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Published in USA
Mar 2011
352 pages
Genre: Thrillers
Publication Information
An ancient mystery, a lost letter, and a timeless love unleash a long-buried web of intrigue that spans four centuries...
In the late sixteenth century, five brilliant scholars gather under the cloak of darkness to discuss God, politics, astronomy, and the black arts. Known as the School of Night, they meet in secret to avoid the wrath of Queen Elizabeth. But one of the men, Thomas Harriot, has secrets of his own, secrets he shares with one person only: the servant woman he loves.
In modern-day Washington, D.C., disgraced Elizabethan scholar Henry Cavendish has been hired by the ruthless antiquities collector Bernard Styles to find a missing letter. The letter dates from the 1600s and was stolen by Henry's close friend, Alonzo Wax. Now Wax is dead and Styles wants the letter back.
But the letter is an object of interest to others, too. It may be the clue to a hidden treasure; it may contain the long-sought formula for alchemy; it most certainly will prove the existence of the group of men whom Shakespeare dubbed the School of Night but about whom little is known. Joining Henry in his search for the letter is Clarissa Dale, a mysterious woman who suffers from visions that only Henry can understand. In short order, Henry finds himself stumbling through a secretive world of ancient perils, caught up in a deadly plot, and ensnared in the tragic legacy of a forgotten genius.
"Starred Review. The author's persuasive portrayal of undeservedly obscure real-life scientist Thomas Harriot, a member of the school, enhances a plot with intelligence and depth." - Publishers Weekly
"There's one nice thing about literary puzzles - the clues don't normally involve bloody pentacles or symbolically displayed body parts. A few codes and cryptograms are all you need to get caught up in an enigmatic mystery like The School of Night… the story is fascinating." - New York Times
"Although not quite as gripping as The Black Tower (2008), Bayard's latest is considerably more humorous in tone as he interweaves the antic comedy of the modern-day caper with the tragic and affecting love story of the past." - Booklist
"This is a compelling literary thriller featuring an actual yet relatively unknown scholar during an intriguing period of history." - Library Journal
"Bayard... blends luminaries of history, lost treasure, intrigue and a double-twist conclusion into a highly readable concoction." - Kirkus Reviews
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Louis Bayard is a New York Times Notable Book author and has been shortlisted for both the Edgar and Dagger awards for his historical thrillers, which include The Pale Blue Eye and Mr. Timothy. His most recent novel was the critically acclaimed young-adult title Lucky Strikes. He lives in Washington, D.C., and teaches at George Washington University.
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