Reviews
I wish I could have given it six stars!
One of the best books I have reviewed this year. If I were asked to describe The Typo by William Lower in one word, it would be ‘amazing,’ but then I would also add quirky, laugh-aloud, perceptive, different, and original. I loved it. In the first chapter, the author mentions several names, but as the story progresses, they all fit together in a thrilling tale set in the fifteenth century. The descriptions of the towns and buildings are delightful, and the references to dialogue, which are compared to today, are hilarious. The characters are alive and leap off the page. I could relate to all of them, even those who are making their living on the wrong side of the law. In many places, I laughed out loud. This book will appeal to anyone with a sense of humor and a different take on a piece of history. I highly recommend this book to any reader, not just those who like history but who also enjoy tales of adventure and travel through Europe centuries ago.
5 Stars Lucinda E Clarke
Readers Favorite
Heartily recommended!
An amusing medieval adventure, full of mischief and mayhem, plays out on the pages of this cleverly entertaining tale. It follows Antonio, a talented manuscript illustrator from Florence on his quest in 1461 to reach Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, to fix a typo in a newly printed Bible. More than just a simple mistake, this typo could be construed as blasphemy or heresy by religious officials who see their authority dissipating in a dawning world of print not controlled by the Church. Antonio is joined on this journey by the enigmatic Gabriele, the senior guard from the Florence monastery where the newly printed Bible is due to be displayed. Threaded in and out of their travels are many other folks, all of whom have some kind of interest in potentially preventing or helping Antonio succeed in reaching Gutenberg to have a replacement page reprinted.
What makes this adventure tale especially gratifying is not only the surface humor, but also the deeper strands that show both the best and worst of human nature among all the characters and their interactions. For example, a lighthearted dialogue on why religious worship can be sensual is humorously defined through the senses (the sight of light streaming in stained glass windows, the sound of monks chanting, and the smell of burning incense). Yet, how religion is experienced is seriously questioned through the thoughts of characters throughout the narrative. The levity of the narrator tying plot elements to 21st-century understandings is likewise very funny, but again, the satire shines through the centuries.
Karen Bordonaro-Historical Novel Society
A fantastic read, beautifully told with a delicate touch.
I loved that The Typo was written in a slightly tongue-in-cheek style, which just added to my enjoyment. William Lower peppered his narrative with modern-day equivalences and poked fun at historical records, and this just gave the story that element of farce, which tempered the danger and seriousness of the time. I did spot and appreciate the corollary between the introduction of the first printed Holy Scriptures and the age of the internet and the relentless rise of AI. The Church of the fifteenth century definitely faced an enormous challenge with the introduction of readily accessible scriptures, for, if not the masses at this point, then for the wealthy and highly educated. No longer would the Church have ultimate authority over the word of God, and no longer could they rule with absolute power, using fear as their ultimate weapon. This was a time of great change, and the Church’s answer to this danger was the terrible, pernicious persecution of the Inquisition. The author does a tremendous job of developing the characters and unfolding their true natures, feelings, and thoughts as the novel progresses. I particularly appreciated Antonio’s approach to the development of the printing press. Rather than seeing it as ending his career, he could see new possibilities springing from its introduction and acceptance. It is abundantly clear that this story is far from finished, and I am excited to learn what Antonio may have discovered in the Papal Library. I highly recommend it.
Grant Leishman
5 Stars
Readers Favorite