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The Religion: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.00) - 1,010 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
May 1565. Suleiman the Magnificent, emperor of the Ottomans, has declared a jihad against the Knights of Saint John the Baptist. The largest armada of all time approaches the Knights' Christian stronghold on the island of Malta. The Turks know the Knights as the "The Hounds of Hell." The Knights call themselves "The Religion." In Messina, Sicily, a French countess, Carla la Penautier, seeks a passage to Malta in a quest to find the son taken from her at his birth twelve years ago. The only man with the expertise and daring to help her is a Rabelaisian soldier of fortune, arms dealer, former janissary, and strapping Saxon adventurer by the name of Mattias Tannhauser. He agrees to accompany the lady to Malta, where, amidst the most spectacular siege in military history, they must try to find the boy— whose name they do not know and whose face they have never seen—and pluck him from the jaws of Holy War. The Religion is Book One of The Tannhauser Triology, and from the first page of this epic account of the last great medieval conflict between East and West, it is clear we are in the hands of a master. Not since James Clavell has a novelist so powerfully and assuredly plunged readers headlong into another place and time. Anne Rice transformed the vampire novel. Stephen King reinvented horror. Now, in a spectacular tale of heroism, tragedy, and passion, Tim Willocks revivifies historical fiction.
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"A departure from the only other one of his books that I have read (Green River Rising - set in a modern day prison), this book is historical fiction whose backdrop is the 1565 siege of Malta. Quite possibly that century's Stalingrad. The main story is good with lively characters. Willocks has a style that is easy to read. Highly recommended, this book has inspired me to delve deeper into this siege."
— Liam (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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An epic in which we can see the seeds of our all our modern woes.
— The Times (of London) -
“The ideal man to do justice to the conflict...gripping...a classic of its kind.
— The Mail on Sunday -
A novel of high adventure, blood, guts and romantic love...as master craftsman, [Willocks] tells his story with extraordinary pace.
— Literary Review
Awards
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Winner of Publishers Weekly Listen Up Awards: Best in Category, 2007
The Religion Listener Reviews
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" Blood, sex and more blood. Cripes. Great stuff! "
— Anothermattking, 2/17/2014 -
" gave up trying to read this book - absolutely uninteresting "
— ina, 2/13/2014 -
" Just terrific story about the Knights of St. John's defense of Malta. "
— Jim, 1/30/2014 -
" Interesting tale (plenty of swords and sex) around the siege of Malta in 1565. Knights of St. John the Baptist verses the Ottoman Turks as well as the Inquisition lurking. The siege marks the beginning of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and foreshadows the end of the Renaissance in Catholic Europe with the ascendence of the Inquisition in Rome. "
— Bill, 1/27/2014 -
" Outstanding. I'm impatiently awaiting publication of the next book in the trilogy. "
— Elsi, 1/21/2014 -
" it was a good story and well written but littered with too many graphic violent and sexual descriptions for my taste. "
— benebean, 1/4/2014 -
" Most excellent book. Of special interest to Knights Templar and companions of the York Rite of Masonry. "
— Stan, 1/1/2014 -
" I loved this book. Beautiful, evocative prose with a strong story. ...still awaiting the sequel "
— John, 12/22/2013 -
" A great read. Excellent coverage of the seige of Malta, with a down right decent plot. Passed it on to my son, he loved it too. The only downside is that it is suppose to be a trilogy and we have been waiting too long for Willocks next installment and nothing as yet. "
— Brad, 12/12/2013 -
" One of the best books of historical fiction I have ever read. Can't wait for the sequel. "
— Shannon, 9/5/2013 -
" Romance set during the seige of Malta in the 1500s. Not for the faint of heart. "
— Dave, 8/27/2013 -
" His description of close in fighting was amazing. I thought I was in there sparring with them. Great story, a lot of resonance to today's wars over who's God is the best God. "
— Deidre, 6/13/2013 -
" Very violent and gory, but the DETAILS! It's just so well-written and the characters so fully-formed, it's impossible not to get pulled into it. "
— Emily, 3/8/2013 -
" bit of a big lad's wet dream, but v enjoyable for all that. "
— Rowan, 1/4/2013 -
" I stopped reading this one after a graphic rape scene early on. I guess I'm losing my taste for violence. I'm hoping someone else has read this and can tell me it's not full of blood and guts. "
— Pam, 2/23/2012 -
" I didn't make it very far into this book before the blood and gore started. I had to put it down. "
— Alina, 12/5/2011 -
" A brilliant piece of historical fiction. One of my faves. "
— EirÃkr, 9/7/2011 -
" good fiction based on history novel; reminded me a bit of "Kingdom of Heaven" "
— Barry, 2/20/2011 -
" I loved the story and the historical content. Lots of blood and gore, so must love war books to enjoy. Not usually what I read, but may continue the trilogy...if I can find the books! "
— Lorraine, 1/23/2011 -
" I loved this book. Beautiful, evocative prose with a strong story. ...still awaiting the sequel "
— John, 1/10/2011 -
" Ein sehr beeindruckendes Buch. Er holt bei den Beschreibungen manchmal etwas weit aus, es fesselt einen bis zum Schluss. "
— Jacodi, 8/8/2010 -
" This book by Tim Willocks is not my normal book to read. However, once I started reading the book I was captivated by it and had to keep going until I finished it. A Good read. <br/> <br/>J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" "
— J., 7/31/2010 -
" This is a long historical book which reveals something of the worst in both Christianity and Islam. It reminds us we have never trusted each other and it will take a lot before we ever do.<br/>It also is a book about the grace which comes through suffering. "
— Larry, 7/2/2010 -
" exelent book about midevil italy the charecters were rich ,this is a wonderful story "
— Dimmy-jimmy, 6/5/2010 -
" Outstanding. I'm impatiently awaiting publication of the next book in the trilogy. "
— Elsi, 5/28/2010 -
" <br/>I didn't get to finish the book...found It ok but not my kind of read really. In It's favor I find Tim Willocks a very accomplished writer. I found his earlier work, Green River Rising far, far better. "
— Grant, 3/28/2010
About Tim Willocks
Tim Willocks is a novelist and screenwriter. Translated into twenty languages, his novels include The Religion, Bad City Blues, Green River Rising, and The Twelve Children of Paris. He has worked with major Hollywood directors, dined at the White House, and holds a black belt in Shotokan karate.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.