I remember well where I was on April 15 2019 when the Cathedral of NotreDame was burning. I went to the mass celebrated in our little church at 7 o'clock. I stopped by once the mass was over for sending some vocal messages to my aunt.
Returned home, while my mother was asking me informations about the mass I noticed the breaking news. Notre-Dame was burning. It was simply shocking.
Months later rhey asked for donations and I made my little donations.Just few bucks. "With my money they can buy just a sack of cement, I am afraid, but it's a something" I told to a neighbor, who, in the past, emigrated to Paris, and worked in Notre-Dame as well. That gesture meant my desire of seeing again the center of the Christianity back to life.
When today I went to the COOP supermarket of my city, Gubbio, I visited the area dedicated to books.
One of them captured my attention: Notre-Dame
Follett donates all the money of this new book, royalties and copyright included, to the Fondation du Patrimoine for the rebuilding of the cathedral. It's also for this reason that I decided of buying this book. Being a reviewer I could have asked for a free copy to the publushing house, but I think that each of us, considering that the book costs 7,65 euros can spend that soum of money for contributing at the re-birth of Notre-Dame.
I started to read the book, completely lost, at the supermarket, ending it at home.
It's a quick and lovely reading. Follett is clear, precise, emphatic.
I know what it means to start to read one of his books and then not putting it down 'till the end.
He loves to share with his readers what he felt at first when he heard, thanks to a common old friend, the news that no one wanted to hear: that Notre-Dame was burning, describing what it meant that moment to him, a non-believer plenty of fascination for these incredible buildings. Private feelings, but public as well, because being the writer of the saga of The Pillars, (beautiful, fascinating books, it seems to staying there with the protagonists) he started to receiving that same evening calls from various reporters.
Follett says something absolutely true and absolutely lost in our society: once, when a cathedral was built, everyone, from the masters to the latest worker believed in the project and wanted to build something not just immense but everlasting. And every little or big particular was important. There wasn't poverty of details, because Cathedrals needed to be spectacularly rich, precious to the eyes of everyone; in its immensity, you understand the beauty of a big church, of a cathedral by the entire whole. A cathedral is a place where love existed for sure in the process of making.
A cathedral is loved, appreciated; work meant dedication, considering also that the project involves a sacred place; for the future pilgrims a complete adoration and satisfaction because they will still can "feel" that love, the love of creation and for creation of a masterpiece; that "not being satisfied" of the little, but of the best; there was the desire of giving a face through a Cathedral at the human semblance of God; and they did it passing through the work of masters, the hands of workers of every genre.
Every century, every age, tell stories of God. This moment is not the happiest one for our religion to my point of view considering the ugliness of new churches, too modern and impersonals.
This book will tell you not just the story of that day, but also a vivid, quick but felt portrait of Notre-Dame from its foundation, to the decision in 1163 of a fresh start. A fresh start that would have meant 100 years of works, changes in various phases, thanks to new inspirations born in the mind of the various masters.
Victor Hugo maybe the most stunning writer of the past for his vibrant intensity of feelings but also for his profound compassion for everyone, in particular the latest ones, protested vibrantly for the poor condition of Notre-Dame after that, once the monarchy over, the regime of Robespierre could not take in serious consideration Notre-Dame. Englightment produced also horrific results.
Considering that Victor Hugo was taken in serious consideration because a beloved author and a wise man, authority decided of doing something.
This book is also wonderful because if you want to read much more.
Ken Follett put you in condition to do that, suggesting books, of course his Pillars, but also all the rest of production that inspired Cathedrals, not just Notre-Dame.
An intelligent project and as the author said he wishes to be part of the rebuilding of Notre-Dame.
I hope that all his readers and newest, curious ones, will buy this book for discovering more about Notre-Dame, what it means for French people and the rest of Europeans and the importance of donating. This money goes directly to the Fondation. You know that and for rebuilding the Cathedral.
Highly recommended.
Anna Maria Polidori
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