The Heretic's Wife A Novel [Paperback]

From the bestselling author ofThe Illuminatorcomes a magnificent tale about the power of love and the perils of faith

Tudor England is a perilous place for booksellers Kate Gough and her brother John, who sell forbidden translations of the Bible. Caught between warring factionsEnglish Catholics opposed to the Lutheran reformation, and Henry VIII's growing impatience with the Pope's refusal to sanction his marriage to Anne BoleynKate embarks on a daring adventure that will lead her into a dangerous marriage and a web of intrigue that pits her against powerful enemies. From the king's lavish banquet halls to secret dungeons and the inner sanctums of Thomas More, Brenda Rickman Vantrease's glorious new novel illuminates the public pageantry and the private passions of men and women of conscience in treacherous times.

1. How would you define the wordheresy? Who defined heresy during Kate's time, and who defines it today?
2. Who is the heretic of the novel? Are there more than one?
3. The wordmartyrhas gained a negative connotation in recent years. Do you think there is such a thing as false martyrdom? What is the difference between being a martyr and being a victim? How does Kate's attitude about martyrdom change when she becomes a wife and mother to be?
4. How do you feel about John Frith's decision not to flee his captors when given the chance? How is this decision different from his previous escapes?
I5. Is dying for one's belief the only heroic choice when faced with oppression? Is Kate Frith made of the stuff of martyrs? What about Captain Lasser?
6. Why do you think popular history has not dealt more objectively with the dual nature of Sir Thomas More? Can an individual be both hero and villain? Although Thomas More persecuted the Bible men mercilessly for their beliefs, ironically he was later to die for refusing to sign the king'sAct of Supremacy. Would you ls4