The story of the Cathars was brought vividly to my attention when I read Labyrinth, by Kate Mosse, a few years ago. I wanted to see what another novelist might make of the story. Burnham follows the legend of the hidden treasure, supposedly secured in a remote cave at the direction of Cathar leaders on the night before they were forced to surrender Montsegur to the French in 1244. Specifically, this novel is the story of the woman entrusted with the dangerous mission of hiding the treasure--sacks of coin and bullion, precious hand-copied books, and possibly the Holy Grail--in hopes that the Cathar faith would not die out. We get a feel for her conflicted relationships, her struggle to define her own spirituality, and her continuing--and very real--fear of being captured and tortured by the Inquisition. I enjoy novels based on ancient legends, that include romance, danger, and people wrestling with life's major questions and/or trying to walk a sane path in a corrupt society, so I d this one. historical-fiction12 s Annette839 504

“Little is known of Cathar faith, and most of it only from the point of view of its enemies. They worshiped Christ, were pacifists, vegetarians, with strict rules of poverty, work, chastity, charity. They believed that humans were fallen angels.

Pope Innocent III called for a Christian Crusade against another Christian group. The largest army ever seen in Europe, perhaps as many as three hundred thousand men, gathered in the Languedoc region, which is now the south of France, to fight the heretics – the Cathars.

Events came to a head on May 13, 1243, when the French laid siege to the fortress of Montsegur. It was one of the longest sieges in history, lasting some ten months. Two hundred Good Christians, the cream of the Cathar Church, were trapped on the mountaintop, together with a protecting garrison.

In January of 1244 the Cathars, seeing the end was near, smuggled their treasure of gold and money off the mountaintop and hid it “underground.”

They held out for another six weeks, but on March 1, 1244, the fortress fell. On the night of the surrender, three perfecti and one other, who may have been a guide, were lowered down the cliff on ropes and vanished into the woods. Their task: to keep their church alive.

The Cathar treasure has never been found. Supposedly Hitler sent an expedition to the south of France to search for it. Strange tales make more of the mystery, connecting the treasure and the Cathar heresy to the Knights Templar and various occult brotherhoods.”

In this imagined story intertwined with many historical figures, Jeanne of Beziers is a fictional heroine and becomes the “one other” guiding three perfecti down the cliff.

Her story alternates in time, present and past. She is orphaned by Crusaders who massacred her city of Beziers, killing 20,000 people. She is adopted by Lady Esclarmonde and educated in the way of Cathars - the “pure ones.”

At the age of 14, for misbehaving, she is send to Montsegur to learn chastity and appreciation. She is put under care of Bishop of Cathars, Guilhabert de Castres. He turns out to be a man of great knowledge, full of compassion and understanding. “That’s the first lesson I’m trying to teach you Jeanne – how to love – in order that you don’t need someone else’s power to make you whole.”

At Montsegur, she meets William, an Englishman with whom she discovers wall paintings in a cave.

When she is called to return to lady Esclarmonde, she finds out that her marriage is already arranged.

Later, she is back at Montsegur, when it is under the siege.

Overall, the story is well-written and pretty engrossing. The one thing that confused me was the ending. It seems as the author created two endings.

@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
https://bestinhistoricalfiction.blogs...historical-fiction-1200s setting-france11 s Kathryn BashaarAuthor 2 books94

I read this book while travelling in Languedoc, where it takes place. I really enjoyed it. I how Jeanne is looking back on her life and admitting that she was jealous and headstrong in her youth. And I how her spiritual life brings her contentment in old age, in spite of poverty and persecution. She is a wonderful, strong, vivid character. But, there is no escaping the Catholic church's persecution of heretics. This book is very sympathetic to the Cathar heretics, and casts them in a very favorable light. That's fine, since the protagonist is a Cathar, but they were really just latter-day Manicheans, so I'm not a fan. But I'm not a fan of the Catholic church, either, or of the torture and persecution of "heretics." Anyway, the Cathars make a great story. I'm not wild about Kate Mosse's series - I d this book much better - but for readers who want to read more about the Cathars or Languedoc in general, Kate Mosse's books might appeal to others more than they appealed to me. 7 s Sharon146 53

I have to begin this review by telling you that I am Catholic. Not a go to church every Sunday Catholic but one that sends prayer and praise in the right direction and has a working relationship with my God...lately, that means I talk a lot and if He's not stuffing clouds in his ears, He's listening. Anyhoooo....

I enjoyed this book because it explored faith outside the church and reminded me that regardless of our chosen religions and the endless lessons on 'judge not', we just don't seem to truly take it to heart...we judge, persecute and harm others in the name of a gentle, loving God.
Doesn't quite make sense, does it?

The woman in this story (Jeanne) could be any one of us trying to live a good life, challenging the stereotypes of the times and attempting to lean on our faith in Something to do it to the best of our ability. She amazed me with her vigor for life.

The Cathers, or Friends of God (they called themselves)worshipped Christ, were pacifists, vegetarians and lived with strict rules of poverty, work, charity and chastity. They believed in the divinity of Christ, but not that he had died and been resurrected. They believed in reincarnation and dualism with the Church.

The Mount of Montesgur is real, and if you take the time to sit and read this, you'll find yourself pulled into a spot of history that is hard to walk away from.

Read! Enjoy! I'd be interested to hear what your thoughts are... :)
4 s Shannon1,083 34

I didn't realize at first that this was Christian literature. There really should be a warning on the cover if a book is going to try to convert you.3 s Judy3,281 62

This book begins with a preface, which reads:

The historical events described in this novel are little known to Americans. ... The largest army even seen in Europe, perhaps as many as 300,0000 men, gathered in the Languedoc region, which is now the south of France, to fight the heretics. The targets of their assault were known as Cathars, ...

Burnham then presents another 3.5 pages of background information, all of which added to my enjoyment of the novel. Yes, there were painful pages, but overall they didn't drag me into depression. And, I now know a little more about this bleak period in European (and Catholic) history.fic-pre-1800-not-us relig-phil-spirituality set-e-france-a-k2 s Kathryn MatternAuthor 1 book8

I just finished reading this book, The Treasure of Montsegur: A Novel of the Cathars, by Sophy Burnham, while still engrossed in "Kingsblood Royal," but I want to write my review while it's still fresh.

I've read several books on the Cathar heretics and their supposed treasure smuggled out of Montsegur before the mass martyrdom of the Cathars, and I have to say that far and away this is the best! Not only does Burnham capture the blended Catholic-Cathar culture of the South of France and its parage (way of life), which almost no one else really 'gets,' but her writing is beautiful, sensitive, intelligent and nuanced.

Her protagonist Jeanne of Beziers goes from noble lady (by birth, adoption and marriage) to a poor beggar suffering from severe post-traumatic stress after the siege of Montsegur and the decimation of her whole world, including the loss of all her loved ones to violence, which she witnesses. Burnham writes very insightfully about all of this in her portrayal of 'crazy Jeanne.'

The tale spans the gamut of lovely life among the nobility to the penury of being a poor refugee, and also paints a picture of life among the peasantry working the land and raising animals and food. To me, this book is a minor tour-de-force, and definitely worth reading if you are interested in this period in history.
2 s Jennifer52

I've always been fascinated with the history of the Cathars so when I saw this book for sale at the library, I had to buy it. It's a very easy read and beautifully written. It's also an illuminating look into the life of one of the Cathars from a personal perspective, which is refreshing compared to the historical, non-fiction texts I've read on this subject.
Overall, I d the style of this book well enough that I would read more by this author. I think anyone who didn't know the history of the Cathars would still enjoy this book if they period fiction.2 s M225

The history of the Cathars is interesting and worth reading about. I do not think this book did justice to that history - Cathar-lite. Perhaps that is what it was supposed to be. The story does stand as a good read though.2 s Tracey Ellis253 1 follower

A haunting historical novel that mixes religious history with romance, and builds to a dramatic crescendo. I had never heard of the Cathars before this book, their struggles, and the legend of the treasure. Eye opening and tragic. 2 s Dani263

I enjoyed reading this book, but it seemed sparse, and the ending seemed very contrived. I would recommend to those who enjoy reading the "destined to be damned" type of historical fiction. 2 s Jae381 37

A beautifully written book, with a storyline told from the perspective of a female living at the time of the Cathars.cultural historical-fiction2 s ? Marlene? 1,688 142

On Monday, September 15, 2008 I wrote about this book:


I feel awful because you mailed this book all the way from Australia to me, but I did not it at all.
Just visited amazon and there I noticed, yes it has some great but most people don't agree with those .
I was very disappointed cause I had expected so much more. The part where Jeanne grew up as a young girl and her first love was interesting, so i thought hey, this is going to be great, but then we went back to the future where she was old and it was all so vague and weird. After a while i just hurried through the book. You either love it or hate it it seems, I guess I belong to the latter. sorry.
Going to offer in a swap or in the VBB.

bookcrossing historical-fiction1 David436 7

Read 2003 to unanimous applause at the Jasmine Creek Book Group.

The Treasure of Montségur: A Novel of the Cathars, by Sophy Burnham. 2003. 304 p.
In 1209 in Béziers, France, the Inquisition is charged with exterminating Cathars, the Church of Love. It is a time of terror, with neighbor pitted against neighbor, and religious passions running high; a time of suspicion, burnings, and systematic genocide. Against this turbulent background, Jeanne of Béziers finds herself embroiled in the resistance, fighting for freedom alongside William, the man whom she loves. Trapped with 200 Cathars at the fortress of Montségur, Jeanne is asked to sacrifice her convictions for security of the Cathar legacy.

A superb historical novel, with intrigue, mystery, and the search for love and God. 1 Nico142 3

The lesson gleaned from this book is that, really, nothing has changed in our world. The ending is sad, but the book beautifully written. The book also taught me about the Cathars - a Christian sect about whom I knew nothing. There are some interesting spiritual reminders in the book, which anyone can use. Praying for enemies (I'm not religious), for instance. It makes me wonder if the author practices some of the things that Jeanne uses to get through hardship and trials. I would say that this a "feminine" book, and would probably appeal to a female audience more than to a male audience. That being said, why not give it a try and see what you think?

4 stars because I wish it was a bit longer. But, maybe I just wanted a happier ending. C'est la vie.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full reviewhistoric-fiction1 Stacy68 16

This is a fascinating look at the extermination of the Cathars from the South of France in the Middle Ages. The Cathars were a group of Christians with beliefs quite different from the Catholics. As a result, a crusade was waged against them and they were all killed.

This novel is set during that time, with a protagonist who was raised by Cathars. The story is told with alternating view points and flashbacks, which together weave an interesting and heartfelt story.

This is historical fiction at its finest - a look at daily life during that time, a bit of a love story, and an examination of the cultural and religious climate of that time.1 Francisco Becerra719 6

Being an interested in everything related to Catharism and after finally visiting this year the Languedoc-Rousillon region for the first time, this beautifully tragic novel deeply impacted me, taking me back to the stunningly beautiful southern France, and made me revive my steps and sunsets there.

Although there are some magical and mystical elements that could be stripped in favor of a stronger reality sense, they don't diminish the powerful story and the beauty of Jeanne, the protagonist. Through her is easy to picture the difficult life and times of Catharism, and of women in the middle ages. A highly recommended read.1 Ana1 review

Overall it was a great book and a real page turner. I finished it on vacation in a couple of days. I would have given it 5 stars, except for two things that irked me, as noted by other reviewers. First, the visions of the "future-time." I felt that it was a ploy to pad the story and didn't contribute to the plot. Also, the ending was unsatisfying to me, not necessarily because of what happened, but how the author portrayed it. However, it wouldn't prevent me from recommending the book, as it is a fascinating look at the Cathars and their faith and the European crusades.1 Sally Edsall376 9

I really, really wanted to this book, and was disappointed.
The story of the Cathars and the treasure is fascinating (my interest was piqued by a visit to this region of France some years ago).
However, I thought the telling of this melodramatic fictionalisation was pedestrian and a little laboured. It was a bit Harlequin-romance dressed up as something more.
Nevertheless, a plaeasant and undemanding read if you are looking for somethign with an historical basis, and a topic not covered elsewhere in popular fiiction.
fiction france historical-fiction1 Knotarainni5 2

I picked up this book because it is the same time period in France as the book I just read, Virgin Blue. In my travels to France, I visited more cathedrals and churches than is possible to remember. This fictional account of historic events filled in some of the gaps in my understanding of the violence unleashed by the Catholic church in their holy war against the Cathars and other religions and sects. I couldn't put it down, but I don't think it's necessarily a mainstream read.1 Sarah Bressers65

I hardly knew anything about the Cathars before reading this book, so the newly learned history was good. I did not the heroin much, especially in her younger days, but she felt real enough. I was annoyed by the recurring telling of the visions a fool from her childhood had of 'the future times', which did not add anything to the story and felt a cheap trick; but overall I d the book.1 Karin51 11

The Treasure

This is the second time I've read this book. It's a very well-crafted tale about the Cathars of Southern France during their persecution by the official church of the time. It's unconventional in plot organization where the backstory is revealed in finely-paced flashbacks. The ending is also unconventional, which I appreciate. I also enjoyed the themes in this novel, where an unconventional heroine discovers where the true treasures in life lie.1 Denise689 3

Pros: This is a re-read for me. This book is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. The plot moves along quickly, the actions of the characters believable and the brutality of the time is difficult to read, yet handled well by the author. The ending(s) were a great surprise and I'll reread this again.

Cons: Nothing

Art cover: 5 out of 5 1 Andy259 1 follower

The story focuses around the life of Jeanne, someone associated with the Cathars (doomed as heretics by the Catholic church). It weaves between past and present - a lot of tragedy in it, occasional hope.
Not a comfortable read but well written about a period of time I only knew a fleeting amount aboutfiction historical-fiction novels1 Penney PeirceAuthor 29 books115

Very educational, as I feel a strong connection to the Cathars.1 Ian RaceyAuthor 1 book11

There were two parts here that I really d. The first was the humanity of the characters. Not the holy characters, but Jeanne and her peers: her male romantic interests William and Jerome and her female friends Baiona and Alazais. With the men it's how they present a romanticised picture of themselves and their feelings for Jeanne (which she is more than happy to keep believing even after they've demonstrated that's not entirely honest), while their real feelings toward her--while genuinely affectionate--are more exploitative and predatory than that. With the women it's how they do honestly care about the people they're close to, but how they can't stop letting flashes of jealousy or pettiness from getting the best of them and sabotaging their friendships and the lives of their friends. Both sexes felt very real.

The other thing I really d here was the depiction of the siege of Montsegur. Jeanne's story is told in two different streams--a first-person, present-tense account of her life as a vagrant madwoman in the months after the siege (though it's not at first apparent just how recently after Montsegur this is), mixed with third-person flashbacks telling the story of life in the decades leading up to it. This lets the siege itself be brought in slowly, letting the reader realise for themselves just how much of a pall it has cast over life for everyone in southern French. Jeanne's account of life in the fortress during the siege--a picture of hundreds of people packed together, most of them noncombatants with nothing to do, for ten months, knowing that defeat was ly to mean death but being forced to live a humdrum everyday existence anyway--is really well done, as is the account of the final fate of the hundreds of Cathars who were taken by the French at the end of the siege. Julsinthebooks97 3

Hoy les vengo con la reseña de este libro que e leído ya varias veces.

Como datos generales el libro tiene 399 páginas y está escrito por la autora Sophy Burnham.

Además fue convertido por ediciones B para el sello Zeta.

El libro es de género histórico y está Ambientado en la Francia medieval de los años 1203.

La autora en el libro nos cuenta la historia de Jeanne una niña que fue encontrada fuera de una ciudad destruida y fue adoptada por una comunidad cantará.

En el libro se nos narra la vida de Jeanne desde su infancia hacia su situación actual y nos muestra su lucha para seguir las doctrinas de la comunidad que la a adoptado y sus propios deseos terrenales.

Así como nos va relatando como era la sociedad francesaa en esa época y como la comunidad cantara de Montsegur fue diesmada por las cruzadas católicas y la inquisición.

----- OPINIÓN PERSONAL----

Personalmente me encantó TOOODOOO, lo de este libro.

Me encanta el contraste entre el pasodo y presente de la vida de Jeanne, la forma como el autor a toma sus investigaciones sobre lo sucedido en Montsegur y lo relata y narra de una forma dinámica en el libro enlazandolo con lo que vive Jeanne.

A pesar de que prácticamente es un libro sobre historia francesa, se me hizo muy entretenido e interesante.

No fue para nada aburrido y me incitó a saber más sobre este suceso histórico.

Si te gusta conocer sobre historia general este es tu libro, porque en nada se parece a los libros históricos de romance como los de julia Quiin o megan maxwell.

10/10 ?????leidos me-encantaron me-super-gusto Chris Perley43 1 follower

I really enjoyed this book. Some may put it in the romance genre, but that is nonsense. It has great pace, unpredictability, and a depth of moral questioning that is not just commendable. It’s depth gives you pause. This book makes you think.

The history of the Cathars, and the culpability of church and secular power, also makes good reading. It is so interesting how power and control is so often associated with fear and immorality masquerading as representing some higher desert.

That very point comes out. When people are well off, it won’t mean that war will stop ... because it is the nobles of the day who will always play at war for their own ‘I don’t have enough, or I fear losing what I have’ motivations.

Love the Joan (Jeanne) of Arc suggestion as well. Very well thought out book. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Ktmholm502 3

Jeanne of Béziers was raised as a Cathar, one of the “pure ones,” and she describes her life in southern France of the 1200s from the viewpoints of both a girl and an old woman. However, the Cathars were also considered heretics (aka the Albigensian heresy) by the Church, and Montségur was one of the communities where the Inquisitors tortured and burned hundreds of Cathar believers. Furthermore, even just knowing or having dealings with a person labeled a heretic could condemn even a faithful Catholic.
Though the book didn’t exactly grab my attention, it held my interest until the end, and shed light on a complex historic, religious situation. historical Kyra538

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