The Blind Good Men

 

What attracted me to "The Good Men" A Novel of Heresy by Charmaine Craig was the fact that it is historical fiction dealing with the Albigensians and the Dominicans. I was hoping that I would learn more about this heresy and understand what made it attractive.

I was not disappointed, plus I was entertained by professional character development. The two main characters, Grazida and Pierre were particularly well-drawn. In fact, the author's idea for this novel came from reading the transcript of Grazida's testimony at her Inquisition trial.

Grazida was a sympathetic character. Pierre was not. He was a bum priest who deserved what he got.

What drove the plot was sex. Although the sex in this novel was not gratuitous. The priest was weak, a coward, unfaithful, and a womanizer. He lusted after his brother's lover. He consummated that lust with Grazida, his grandniece, who looked like her grandmother. Grazida did not know that Pierre was her uncle.

Poor Grazida, Pierre was the love of her life. Her mother was a drunk and her father died young. Her traumatic childhood caused her to be mute, "selective mutism." When Grazida became pregnant by Pierre, she didn't know what to do. The problem was solved by a penitent, Pierre met in Confession. His name was Arnaud, a sodomite, who we later learn would die from syphilis.

Arnaud was a doctor's son and ashamed of his lifestyle so he ran away from his father's home. Pierre arranged for Arnaud to marry Grazida--problem solved. No one would suspect that Arnaud was a homosexual nor would they suspect that Pierre was the father of Grazida's baby.

Unfortunately but fortunately, Arnaud's sickness got worse and Grazida wrote to his doctor/father. That saved the day. The doctor loved Arnaud and soon loved Grazida, and the baby. Just at that time when everyone was secure in their little family, Grazida was summoned to the Inquisition. (Good thing the doctor was there to take of everyone.)

When Grazida gave birth to her daughter, Merce, her life changed. She thought she loved Pierre, but that was nothing compared to her love for her baby. Plus, Grazida got her voice back. Now she could answer whatever the Inquisitors asked.

They were after Pierre (about time!) In fact, the entire village had been inquisitioned, but no one would implicate him. 

Because Grazida would have been sentenced to life imprisonment, she cooperated with the Inquisition. She told them all they needed to convict Pierre. He was a Cathar. He protected them and helped them. Grazida was allowed to go home to her baby.

There was another major character in the novel. He was the Inquisitor, the Dominican Bernard of Toulouse. He was an orphan brought up by the Dominicans and joined them. When he learned of Pierre's wanton ways and association with the heretics, he became obsessed with capturing him.

What so terrible about the Cathars? The main concept which I don't see the attraction is that everything in our world is bad. Everything we enjoy is bad, including sex. (Now where is the attraction?) Pierre thought becoming a Cathar would help his lust.

Because the Cathars were very ascetic and stayed chaste they were called the "Good Men." Too bad these Good Men didn't open their eyes to see that everything God created is good.