The Cloister: A Novel
From National Book Award-winning writer James Carroll comes a novel of the timeless love story of Peter Abelard and Héloïse, and its impact on a modern priest and a Holocaust survivor seeking sanctuary in Manhattan.

Father Michael Kavanagh is shocked when he sees a friend from his seminary days at the altar of his humble parish in upper Manhattan-a friend who was forced to leave under scandalous circumstances. Compelled to reconsider the past, Father Kavanagh wanders into the medieval haven of the Cloisters and stumbles into a conversation with a lovely and intriguing docent, Rachel Vedette.

Having survived the Holocaust and escaped to America, Rachel remains obsessed with her late father's greatest scholarly achievement: a study demonstrating the relationship between the famously discredited monk Peter Abelard and Jewish scholars. Feeling an odd connection with Father Kavanagh, Rachel shares with him the work that cost her father his life.

At the center of these interrelated stories is the classic romance between the great philosopher Abelard and his intellectual equal, Héloïse. For Rachel, Abelard is the key to understanding her people's place in history. And for Father Kavanagh, the controversial theologian may be a doorway to understanding the life he himself might have had outside the Church.
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The Cloister: A Novel
From National Book Award-winning writer James Carroll comes a novel of the timeless love story of Peter Abelard and Héloïse, and its impact on a modern priest and a Holocaust survivor seeking sanctuary in Manhattan.

Father Michael Kavanagh is shocked when he sees a friend from his seminary days at the altar of his humble parish in upper Manhattan-a friend who was forced to leave under scandalous circumstances. Compelled to reconsider the past, Father Kavanagh wanders into the medieval haven of the Cloisters and stumbles into a conversation with a lovely and intriguing docent, Rachel Vedette.

Having survived the Holocaust and escaped to America, Rachel remains obsessed with her late father's greatest scholarly achievement: a study demonstrating the relationship between the famously discredited monk Peter Abelard and Jewish scholars. Feeling an odd connection with Father Kavanagh, Rachel shares with him the work that cost her father his life.

At the center of these interrelated stories is the classic romance between the great philosopher Abelard and his intellectual equal, Héloïse. For Rachel, Abelard is the key to understanding her people's place in history. And for Father Kavanagh, the controversial theologian may be a doorway to understanding the life he himself might have had outside the Church.
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The Cloister: A Novel

The Cloister: A Novel

by James Carroll

Narrated by James Carroll

Unabridged — 16 hours, 41 minutes

The Cloister: A Novel

The Cloister: A Novel

by James Carroll

Narrated by James Carroll

Unabridged — 16 hours, 41 minutes

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Overview

From National Book Award-winning writer James Carroll comes a novel of the timeless love story of Peter Abelard and Héloïse, and its impact on a modern priest and a Holocaust survivor seeking sanctuary in Manhattan.

Father Michael Kavanagh is shocked when he sees a friend from his seminary days at the altar of his humble parish in upper Manhattan-a friend who was forced to leave under scandalous circumstances. Compelled to reconsider the past, Father Kavanagh wanders into the medieval haven of the Cloisters and stumbles into a conversation with a lovely and intriguing docent, Rachel Vedette.

Having survived the Holocaust and escaped to America, Rachel remains obsessed with her late father's greatest scholarly achievement: a study demonstrating the relationship between the famously discredited monk Peter Abelard and Jewish scholars. Feeling an odd connection with Father Kavanagh, Rachel shares with him the work that cost her father his life.

At the center of these interrelated stories is the classic romance between the great philosopher Abelard and his intellectual equal, Héloïse. For Rachel, Abelard is the key to understanding her people's place in history. And for Father Kavanagh, the controversial theologian may be a doorway to understanding the life he himself might have had outside the Church.

Editorial Reviews

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

The true love story of Abelard and Heloise has a significant impact on the lives of Father Michael Kavanagh and Rachel Vedette, a Jewish woman, in this audiobook written and narrated by author James Carroll. Carroll’s voice is solemn and temperate, and his delivery is slow yet perfectly paced for this engrossing novel. Father Michael meets Rachel in The Cloisters, where she has retreated after her experience in France during the Holocaust. She reveals to him how her father once studied the connection between Abelard and Jewish scholars. Carroll’s precise yet relaxed delivery helps the listener absorb his words. Because of Abelard and Heloise, both of the modern characters grow to understand more about themselves. D.Z. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

The true love story of Abelard and Heloise has a significant impact on the lives of Father Michael Kavanagh and Rachel Vedette, a Jewish woman, in this audiobook written and narrated by author James Carroll. Carroll’s voice is solemn and temperate, and his delivery is slow yet perfectly paced for this engrossing novel. Father Michael meets Rachel in The Cloisters, where she has retreated after her experience in France during the Holocaust. She reveals to him how her father once studied the connection between Abelard and Jewish scholars. Carroll’s precise yet relaxed delivery helps the listener absorb his words. Because of Abelard and Heloise, both of the modern characters grow to understand more about themselves. D.Z. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940169239294
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 03/06/2018
Edition description: Unabridged
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