor. Circumstances force her to create a Madonna that must appear clumsily made but which contains an expertly carved secret niche. This Madonna travels through the centuries to play a decisive role in the lives of Sister Juana, a nun and apothecary who dares to criticize the Spanish Inquisition, and Gabrielle Lespinasse, a Belgian lacemaker who loses her ability to speak as a result of a vicious assault, but whose courage changes the lives of others.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2020
1149 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Whitney-Schenck
3 books13 followersMarcia Whitney-Schenck is a Chicago-based author and artist who is interested in the integration of history, art, and spirituality. She has a masters degree in art history from the University of Chicago where she researched Rembrandt’s interpretation of Biblical narrative through images. Carrying Stones: A Spiritual Journey on El Camino, 2015, is available through Amazon. In her first novel, Triptych, she explores the curious phenomenon of carved statues, popularly known as the Black Madonna, through the lens of three women during turning points in history.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 13, 2021
I was intrigued by Marcia Whitney-Schenck latest work. The three narratives surrounding Black Madonna in Triptych are artfully crafted and span more than five-hundred years.
“Tryptic" traces the history of the Black Madonna wood carving from the early 20th c. back to the 1300s. Memorable characters along that path include Sister Juana, a heroic cloistered Spanish nun during the dangerous period of the Spanish Inquisition, and Genevieve Lespinasse, the original sculptress, whose heart must choose between two men on opposite sides of the warring armies of England and her native France. What a great book. I highly recommend it to friends and family. Thanks Marcia for the lovely note with beautiful artwork attached.
“Tryptic" traces the history of the Black Madonna wood carving from the early 20th c. back to the 1300s. Memorable characters along that path include Sister Juana, a heroic cloistered Spanish nun during the dangerous period of the Spanish Inquisition, and Genevieve Lespinasse, the original sculptress, whose heart must choose between two men on opposite sides of the warring armies of England and her native France. What a great book. I highly recommend it to friends and family. Thanks Marcia for the lovely note with beautiful artwork attached.
October 1, 2020
ENGLISH: 3.5 stars: 3 in Goodreads, 4 in Amazon.
Interesting three part time-backwards story about a sculpture of the Virgin Mary, seen through the eyes of three women: Gabrielle, a Belgian victim of the First World War, who tells her story through her husband sixty years later; Juana de la Concepción, a Spanish nun on the year 1492; and Geneviève, a French woman who sculpted the statue at the time of the Hudred Years War in the 14th century.
The novel has a few unimportant anachronism, and makes an interesting partial backwards review of the history of Europe during the XXth, end of XVth and XIVth centuries.
The author has been very hard with the Spanish Inquisition and Tomás de Torquemada, and reflects in this book some of the lies in the anti-Spanish Black Legend. I don't think authors should invent bad behavior of historical characters.
ESPAÑOL: Interesante relato en tres partes y cronología inversa sobre una imagen de la Virgen María, vista a través de los ojos de tres mujeres: Gabrielle, una joven belga víctima de la Primera Guerra Mundial, que sesenta años más tarde cuenta su historia a través de su esposo; Juana de la Concepción, monja española en el año 1492; y Geneviève, una mujer francesa que esculpió la estatua en la época de la Guerra de los Cien Años, en el siglo XIV.
La novela contiene algunos anacronismos poco importantes y hace una interesante revisión inversa parcial de la historia de Europa durante los siglos XX, final del XV y XIV.
La autora ha sido muy dura con la Inquisición Española y Tomás de Torquemada, y refleja en este libro algunas de las mentiras de la leyenda negra antiespañola. No me parece correcto que los escritores inventen malos comportamientos de personajes históricos.
Interesting three part time-backwards story about a sculpture of the Virgin Mary, seen through the eyes of three women: Gabrielle, a Belgian victim of the First World War, who tells her story through her husband sixty years later; Juana de la Concepción, a Spanish nun on the year 1492; and Geneviève, a French woman who sculpted the statue at the time of the Hudred Years War in the 14th century.
The novel has a few unimportant anachronism, and makes an interesting partial backwards review of the history of Europe during the XXth, end of XVth and XIVth centuries.
The author has been very hard with the Spanish Inquisition and Tomás de Torquemada, and reflects in this book some of the lies in the anti-Spanish Black Legend. I don't think authors should invent bad behavior of historical characters.
ESPAÑOL: Interesante relato en tres partes y cronología inversa sobre una imagen de la Virgen María, vista a través de los ojos de tres mujeres: Gabrielle, una joven belga víctima de la Primera Guerra Mundial, que sesenta años más tarde cuenta su historia a través de su esposo; Juana de la Concepción, monja española en el año 1492; y Geneviève, una mujer francesa que esculpió la estatua en la época de la Guerra de los Cien Años, en el siglo XIV.
La novela contiene algunos anacronismos poco importantes y hace una interesante revisión inversa parcial de la historia de Europa durante los siglos XX, final del XV y XIV.
La autora ha sido muy dura con la Inquisición Española y Tomás de Torquemada, y refleja en este libro algunas de las mentiras de la leyenda negra antiespañola. No me parece correcto que los escritores inventen malos comportamientos de personajes históricos.
January 1, 2021
This well written, entertaining historical novel by Marcia Whitney-Schenck is a refreshing change of pace – read it!
I had to look up what Triptych meant, although I made a decent guess, and I had never even heard of a Black Madonna! I learned and now know!
I gleaned a lot from this fascinating novel of three narratives going backward in time; Belgium 1914, Spain 1492, and France in 1356 and how they are all really tied together by three fascinating strong women, along with the Black Madonna; Sister Juana, a nun apothecary; Geneviève, a sculptress; and Gabrielle, a lace maker; along with all the many characters who moved them forward with their lives - whether nefarious folks or souls of integrity and righteousness. Just like our world today!
What I enjoyed most about Triptych was how Marcia Whitney-Schenck, using only the 26 letters in our alphabet, put these letters together in ways that fascinated this reader, bestowing us with colorful, crystal clear language that puts us smack dab in the middle of every scene in every age! This novel would make a great movie or series and is most certainly an excellent read.
Alfonso spoke sharply, “Listen to me. You have every opportunity to redeem yourself, but not in a way that you think. I don’t care about Sister Juana. I know for a fact that she wrote this rubbish and passed it off as the work of this insane nun Isabella.”
Pedro was dismissive. “How do you know so much?”
“I have my spies.”
“Such as?”
“The Abbess. She’s on my payroll.”
Pedro’s mouth drooped. “You are confusing me. Father Torquemada wants me to murder a woman who might be a saint. If Sister Juana doesn’t recant, she will be burned at the stake.”
“Two for the price of one.” Alfonso pulled his cloak around him ….
You will not be disappointed tasting the many flavors of this well written novel!
I had to look up what Triptych meant, although I made a decent guess, and I had never even heard of a Black Madonna! I learned and now know!
I gleaned a lot from this fascinating novel of three narratives going backward in time; Belgium 1914, Spain 1492, and France in 1356 and how they are all really tied together by three fascinating strong women, along with the Black Madonna; Sister Juana, a nun apothecary; Geneviève, a sculptress; and Gabrielle, a lace maker; along with all the many characters who moved them forward with their lives - whether nefarious folks or souls of integrity and righteousness. Just like our world today!
What I enjoyed most about Triptych was how Marcia Whitney-Schenck, using only the 26 letters in our alphabet, put these letters together in ways that fascinated this reader, bestowing us with colorful, crystal clear language that puts us smack dab in the middle of every scene in every age! This novel would make a great movie or series and is most certainly an excellent read.
Alfonso spoke sharply, “Listen to me. You have every opportunity to redeem yourself, but not in a way that you think. I don’t care about Sister Juana. I know for a fact that she wrote this rubbish and passed it off as the work of this insane nun Isabella.”
Pedro was dismissive. “How do you know so much?”
“I have my spies.”
“Such as?”
“The Abbess. She’s on my payroll.”
Pedro’s mouth drooped. “You are confusing me. Father Torquemada wants me to murder a woman who might be a saint. If Sister Juana doesn’t recant, she will be burned at the stake.”
“Two for the price of one.” Alfonso pulled his cloak around him ….
You will not be disappointed tasting the many flavors of this well written novel!
February 22, 2021
Back in time you will go, visiting 1914, 1492, and 1356. Each of the three sections focus on a different woman and her talent- lace-making, philosophizing, and sculpting. Common threads are a Black Madonna statue and a stately oak tree, both harboring secrets. The Black Madonna contains a secret chamber into which private stories and priceless artifacts have been hidden. The oak tree, which has a voice in its own titled sections, has witnessed love and tragedy. Triptych will inspire you to contemplate good and evil, and why people do the things they do. It is also an enjoyable romantic (and tragic) tale.
Favorite quote: "The priest is talking about I don't know what: how the Holy Ghost is a bird, and we have bird souls, but he has the soul of a donkey, which is a good thing because he will need sturdy hoofs to travel far. I don't listen. It's chatter like the caw-caw of crows. But then, there is silence. I have found in life that silences are like the pauses between musical notes, and it is these pauses that define our lives." May we all remember to pause.
Favorite quote: "The priest is talking about I don't know what: how the Holy Ghost is a bird, and we have bird souls, but he has the soul of a donkey, which is a good thing because he will need sturdy hoofs to travel far. I don't listen. It's chatter like the caw-caw of crows. But then, there is silence. I have found in life that silences are like the pauses between musical notes, and it is these pauses that define our lives." May we all remember to pause.
November 11, 2020
An engrossing read that capably took me out of this world and back to the past. Recommended for readers of historical fiction, in particular, stories set in Europe. Strong adult Christian themes. The author's considerable research and deft insight into the characters and conflicts added to my enjoyment. As an artist, I greatly admired the way in which Genevieve, a sculptress, and her work were portrayed. Overall, wonderful story telling.
November 20, 2020
I enjoyed this a great deal. Technique of moving backwards along 3 women’s experiences was very clever. The Spanish Inquisition was an ugly time and the ugliness and power greed features were displayed. I did think there were some choppy story lines; but loved the idea of the origin of the black virgin. Well worth the read
April 6, 2021
Triptych by Marcia Whitney-Schenck skillfully intertwines a mystical web of art and religion radiating from a sacred sculpture through chivalry, honor, duty, and love to captivate us with a tale of three countries. From the sacred oak Black Madonna, an epic family tale of lacey threads ripples concentrically to expand through the generations and centuries.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews