A book so nice once you've read it twice!
In my last post I reviewed the newest of Bo Giertz's novels available in English Faith Alone: The Heart of Everything, now allow me to review what might be his most distinctively different book available: The Knights of Rhodes.
Interestingly, Knights was one of the first things I ever read of Giertz's, because I got into Giertz just as we started getting a new wave of Giertz books available (many of which are now coming out via 1517 publishing thanks to the translational work of Bror Erickson, who also translated this book). Though not incredibly long, the book was not an easy read either. But that changed when I went back to reread it this summer.
Set in the time of the Reformation (1520's), the story features the siege of the island of Rhodes by Suleiman and its defense by the Knights Hospitallers. Giertz does extensive research in advance of this book and uses the very detailed notes found in records to form a narrative, which he then, as he is well able to do, manages to give life to these historical characters and bring the history off the page and into your imagination. People with an interest in medieval warfare or knowing more of the history of this time period will definitely appreciate this work and the hard work Giertz puts into finding all the right terminology and trying to present everything accurately. It truly is a masterpiece of historical fiction.
Those who love Giertz's other novels may find themselves a little disappointed in that Knights does not present in the same way as the other novels like Hammer of God or Faith Alone. It has an episodic style similar to that of With My Own Eyes, which I love. As I mentioned in my Faith Alone review, one of the few things I don't like about that novel or Hammer is the excessively long chapters. Knights on the other hand has very short chapters, but as I listened this week to the translator Bror Erickson say they are more like short stories that inform each other, I think the term episodic is a good way to put it. Kind of like watching a tv show like Lost where each episode tells its own story, but the story furthers the overall story and you learn more about the characters featured in that episode. That's kind of how the chapters of this book work. This is almost certainly a result of Giertz reconstructing from the records available which (as one can imagine) were themselves episodic. But because of that, it doesn't read quite like a normal book, which makes the reader a little unsure of why they feel unsure of what is all happening the first time they read it.
That is why I have to emphasize with this book what a difference it was to read the book again. Even though it had been 10 years since I last picked it up, this time around I had a much different handle on the book. The other thing I learned from the first time was that you really need to read the list of characters and terms that Giertz puts at the start of the book. Knowing how the episodic style jumps not only in story but in characters, it really makes a difference to study those first pages a bit so one is ready to read the story.
Now while I noted that those who are expecting something like Giertz's other novels might be disappointed, those wanting some theology will not be disappointed. However, Knights is far more subtle in its theological approach that any of Giertz's other novels. However, as Erickson notes in his words in the book, if Hammer of God is a wonderful work on Law and Gospel, Knights of Rhodes could be called his work on theology of the cross. Listening to him lay it out this week, he puts it well: the book pits two theologies of glory against one another, only to discover the theology of the cross as the true experience and way of it. And this in many ways is a parable for all of Western Christianity - how does one maintain hope and faith amidst heavy losses? Read this book to find out. There are moments in key relationships that highlight these dynamics and the interested reader would do well to keep on the lookout for it.
Yet, because the theology is so subtle, this book has a different appeal than his other ones. By not being "in-your-face" theologically, and the moments feeling like a natural part of the world and story, the subtle work here does not feel forced. Indeed, a person just with interest in the story could very well enjoy it even if they were not one to typically pick up religious fiction. Readers who want to engage Christian themes but don't like cheesy or forced Christian themes may very much enjoy this book. Likewise, it can be shared with those who have no interest in theology and perhaps plant a seed.
Of all his books, this one may be the least popular among circles that are fans of his other stuff, and yet also have potential to bring Giertz into circles that would never read his other stuff. The book should be commended therefore for its uniqueness among his works. But for that same reason some will not like it as much. This story though is a really gripping one, and if you don't know how it ends then you wonder how they will get through. And some never will. The overwhelming odds of the Turks against the men of Rhodes is reminiscent of the 300 Spartans against the great Persian Empire. And it shows just what a wonder it was for them to fight as hard as they did to hold this last stronghold of Christianity.
The difficulties that may require a double reading hold back top grade, but overall Giertz does it again with a compelling tale, profound moments, and emotional tragedies. I would definitely recommend the book (albeit with the warnings above): B
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