Damiano's Lute.

New York, NY Bantam Books, 1984. Paperback First Ed thus; First Printing indicated. First Ed thus; First Printing indicated. Near Fine in Wraps: shows only the most minute indications of use: just a hint of wear to extremities; barely discernible foxing to the outside edges and the pages have tanned rather heavily, due to aging; with careful scrutiny, faint creases can be made out at the lower backstrip. Binding square and secure; text clean. Very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 12mo. 254pp. [The Damiano Trilogy, Book 2]. Mass Market Paperback. It is difficult to categorize this book, and its companion volumes "Damiano" and "Raphael." Each is a "period piece," focused on Europe during the years of the Black Death, and written as an inside look at alternate history. The author's gift for bringing one into the story makes this trilogy suitable for any and all readers. Damiano is a paradox, an apprentice magician who believes in God and speaks with the archangel Raphael. This juxtaposition is made possible by his avocation, playing the lute-- which apparently pays the bulls better than sorcery. He meets a variety of medevial characters throughout the story, some fanciful and some mundane, some historical and some used as historical samples of everyday life, and all richly portrayed. Damiano's humanity is his best weapon in the fight to survive the fourteenth century, a chaotic period brought to life in non-fiction by Barbara Tuchman's "A Distant Mirror." His guardian angel provides a superb counterpoint to his earthly concerns, and reminds the reader of the purity of spirituality. This trilogy is an unconventional, utterly captivating look at the conflict between good and evil, told in a style that makes all of the characters easily accessible to any reader.