Gabriel and the Hour Book

MP3 Audio CD. Mostly known for her poems written for children, Evaleen Stein was a reclusive artist, poet and writer of fictional stories for young readers.

The story of one of Stein?s greatest works is about Brother Stephen, a monk of a wonderful talent for making books and a very serious decision he has to make, decision that he will receive help with from Gabriel, a little boy tasked with grinding colors and making glue for Stephen?s books. Brother Stephen wishes to follow his artistic inclinations and therefore he is planning to leave the abbey to travel around the world.

However, he comes up with his plan when King Louis of France commissions him to create an hour book for his bride, Lady Anne of Brittany. Stephen being the most talented creator of hour books, he is the obvious choice as the maker of the hour book, therefore the abbot refuses to grant Stephen?s wish and he does not allow the brother to leave the brotherhood. The brother is angered by the abbot?s decision and that is when Gabriel comes into the picture, helping Stephen decide whether he will stay or leave without the abbot?s and the king?s consent.

When the book is finished, Gabriel slips a little piece of paper among its pages. In it, he presents himself as the color grinder and the glue maker who prepared the beautiful, bright-colored paint used for creating the marvelous pages of the book. Moreover, he also prays to God to help him by releasing his father from prison where he was taken and to give his family back the small patch of land that was taken away from them because they were unable to pay the high taxes. The ensuing part of the book deals with Stephen?s decision as well as with Gabriel?s life and by the end everything is sorted out: Stephen decides whether he should stay or go and Gabriel will find out whether his prayers are answered.