Tristan Betrayal (2003) by Robert Ludlum: Summary

Robert Ludlum is the American thriller author of 29 novels with his blend of sophisticated plotting and extreme pace. He’s best known for Jason Bourne series – The Bourne Identity – The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum – among others. In this book, Ludlum writes factual information, global issue, conspiracy, action, romance, dark history when Nazi occupied French and Russia, and patriotic and heroic acts. I really enjoyed this book  and it’s really  brilliant spy story. The 504-page is first published in Great Britain in 2004 by Orion and the original edition was published in 2003. Robert Ludlum, born May 25 1927; died March 12, 2001.

Tristan Betrayal by Robert Ludlum: Summary  

At preface set in Moscow in August 1991. An elderly man, silver-haired, with handsome was being taken by black – uniformed men in black paramilitary berets, bearing machine guns. The tree – star general, eighty years old, apologized and shook his hand. The Russian general told that American Ambassador Stephen Metclafe was the only one he could be trusted for one mission.

Paris, November 1940   Paris, city of the light had gone dark since Nazi had invaded, then seized control of France sixth months earlier. Eifell Tower, where once the French tricolor rippled, a Nazi swastika flag waved. Transportation was huge problem those days. Since only doctors, fireman, and for some reason leading actors and actresses were allowed to drive their own cars, the Metro was ridiculously overcrowded, and half the stations were closed. There was no patrol to be had, and no taxicabs. A bookshop that once owned by a Jew had been taken over by the Germans. Once it had been an elegant foreign bookstore; now it was foreign in another way; it sold nothing but German books.

A fancy party was in diplomat Vichy house with several high rank Nazi officer, all were in their dress uniforms; many affected monocles and had little mustaches like the Fuhrer himself. The German Ambassador to France was there too. A wealthy Argentine was a prominent guest, a black market dealer such as diamond or other luxurious stuffs to the Nazi officers and their wives. Daniel Eigen was in a mission at that occasion. And then, even if the master of the house couldn’t be sure that Daniel had stolen the papers, Eigen would be the most likely culprit.

So, late in 1939, Franklin Roosevelt called an old friend and fellow Harvard man. Alfred Corcoran had served in G-2 Military Intelligence during the First World War, then attained great prominence within top – secret world of MI-8, breaking unit that cracked Japan’s diplomat ciphers in 1920’s. Corcoran had a free hand to hire the best and the brightest of Ivy Leagues Colleges, well-bred young man who would be comfortable in rarefied social circle in Europe.

One of his earliest hire was a young Yale graduate named Stephen Metcalfe. The son of industrialist and his Russian wife – Stephen’s mother had come from a noble family that had left the country before Revolution – Stephen had left country had been schooled in Switzerland. He spoke Russian, German, French, and Spanish fluently, virtually without accent: Metcalfe had extensive holdings in Argentina and spent three years there.

Stephen’s brother, Howard – the reliable one – now ran the family’s business empire, since the death of their father. Nazi grew stronger and more rapacious. Hitler had invaded another city and bombed another city. He had to stop. Corky asked that handsome agent for one mission in Moscow and referred to a woman with whom him he had a dalliance six years ago. Svetlana Baranova, prima ballerina was very important to Nazi official. Lana was a mistress to high – ranking member of German Foreign Ministry in stationed in Moscow. His brother Howard took him to Moscow for business. It was Bolshoi Theater he found a beautiful ballerina. The young Russian girl seemed overwhelmed by attentions of the rich American. Stephen found parting with Lana to be as painful a breakup as he had ever been through.

His girl now had grown to be a truly Russian woman with cold expression to American like Stephen. She called her former beau as a capitalist American. She always ignored Stephen for their safety. Most American was a spy to Russian. Everything would be in a mess situation if her Nazi boyfriend found Stephen.

Kleist, a member of the Nazi Secret Service who had loved playing violin found Daniel Eigen was American spy as Stephen Metcalfe. After murdered a French whore for a certain name, he also killed a Brit with violin string again the soft tissue of the Brit’s throat. Some American agents, friends to Stephen were killed brutally with violin string too.

Von Schussel, high rank Nazi had blackmailed Lana. He claimed he knew the secret document of Michael Ivanov Baranov, the hero of the Russian revolution. Numerous generals had already been executed for that evidence. Her father, a retired general now employed in Commisariat of Defense. Being a mistress to Schussel only way she could do to protect her father. Corky asked Stephen to convince her girlfriend for a mission. She passed the fake secret document to her German lover. The document that she had stolen from his father drawer was containing the estimate of the troop strength, exact figures, equipment, divisions, numbers of men, and locations of weapon depots. Giving Schussler fake documents that demonstrate how weak Russian military with the excellent forgeries. Tried to trick Hitler into declare war.

Lana was in danger as well. The more Metcalfe met with her, the more she became a target. Both Nazi and Russian agents chased Stephen and he got shot twice near to death. Kleist also had killed all of his friends in Moscow. He was trapped and ran away to Swiztzerland to find Corky. He said want quit off his job but he aborted it after knowing that Lana would be performance in Berlin. Though William Quilligan wore a well – cut, gray suit; on his lapel was a large white button on which was emblazoned a red  swastika but a female voice had called his name. Daniel Eigen. She was a German woman who had been with her in Paris as well. Eva Hauptman was investigated by Nazi after that moment.

Both Nazi agents and Russian Intelligence chased him. Chip Nolan, one of his friends had betrayed him but fortunately Kundrov the minder, Russian agent help him that time. Kundrov  hated Hilter and Stalin. Stephen tried to get Lana out of her Nazi boyfriend and her country. Stephen convinced her that America was the best place for her but she had insisted back to Moscow. Although she knew the execution was waiting for her. She said that Russia was her home and her blood. He saw her on the train back to Moscow with some men and that was the last time he saw her.

After five decades Ambassador Metcalfe was dreading in room with a man named Stepan Menilov. A man Metcalfe had never met before but he had only heard of it. Menilov was the power behind the throne. He was the Secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Soviet Union and Deputy Chairman of the All-powerful Defense Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the Interior Ministry. The chairman was Gorbachev – but he was now indisposed; a prisoner in his lavish seaside villa in Crimea. Stepan was fifty-seven years old, a hard liner a woman expert who had been raised by his great grandmother and his uncle in tiny village in the Kuznetsk Basin. The man appereance was tall, rangy, and extraordinary handsome.

After Ambassador Metcalfe telling his story to Stepan Minelov, the tale of young man American businessman who fell in love with a beautiful Russian ballerina half century ago. With trembling hands, Metcalfe pulled the pistol from his breast pocket. Menilov stared at it and took ornately tooled dueling pistol. Metcalfe recognized it at once as one of the pair of dueling pistol Lana had shown him. In Stalin’s Russia, a Russian child whose father was an American would have been second class citizen or worse. He would always be suspected. Lana must known that in order to protect her child, she could never tell Metcalfe about their son, Stepan Milenov.

The coup attempt had collapsed; without support of the man known as conductor, Dirizhor, the plotters could not go on. The only one who would knows were the son he had never know  and Metcalfe’s old friend, a red – haired a lieutenant named Kundrov who became a white – haired three – star general. As Lana had said there was a special gift, the gift of your love.

*****

October 4, 2015

Sekapur Sirih

Robert Ludlum adalah penulis novel terkenal dengan 29 karya yang telah diterjemahkan ke dalam 32 bahasa di 42 negara. Karyanya bertemakan misteri, sejarah, dunia intelijen, dan berhubungan dengan pekerjaan agen rahasia. Buku-bukunya selalu disampaikan dengan bahasa yang berkualitas dan plot yang sangat kuat. Serial Bourne Identity yang yang memiliki empat seri telah difilmkan dan berhasil meraup pasar dan peminat film laga dan misteri yang dipercayakan pada actor Matt Damon. Walau Ludlum sudah tiada namun karyanya tetap berdiam di dunia kesusastraan. Buku ini diterbitkan di Britania Raya pada tahun 2004 dan merupakan terbitan pertama setebal 504 halaman. Mulai dibaca pada tanggal 29 September 2015 hingga 4 Oktober 2015, novel yang menarik, hingga susah untuk diletakkan.

Terjemahan dalam Bahasa Indonesia, Pengkhianatan Tristan karya Robert Ludlum: sebuah ringkasan

Judul Pengkhianatan Tristan merupakan metapora dari kisah Tristan dan Isolde yang dibawakan oleh seorang balerina dalam pertunjukannya. Metcalfe sering mengakui kemiripan kisah cinta mereka seperti kisah Tristan yang menghianati kekasihnya dan Isolde, sang penyembuh yang menolongnya. Dalam kisah ini tokoh Lana juga menyembuhkan luka tembaknya.

Pada bagian muka, di latari kejadian di kota dingin Moskow pada Agustus 1991. Seorang lelaki cukup tua berambut putih nan rupawan baru saja keluar dari kendaraannya di kota Moskow karena undangan salah seorang teman lama. Namun, tiba-tiba sekelompok lelaki berbaret hitam ala militer dan membawa senjata mengepung dia dan membawanya ke sebuah mobil. Dengan gerakan meronta, lelaki itu pun akhirnya dipermukan dengan seorang lelaki tua berumur 82 tahun berpangkat jendral bintang tiga di sebuah mobil. Dengan meminta maaf atas kejadian itu mereka pun bersalaman. Sang jendral, Dirizhor mengatakan bahwa hanya Stepen Metcalfe-lah yang dipercayainya untuk sebuah misi sangat penting itu. Metcalfe adalah duta besar Amerika Serikat yang dulunya merupakan agen rahasia yang tidak diragukan lagi kesetiaan dan kehandalannya.

Pada Bagian Pertama, Paris, November 1940   Paris yang biasanya diselimuti cahaya lampu di malam hari kini berubah gelap sejak Nazi berkuasa dan mengontrol Perancis enam bulan terakhir ini. Menara Eifell yang dulunya dikibari oleh bendera tiga warna kini bendera swastika Nazi melambai dengan jelas. Toko buku yang dulunya dimiliki oleh orang Yahudi telah diambil alih oleh Jerman. Dulu toko itu sebuah toko buku asing elegan tapi dia tetap toko asing tapi dalam hal berbeda; tidak ada buku yang dijual selain buku-buku Jerman. Begitu pun masalah transportasi. Hanya para dokter, pemadam kebakaran, artis ataupun aktor tertentu yang bisa mengendarai kendaraannya sendiri. Penduduk menggunakan kereta Metro yang sangat luar biasa padatnya.

Daniel Eigen menghadiri sebuah pesta mewah di kediaman seorang diplomat Perancis yang merupakan pejabat boneka nazi. Daniel, lelaki yang rupawan dikenal sebagai penjual barang mewah pasar gelap dan telah terkenal di kalangan orang berkelas dengan barang dagangan mewahnya. Dengan kelihaiannya, ia berhasil mencuri selembar dokumen penting dari ruang kerja rahasia sang pemilik rumah. Baru saja lolos dari ancaman tertangkap, Alfred Corcoran, atasannya, dari FBI pun memberinya sebuah misi untuk berangkat ke Moskow. 

Sangat di luar dugaannya, kali ini ia berhubungan lagi dengan kekasihnya di masa lalu. Svetlana Baranova, gadis pebalerina tersohor di Moskow dan merupakan wanita simpanan seorang pejabat tertinggi Nazi di Rusia. Atas alasan pekerjaan, dia harus berurusan kembali dengan kekasih lamanya dan menerima pekerjaan itu. Sebelum meninggalkan Paris penyamarannya pun sempat tercium oleh agen Nazi karena penghiantan oleh kenalannya sendiri, seorang yang lihai dalam  pemalsuan segala dokumen.

Ducroix, lelaki tua mantan tentara berkursi roda itu dan pasukan Nazi terpaksa di bunuhnya untuk berhasil keluar aman dari situasi terjepit. Corky, sang atasan tidaklah salah memilihnya. Corky lelaki handal dalam kemiliteran dan dipercaya oleh Presiden Amerika dalam segala bidang intelijen. Lelaki itu menyeleksi lulusan universitas ternama dan Stephen Metcalfe adalah pilihan terbaiknya. Lulusan terbaik Harvard berasal dari keluarga pebisnis kaya beribukan Rusia. Kedua orang tuanya merantau ke Amerika setelah berpindah-pindah dengan segudang bisnis di beberapa negara Eropa. Metcalfe sangatlah lihai dalam menguasai beberapa bahasa dari bahasa Jerman, Perancis, Rusia, Spanyol dan bahkan tanpa aksen.

Sepeninggalan ayahnya segala urusan bisnis dijalankan oleh kakak lelaki tertuanya. Suatu ketika Howard mengajaknya untuk urusan bisnis di Moskow dan di sanalah Stephen bertemu dan menjalin cinta dengan gadis balerina. Namun sayang mereka harus terpisah karena Stephen harus pulang ke Amerika. Enam tahun pun berlalu. Stephen harus mencari mantan kekasihnya itu dengan sebuah misi yang berkaitan dengan Nazi. Kembali ke kota Paris, seorang agen handal serta sadis Nazi telah membunuh seorang pelacur berumur untuk sebuah nama dan membunuh seseorang berkewarganegaraan Inggris atas sebuah informasi penting. Semua bagian ini merupakan bagian pertama novel ini.

Pada bagian kedua di halaman 119 kembali ke latar Moskow di tahun 1991 seperti masa waktu di prawajah. Stephen dengan beralasan urusan bisnis keluarga pun menemui Duta besar Amerika Serikat untuk Moskow dan mendapat sambutan dingin dari sang duta besar. Agen rupawan itupun mempelajari jikalau lelaki berumur itu juga merupakan mata-mata seperti dirinya. Pada gedung pertunjukan Bolshoi, Metcalfe berhasil bertemu dengan kekasih masa lalunya. Alangkah terkejutnya Svetlana Baranova mengetahui dirinya namun dia disambut dingin. Waktu telah mengubah Lana menjadi seorang gadis Rusia yang sangat mencintai pemimpinnya dan negara serta membenci Amerika. Ideologi komunis yang sangat menguasai pikirannya.

Gadis itu sering menyebutnya sebagai pria kapitalis Amerika. Stephen berhasil mengunjungi Lana di rumah orang tuanya yang sudah familiar untuk Stephen. Menjadi perempuan simpanan petinggi Nazi bukanlah pilihannya, dia melakukannya demi menyelamatkan ayahnya. Walau seorang jendral terkenal di kalangan pejabat dan bahkan seorang pahlawan pada revolusi Rusia di masa lalu namun ayahnya sedang berada dalam ancaman dan pemerasan Nazi. Dengan terpaksa dia pun menjadi kekasihnya. Sebuah bukti dokumen membuktikan ayah gadis itu seorang pembelot yang ingin menjatuhkan Stalin. Beberapa teman ayahnya disuruh menandatangani dokumen pengakuan penghianatan pada negara sesudahnya lalu dieksekusi.

Stephen sangat paham posisi Lana yang selalu menghindari dirinya namun keduanya masih menyimpan cinta yang membara. Beberapa pertemuan secara rahasia dilakukan walau agen Rusia ataupun Nazi Jerman selalu mengawasi keduanya. Metcalfe pun sempat ditawan di sebuah penjara, dengan pengakuannya yang lihai dia pun berhasil keluar dari Rusia. Dengan perjalanan yang panjang dia berhasil masuk negara Swiss dan menemui Corky, atasannya. Dalam keadaan tertembak, beberapa teman agennya telah mati dengan sadis, tiga kali dihianati teman agen dan orang kepercayaannya, lelaki itu sempat mengancam ingin keluar saja dari dunia intelijen. Dia sangat kecewa dengan FBI melibatkan kekasihnya dan telah mendapati jikalau bukti dokumen yang memberatkan ayah Lana hanyalah jebakan Nazi semata. Ayah Lana, Jendral Mikhailnova adalah orang setia Stalin.

Kejadian Berlin 50 tahun sebelumnya   Mendapat informasi dari atasannya bahwa Lana akan menari di Jerman lelaki itupun dengan samaran baru sampai di Berlin untuk menyelamatkan gadis itu. Dia sangat terjebak karena beberapa kenalan di Perancis mengenalnya. Agen Nazi yang merupakan pembunuh kawannya, si pemain biola sadis, beberapa agen Rusia, dan jurnalis rekannya Chip Nolan  hampir saja membuatnya tertangkap. Namun Kundrov menyelamatkannya kali itu. Kundrov adalah agen pengintai dan pengawas Lana dan Metcalfe selama di Moskow namun lelaki itu telah berbelot dan memilih berpihak pada Metcalfe. Dia benci Nazi dan juga Stalin.

Penyampaian dokumen dari Stalin ke Hitler sebuah misi yang sangat beresiko. Akan tetapi Svetlana berkeras tidak mau meninggalkan negaranya walau Metcalfe sudah berulang-kali mengajaknya keluar dari negara itu demi keselamatan nyawanya. Stephen sebenarnya sangat menyesal melibatkan kekasihnya. Duduk di sebuah kereta dengan agen Rusia di malam itu menjadi kali terakhir Stephen  melihatnya. Penghianatan Tristan pada kisah Tristan dan Isolde memiliki kemiripan dengan penghianatan Metcalfe pada Svetlana. Sengaja mendekati kekasihnya untuk sebuah misi beresiko tinggi namun tidaklah seburuk itu karena dia sangat mencintai Lana.

Moscow, tahun 1991, masa kini   Lima puluh tahun kemudian, sebuah upaya espionase, gerakan untuk menjatuhkan presiden Rusia Michael Gorbacev pun bergejolak. Sang presiden sudah ditangkap dan dinyatakan sakit pada dunia. Stepan Menilov merupakan ketuanya, lelaki yang dibesarkan nenek buyutnya dan pamannya di sebuah desa kecil Kuznetsk Basin. Lelaki berusia lima puluh lima tahun dengan berperawakan tinggi dan ganteng. Metcalfe, sang duta besar pun akhirnya ditangkap dan diinterogasi. Mantan agen handal itu banyak memberikan pertimbangan kalau upaya kudeta tidaklah mengubah banyak dan hanyalah kesia-sian belaka. Setelah banyak mengadakan perbincangan dengan pemberontak suasana menjadi panas aksi tembak menembak pun hampir dimulai.

Ketika Milenov mengeluarkan sebuah pistol dari sebuah kotak, dia pun teringat masa lalu. Lana pernah menunjukkannya sebuah pistol dari kotak kayu yang merupakan hadiah turun temurun keluarga diberikan nenek buyutnya padanya dan pistol itu punya pasangan ada pada neneknya di Basin. Dan pistol itupun mengingatkannya pada Lana. Pistol berornamen yang dikeluarkan Milenov pun menyadarkan keduanya . 

Lelaki pembrontak itu akhirnya tersadar bahwa Metcalfe adalah ayah kandungnya dan ibunya kerap memanggilnya Stiva. Pada zaman Stalin anak yang lahir berayahkan Amerika adalah warga negara kelas dua dan mendapat perlakuan buruk karena akan selalu diawasi sepanjang waktu. Demi melindungi Stepan kecil, Lana mengirimkan anaknya itu ke desa untuk dibesarkan oleh nenek buyutnya dan pamannya. Rupanya hanya Kundrov yang tahu hal itu. Baginya kedua insan itu perlu dipertemukan untuk mengindari kudeta.

Lelaki berpangkat jendral yang mengundangnya ternyata Kudrov merupakan mata-mata pengawas dan sudah menjadi temannya di masa lalu. Setelah kejadian Berlin, dia memberikan selembar surat terakhir dari Lana kepada Stephen setelah gadis itu dieksekusi. Sebelum mati Lana juga telah menandatangi selembar surat pengakuan bahwa dia adalah mata-mata berbahaya negara. Walau itu  tidaklah seutuhnya benar dan dalam paksaan. Mengetahui keduanya adalah ayah dan anak maka benarlah pengakuan Dirizhor, Penghubung (Kundrov) kalau hanya Stephen-lah yang mampu menghentikan misi kudeta anaknya itu.

******

 29 September 2015 hingga 4 Oktober 2015

Middlemarch (1872), a Classic Novel by George Eliot: Summary

George Eliot was born as Mary Ann Evans. The first one-volume edition was published in 1874, and sold well to an enthusiastic reading public. Even queen Victoria herself asked Eliot’s autograph for her collection and her son also adored Eliot. King Henry VII had read Middlemarch fifteen times in 1886.

Middlemarch is a melancholy book. Eliot is the great artist of disappointment. Her characters, even the good ones, are in despair life. In Middlemarch, Eliot did not concern with showing the effects of large, heroic acts, performed by extraordinary individuals. She was more concerned with changing her reader’s perspective than she was in encouraging the reader.

The 718-page was printed by Rohan Book Company in Delhi, India in 2004. There are numerous missed printed and punctuation errors. It takes 5 weeks to finish this novel. I get bored read it until page 70 but I give more try until page 160 – try on and on. Finally I can enjoy this book. George Eliot is brilliant novelist – this book is rich of qualified quotes and the book is also rich language.

Middlemarch (1872), a Classic Novel, George Eliot : Summary

Dorothea was the elder of sisters, was not yet twenty, and they had been both been educated, since they were about twelve years old and had lost their parents, on plans at once narrow and promiscuous, first in English family and afterwards in a Swiss family at Lausanne, their bachelor uncle and guardian trying in this way remedy the disadvantages of their orphaned condition. 

It was hardly a year since they had come to live at Tipton Grange with their uncle, a man nearly sixty, of acquiescent temper, miscellaneous opinions, and uncertain vote. Dorothea was regarded as a heiress, for not only had big money a year from her parents, but if Dorothea married and had a son, that son would inherit Mr. Brooke’s estate. A young lady was with some birth and fortune.

The rural opinion about the new young ladies, even among the cottagers, was generally in favor of Celia, as being so amiable and innocent-looking, while Miss Brooke’s large eyes seemed, like her religion, too unusual and striking. Poor Dorothea compared with her sister. Dorothea with all her eagerness to know the truth of life retained very childlike ideas about marriage. Those who approached Dorothea, thought prejudiced against her by this alarming hearsay, found that she had been a charm unaccountably reconcilable with it. She was open, ardent, and not in at least self-admiring. Sir James Chettam asked Mr. Brooke’s permission to make an offer of marriage to Dorothea. But Dodo preferred Sir. Edward Causabon.

Causabon was over five-and-forty and he was twenty seven years older than her. His income was good – he has handsome property independent of the Church. He was good match in some respects but his health was not over-strong. Dodo admired and honored him. Dodo had not the same tastes as every young lady; and clergyman and scholar-who may be bishop suited for her than Chettam. He was good man. Mr. Brooke’s mind felt blank to hear his niece’s decision. Dorothea trembled while she read the proposed letter from Edward Causabon. The scholar man introduced all his family members to Dodo including his cousin artist young Will Ladislaw.

A new young surgeon, Mr. Tertius Lydgate could not belong in Middlemarch without having that agreeable vision, or even without making the acquaintance of Vincy family. They were old manufacturers, had kept house for three generations, in which there had naturally been much intermarried with neighbors more or less decidedly genteel. Mrs. Vincy’s sister had been second wife to rich old Mr. Featherstone, and Mr. Vincy’s sister was a wife to the banker Mr. Bulstrode. Mr. Vincy’s children; Rosamond and his brother Fred Vincy were beautiful mortals in Middlemarch.

Doctor Tertius Lydgate married the most beautiful girl in Middlemarch. Lydgate married Rosamond while Fred approached a governess girl name Mary Garth. A girl nursed Fred’s uncle the rich old Peter Featherstone. Mary’s father was a property businessman and her mother governess too like her. Caleb Garth gave himself up entirely to the many kinds of work which he could do without capital. He did his work well, charged very little, and often declined the charge at all. It was no wonder then that the Garths were poor, they did not mind.

Fred was in huge debt Mr. Garth. Mr and he couldn’t pay it. His uncle Featherstone helped him. It was ashamed to the Vincys and sent his son to University. When Fred came back to Middlemarch, he still loved Mary but he had no skill for living. He worked and learned from Caleb Garth. After old Jew Peter Featherstone died, Mary went to girl school.

Newly wed Edward Causabon and his wife Dodo travelled to Rome, Edward had a sensitiveness to match his wife’s. Both were shocked at their mutual situation – the clash at the wedding journey. To Dorothea’s inexperienced sensitiveness, it seemed like a catastrophe, changing all prospects; and Mr. Causabon it was new pain. He never have been on a wedding journey before since this charming young bride not only obliged him to much consideration on her behalf, but turned out to be capable of agitating him cruelly just he need shooting.

Will Ladisaw was not aware that his second cousin and his wife in Rome, Dodo met him coincidentally. When Edward went to read in the Library at Vatican every day, his wife was comfortable with young Ladisaw. After several weeks in Rome, the new couple had returned to Middlemarch. Dodo had learned from Doctor Tertius Lydgate that there were no signs of change in Edward Causabon’s bodily condition beyond the mental sign of anxiety to know the truth about his illness. Will visited Edward but the old preacher chose not to speak to him. Edward Causabon was quite sure that Dorothea was the cause of Will’s returned from Rome. Edward was determined not to speak to his cousin and sent him a letter to stay away from his wife. Meanwhile Dorothea in sadness, her sister Celia married to James Chettam and had a baby. Causabon died and Dodo was childless rich widow in Middlemarch. He was shocked of the death.

Lydgate broke and had no estate. Lydgate moved to London. He had gained excellent practice alternating, according to the season. His skill was relied on many paying patient, but regarded himself as a failure. Lydgate’s hair never became white. He died when he was only fifty, leaving his wife and children provided for heavy insurance in his life.  Rosamond Vincy afterwards married an elderly and wealthy physician, who took kindly to her four children. She made very pretty show with her daughters, driving out in her carriage, and often spoke her happiness as “a reward”- she did not say for what, but probably she meant that it was a reward for her patience with Tertius, whose temper never became faultless, and to the last occasionally let slip a bitter speech which memorable than signs he made of his repentance.

Mary Garth and Fred Vincy achieved a solid mutual happiness. Fred surprised neighbors in various ways. He became practical farmer and produced a work which won him high congratulations at agriculture meeting. Fred never became rich – his hopefulness had not led him to expect that; but gradually saved enough to become owner of the stock and furniture, the work which his father in law put into his hands carried him in plenty those bad times which are always present with farmer.

Sir James Chettam never ceased to regard Dorothea’s second marriage as mistake and indeed this remained the tradition concerning it in Middlemarch where she spoke of to younger generation as a fine girl who married a sickly clergyman, old enough to be her father. In little more than year after his death gave up her estate to marry his cousin- young enough to be his son, with no property, and not well-born. Dorothea herself no dreams of being praise above another women. Still, she never repented that she had given a fortune to marry Will Ladisaw, and he would have held it the greatest shame as well as sorrow to him if she repented. They were bound to each other by a love stronger than any impulses which could have marred it.

Will became an ardent public man, working well in those times when reforms were begun with a young hopefulness of immediate good which has been checked in those days, and getting at last returned to Parliament by a constituency who paid his expenses. Mr. Brooke lived to a good old age, and his estate was inherited by Dorothea’s son, who might have represented Middlemarch. 


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11.05 p.m

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Sekapur Sirih

Masih samar di ingatan, saat belajar sastrawan periode Victorian, maka George Eliot salah satu di dalamnya. Dari namanya tentu terpikir, penulis Eliot pastilah pria. Dosen pengampu memberi sekilas biografi Eliot dan menjelaskan penulis menggunakan nama samaran pria. Mary Ann Evans, karyanya banyak dipengaruhi penulis wanita seperti Jane Austen dan Emily Bronte. Middlemarch bukan kisah keputusasaan melainkan sebuah cerita melankolis. Diterbitkan dan dinikmati publik pada tahun 1874. Buku tebal 718 halaman terbitan Rohan Book Company, Delhi India tahun 2004. Banyak didapati kesalahan cetak, edisi ini kurang cocok bagi pembaca yang tidak nyaman dengan cetakan yang terlalu rapat.

Ratu Victoria sendiri meminta tanda tangan Eliot untuk koleksinya dan begitu juga putranya King Henry VII merupakan fans berat Eliot, diakuinya dia membaca Middlemarch sebanyak lima belas kali pada tahun 1886. Buku fiksi ini dinobatkan sebagai salah satu dari seratus karya terlaris sepanjang jaman. 

Buku kenangan ketika berdomisili di Batavia dan beruntung sekali mendapati buku ini pada toko buku di daerah Matraman kala itu. Begitu melihat nama Elliot, pikiran senang, terbayang adalah suasana kelas ketika membahas Victorian: wajah teman-teman kuliah dan semangat pengampu, beliau adalah dosen bagus, terima kasih Bu. Ini merupakan pembacaan kedua kalinya, setelah sempat di baca Februari 2008 silam. Sewaktu membaca buku ini pertama kali adalah hal yang sangat sulit, mungkin karena bukan genre saya. Hingga pada halaman 70 masih tetap bosan, namun saya tetap mencoba dan mencoba hingga 160 halaman, dan tetap mengulang-ulang beberapa kali akhirnya mulai bisa menikmati dan memahami karya klasik ini.

Setelah akhirnya bisa menikmati novel ini, baru terasa bahwa benarlah George Eliot sangatlah cerdas dan novelis brilian. Beragam kutipan berkualitas dari para sastrawan pada jamannya dan sebelumnya dituangkan dalam novel ini. Karya yang kaya akan bahasa dan tentu saja akan sangat menarik bila kembali pada jaman yang diwakili. Bagi penggemar novel klasik bergenre melankolis dengan bahasa indah setting tahun 1870-an maka buku ini sangatlah tepat Anda miliki. 

Terjemahan dalam Bahasa Indonesia: The Middlemarch (1872) karya klasik dari George Eliot: sebuah ringkasan

Kisah drama melankolis kalangan bangsawan kaya  yang terjadi pada sebuah kota bernama Middlemarch. Belum berumur dua puluh tahun, Dorothea gadis pemberani dan cerdas memiliki cara tersendiri dalam menyikapi hidup. Dia  berbeda dengan gadis-gadis lain seumurannya. Bila dibandingkan dengan adiknya Celia Brooke, gadis cantik yang disenangi setiap lelaki; kelembutan, kecantikan dan cara berpakaian yang berkelas. Kedua gadis itu kini tinggal bersama pamannya Mr. Brooke, semenjak kematian kedua orang tua mereka. Keduanya berasal dari keluarga terpandang dan kaya begitu juga dengan pamannya.

Mr. Brooke telah berusia enam puluhan, namun menikah juga, kelak hartanya akan diwariskan pada putra Dorothea. Sir James Chettam seorang pengusaha menaruh hati pada Dorothea, sangat di luar dugaan karena orang-orang menyangka lelaki itu pasti suka si cantik Celia. Lamarannya pun diutarakan lewat pamannya, dia ingin meminang Dorothea. Gadis itu menolaknya dan berharap dilamar Edward Causabon. Dia lebih pada memilih seorang pendeta berumur kaya raya itu.

Pamannya sangat kecewa dengan pilihan Dodo. Walau Mr. Brooke sudah menjelaskan perbedaan usia dan kondisi Edward yang sudah sakit-sakitan, tapi keponakannya tetap berkeras hati. Edward Causabon sudah lebih layak jadi ayah bagi Dodo namun gadis itu melihat sisi berbeda dari pria terhormat itu. Dia sangat mengagumi dan menghormati lelaki cerdas itu. Tidak disangka, Edward melamarnya dalam sebuah surat yang romantis dan elegan. Pernikahan bahagia pun terjadi. Hanya dalam hitungan minggu, kesedihan bagi Dodo dan penderitaan bagi suaminya. Karakter lembut yang diinginkan Edward tapi tidak didapatkannya dari istri pandai dan kritis itu. Perseteruan pun terjadi masa bulan madu di Roma. Ketika Edward sibuk membaca setiap hari di perpustakaan Vatikan, secara tidak sengaja wanita belia itu bertemu Will Ladisaw, sepupu Edward, seorang seniman lukis.

Kekesalan Dodo pun tertumpahkan pada lelaki muda itu. Selama di Roma benih cinta pun muncul di antara mereka berdua. Jika Dodo berusaha mempertahankan janji sucinya namun darah muda Will sangat terlihat ingin memiliki istri sepupunya. Sepulang dari bulan madu Celia dan pamannya menyaksikan ketidakbahagiaan Dodo. Edward pun mulai jatuh sakit. Dia semakin marah dengan kepulangan sepupunya Will ke Middlemarch dan tinggal menetap di sekitarnya, Edward sangat yakin itu karena Dorothea. Kesedihan dalam diri Dodo bertolak belakang dengan kebahagian adiknya Celia. Wanita cantik itu menikah dengan Sir James Chettam, lelaki yang ditolak Dodo sebelumnya. Tidak lama kemudian Celia memiliki anak.

Tertius Lydgate seorang dokter muda baru saja diterima bekerja pada sebuah rumah sakit baru di Middlemarch. Nasibnya sangat ditentukan oleh keluarga kaya pengusaha Mr. Vincy. Bagaimana tidak, kalangan elit di kota itu pasti ada kaitannya dengan keluarga Vincy. Mereka adalah keluarga tua dan sudah beberapa generasi dan juga saling mengawini. Anggota keluarga Vincy juga sudah mengawini para tetangga sehingga hampir berkaitan satu sama lain. Bankir Bulstrode merupakan adik ipar Mr. Vincy dan kaya raya Peter Featherstone merupakan ipar istrinya. Putrinya Rosamond adalah gadis yang paling cantik di wilayahnya begitu juga dengan saudara lelakinya Fred. Keduanya dibesarkan dalam kekayaan dan dimanjakan.

Rosamond menyukai dokter muda itu dan mereka pun menikah sementara Fred masih hidup mengambang. Usahanya kurang bagus dan dia terlibat utang besar dengan Caleb Garth. Fred di lain sisi jatuh cinta pada putrinya Mary Garth, Mary sangat marah pada pemuda tampan itu karena memakai nama ayahnya dalam utang macetnya. Gadis itu bekerja di rumah si tua kaya Feathersotne, pamannya Fred. Mengetahui ayahnya terjebak hutang besar akibat pinjaman Fred yang mengatasnamakan ayahnya sulit bagi Mary menerima cinta lelaki tampan itu. Keluarga Vincy malu dan mengirim pemuda itu kuliah keagamaan di sebuah universitas.

Waktu pun berjalan, penyakit Edward Causabon makin parah. Walau sepupunya Will mengunjungi namun dia memutuskan tidak mau bicara dengan lelaki muda itu. Edward pun meninggal dan meninggalkan Dodo sebagai janda muda kaya. Will pun berusaha kembali mendekati Dodo namun rupanya wanita muda itu tidak mudah menerima cinta Will.

Masyarakat dapat merasakan perubahan Fred, kini dia menjadi petani dan menghasilkan  sebuah karya tulis tentang pertanian dan membuatnya menjadi pemenang pada pertemuan pertanian. Rupanya tidak sia-sia dia pernah kuliah. Mary Garth lulus sekolah dan menerima lamaran Fred. Dia menjadi ibu bagi anak-anak Fred dan menuliskan  buku anak-anak.

Lydgate bangkrut padahal istrinya Rosamond sudah biasa hidup mewah. Awalnya sangat sulit mengajak Rosamond untuk pindah ke London dan memulai hidup baru dan praktek di sana. Apalagi membiayai empat orang putri, pertengkaran dan di antara mereka pun tidak terhindarkan, namun mereka tetap bersama. Prakteknya di London juga kurang sukses. Dr. Lydgate meninggal dalam usia muda karena sakit. Rosamond akhirnya menikah dengan seorang orang kaya yang sudah tua. Kehidupannya dan keempat putrinya pun berubah. Dia merasa, kesetiaannya pada suaminya yang pas-pasan akhirnya berbuahkan hadiah.

Akhirnya Dodo luluh dan menerima kesungguhan cinta Will. Mereka saling mencintai, menikah, dan meninggalkan kota itu, berpindah ke London. Mereka memiliki putra dan Will akhirnya menjadi anggota parlemen. Dorothea menjadi cibiran dan sebaliknya mendapat pujian di kampungnya. Keteguhannya menikah dan merawat suami yang tua, seorang pendeta cerdas, dan menunggu setahun lebih baru menikah lagi. Bila suami pertamanya layak dipanggil sebagai ayah yang membawa harta melimpah padanya maka suami keduanya layak dipanggil sebagai putranya, yang tidak memiliki apa-apa dan dari keluarga tidak terpandang.


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Minggu, 10 April 2016, 23.05

Lamentation, a Historical Novel by C.J. Sansom: Summary

Christopher John Sansom is British bestselling historical author of critically acclaimed Shardlake series. He studied history at Birmingham University, where he got his PhD.

Lamentation is a historical crime novel. This book is a thriller detective and lawyer Sergeant Matthew Shardlake series. Set in the backdrop of London, in the late 16th century, the story is started with the lost jewelry and book Lamentation of a Sinner of Queen Parr, the sixth wife to King Henry VIII of England. It was the last months of King Henry VIII and England during the great heresy hunt of 1546. The story is told in the first person. The prologue features the narrator/protagonist speaking to the reader.

This paperback edition is published 2015 by Pan Books, London. The font is good and classic but unfortunately it is small. Beside, it has strong plot, the 706-page book is well-written. It brings the reader back to 16 century and draws them into the darker corner of history. Furthermore, I am very much awed by the beautiful and original words by the author. This is not only entertaining but also very informative.

In his historical note, Mr. Sansom explains that some of characters, historical facts in this novel are real, except of course for the fact that Lamentation of a Sinner, was not, in real world, stolen. Of course, readers who enjoy historic and crime theme would like this book, but it would be also recommended to anyone who appreciates excellent writing in a book of any genre.

Lamentation, a Historical Novel by C.J. Sansom: Summary 

It is map of Whitehall Palace and Chatherine Parr abbreviated family tree before chapter one. This is the story of Serjeant Mathew Shardlake, a serjeant, the most senior of barrister. He did not want to attend the burning but as senior barrister, he had to witness it. Reformist Anne Askew and three others were sentenced to burn alive for heretical reason. Master Shardlake was on Mistress Isabel Slanning against her own brother Edward Cotterstoke. 

Before her death in deathbed, a priest made a Will for Mrs. Deborah Cotterstoke. Her money was split equally between her two children. Edward like Isabel was moderately wealthy – and for both of them, their mother estate would make them richer. The problem had arisen when the Will came to specify the disposition of the house’s contents.

A middle-aged hunchback lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, was asked to help queen for secret case. He was sworn to be an assistant on the Queen’s Learned Council. After publishing her book Prayers and Meditation, Queen Parr wrote another book, a declaration to the world of her belief. It was a little volume and she knew it might be – controversial – so she composed it in secret. Lamentation of a Sinner was confession of her life, her sin, her salvation, and her belief. The manuscript has been stolen. And if it found its way to the king’s hands, then likely she was dead and others too. Fifty pages of small writing, even she kept it secure, in strong chest in her bedchamber, was stolen from the coffer. Some jewels, legacy from her second husband and his stepdaughter who has died, were stolen too.

Few days after Anne Askew’s death, a printer in small way of business, Armistead Greening was murdered in his shop. His neighbor who owned a larger print-shop next door, Geoffery Okedene, heard a great commotion, shouted, and cried for help, from Greening’s shed. Okedene found a clutched in the torn of page ended of Lamentation.

Lord William Parr, queen’s uncle gave Matthew the power of attorney from Greening’s parents. Queen and her assistants were using the story stolen jewel finding the stolen book secretly. Matthew involved his employees- Barak, Nicholas, and John Skelly but for the stolen jewels. Queen asked the stolen book would be secret case. Greening was involved in religious group. There were three constant regular – a Scotchman cleric McKendrick who had been formerly been a soldier, a Dutchman Vandersteyn, and quite wealthy man merchant Curdy. They argued over sacrament and named Gurano Bertano, an emissary of Pope to England.

King Henry VIII married Widow Chaterine Parr. She was the sixth wife to him. He said Kate was as good Jane Seymour. Jane Seymour died and left young son Prince Edward. Now, King lived his two daughters: Mary, Queen Chaterine of Aragon’s daughter was now in her early twenties and Lady Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne Boleyn who executed. King loved the Queen Parr. 

Chaterine Parr was married to Edward Borough and John Neville Lord Latimer. Both of them were dead. They brought no child to Chaterine. She said it was God’s willing to marry King Hendry and left her lover, Thomas Seymour. Thomas was late Queen Jane Seymour’s brother and an uncle to Prince Edward, the successor of the King Henry VIII. The King was very ill, old and dying. The Whitehall Palace was filled with Parrs: William Parr (Queen’s uncle), Kate’s brother, her sister, and her Queen’s close friend, Mary Odell, as maid-in-waiting. Mostly Parrs were reformist.

Before married to King, Shardlake was in love with Chaterine but he knew his status. He once saved Chaterine. Matthew was unmarried man. He lived with four servants and his horse Genesis. They were Martin and Agnes Brocket, thirteen year boy Timothy to take care his horse Genesis, Josephine, young girl. Josephine saw Goodman Martin Brocket seized Shardlake’s drawer one day and since then Martin had been bad manner to her but Shardlake assured there was no missing things. Agnes was grief of their only son.

After investigating Greening’s house, his apprentices, his neighbour, the key maker of queen’s chest, the maids who served queen, Matthew investigated the guard who was assigned to stand at the door of the Queens’s Privy Chamber. Michael Leeman had gone missing. He was religious radical and a member of Greening’s group.

Sir Richard Rich, a Privy Councillor, had tortured Anne Askew and would like to find something damaging to Queen among Anne Askew’s writing. Stice, Richard Rich’s man asked Matthew and his team to seize Greening’s group. He said that is private business of Sir Richard and he needed Matthew. They caught the four men: man in his thirties the Scotch cleric McKendrick, the Ducthman Vandersteyn, and in his twenties Leeman, the Queen’s guard. 

Master Greening and the apprentice Elias, both of them, were murdered by the same killers who attacked Shardlake and his team. William Curdy was killed by one of Rich’s men. Vandersteyn got away in the boat and McKendrick fled. Barak and Nicholas saved Leeman. He admitted that he was the theif of the stolen book and talked about his group and his reason to treason. It was Leeman they were after. A pair of killers also blew Leeman’s head off by a gun from a distance. His brains scattered. Guy, a doctor and also a friend of Shardlake found a Scotchman dying in hospital that called Shardlake’s name. Dominie McKendrick was a teacher and preacher and he was not a spy. He was attacked by the men who killed Greening and Elias. Hours passed and he died.

Master Matthew Shardlake was arrested  by the Privy council on a charge of heresy. It was also lawyer Philip Coleswyn, and merchant Edward Cotterstoke himself. Isabel Slanning has accused three of them as a heretic. Shardlake was questioned by Privy Council about the burned books. It was Martin Brocket who betrayed him. His son, Jhon, was very sick and nearly died. He had arranged to have money from a man, named Crabtree but the interesting was mounting. Crabtree gave him information about another debtor. The debtor helped him with being a spy. Stice, the servant of Richard Rich who Matthew reluctantly worked with, had been spying on him.

After released form prison Edward has killed himself. Edward and Isabel conspired to murder their stepfather. He confessed that he killed his stepfather and felt he deserved death what he did. Isabel and Edward loved their father and he died the sorrow for him and his sister. Their father had not been a year in his grave, Deborah, their mother, married to Peter Cotterstoke. Beside, they heard a touch of anger in his Peter’s voice, another few months and her belly was swelling with new child. She fawned on her new husband, ignoring Isabel and him.

They were sure Peter Cottestoke would give everything to his new child and disinherited Isabel and Edward. Some ideas were Edward’s, more often Isabel’s. They tried to poison him but it was Edward who pushed him into the sea until died. The two teenagers were wicked. Isabel was shocked of the death of his brother and tried to kill herself. She sobbed desperately with grief and guilt of life time in plotting killing of her stepfather. Deborah knew her children killed her husband. She was grief and lost her baby.

Queen was fear to much not to tell the stolen book to her husband King Henry VIII. Besides, the king was ill, she was frightened it could be endangered her life and others. She had an ambition to be Regent, a protector of young Prince Edward before taking his throne. Edward was only eight –year. The King was angry. He judged and insulted Master Shardlake in front of people. He had the stolen book and admitted that he was in the plot. King asked Martin Brocket to spy Shardlake. Edward Cotterstoke, and Philip Coleswyn were arrested and jailed but it was Shardlake the court was after to test his belief. Henry expelled Matthew for his treason and working with his wife secretly. King said Kate was too afraid, in fact, he learned the book was not treason.

Six months later King Henry was dead and the heralds proclaimed the new King Edward the Sixth. The new Council which old King had appointed by his Will made shortly before his death. There was no Regency for Chaterine Parr. She was now merely Queen Dowager, while the council had immediately appointed Edward Seymour, Lord Hertford, as Protector of the King. Edward and Thomas Seymour sat at the head Council table. Lamentation was published. Queen Parr married to her old lover, Thomas Seymour, new King’s uncle. Thomas was a fool and bully, he had looks, if nothing else.

Queen Dowager had been given the guardianship of Lady Elizabeth. She was in thirteen and under her guidance. The Lady Elizabeth has been left numerous properties by his father. A council must be appointed to deal with her estate, and in the nature of things there will be much legal business to be done. The Lady Elizabeth might be the least important of the King’s children, but an assured place working for her household would provide ample protection against unwarranted persecution by Rich. Queen Dowager asked Shardlake to be regular employment who worked for Elizabeth. She was not yet fourteen, yet ready she had the will and intelligence of an adult.

Sekapur Sirih

Penulis bernama lengkap Christopher John berkebangsaan Inggris dan merupakan penulis laris novel sejarah dengan tokoh serialnya Matthew Shardlake. Ini baru pertama kali menikmati karyanya di mana tujuh karya sebelumnya sangat laris terjual. Mr. Sansom belajar sejarah dan mendapatkan gelar doktor di Universitas Birmingham, Inggris.

Novel Lamentation adalah novel sejarah yang berlatar-belakang akhir abad 16. Kisah diawali dengan hilangnya buku pendek Lamentation of a Sinner milik istri Raja Henry VIII, Chaterine Parr. Kala itu, 1546, kerajaan Inggris mengejar dan membakar hidup-hidup para heretik yakni orang atau kelompok yang menentang ritual agama sah dari kerajaan. Bagi para mahasiswa atau pembelajar novel sastra Inggris, buku setebal 706 halaman ini, layak dipertimbangkan karena karya ini dituliskan dalam bahasa yang bagus sehingga tepat bila dijadikan acuan.

Terjemahan dalam Bahasa Indonesia: Novel Lamentation (Ratapan) karya C.J.Sansom

Serjeant Matthew Shardlake sangat tidak menyukai hadir pada acara pembakaran hidup-hidup orang-orang yang dianggap menentang agama kerajaan. Reformis Anne Askew dan tiga temannya baru saja dibakar hidup-hidup seteleah sebelumnya telah disiksa. Sebagai pengacara senior adalah wajib bagi pria bungkuk itu untuk meyaksikannya. 

Kini sang pengacara harus bergegas menangani kasus Isabel Slanning. Seorang janda kaya yang tengah berselisih dengan saudara lelakinya Edward Cotterstoke. Keduanya adalah orang kaya dan makin kaya ditambah dari warisan dari ibu mereka. Dalam wasiatnya yang dituliskan seorang pendeta, Ny. Deborah Cotterstoke telah membagi rata harta warisannya pada kedua anaknya namun yang menjadi masalah adalah perobot dan lukisan dan hiasan pada dinding.

Tak berselang lama, Matthew mendapat undangan hadir di istana pada chamber Ratu Inggris, Chaterine Parr. Ratu adalah istri ke enam Raja Henry VIII. Kate merupakan seorang janda. Kedua suaminya terdahulu meninggal. Dia meninggalkan kekasihnya Thomas Seymour dan percaya bahwa dilamar dan  dinikahi Raja Henry adalah kehendak Tuhan. Thomas Seymour tak lain adalah paman dari penerus raja yakni Pangeran Edward yang ditinggal mati oleh ibunya Jane Seymour, istri Henry setelah Ratu Anne Boleyn dipenggal. 

Putri Elizabeth yakni putri dari Anne Boleyn kini berusia tiga belas tahun dan Putri Mary, putri dari Ratu Chaterine dari Aragon, kini di awal umur dua puluhan, sedangkan Pangeran Edward menginjak usianya yang ke delapan tahun. Raja tengah sakit keras. Raja menikahi Chaterine Parr karena dia memang mencitai wanita berusia tiga puluh tahun itu yang sudah tidak mungkin mengharapkan anak lelaki darinya. Chaterine telah membawa banyak anggota keluarganya dan temannya ke dalam istana.

Shardlake telah mengenal Chaterine Parr sebelum menikahi Raja dan pernah menolong wanita itu. Dia pun menaruh hati padanya namun dia sadar akan statusnya. Ratu gemar menulis dan dua bukunya telah diterbitkan namun yang dikuatirkan adalah hilangnya buku pendeknya yang berjudul Lamentation of a Sinner. Padahal buku itu telah disimpan dan dikunci rapat dalam coffer-nya, seseorang telah mencurinya. Buku itu berisikan pengakuan akan keimanannya dan kegelisahannya akan agama. Masa yang sangat sensitif akan persoalan agama. Ratu kuatir bila jatuh ke tangan orang lain dan diterbitkan dan Raja Henry tahu maka Ratu akan dihukum dan bahkan orang lain juga.

Dia dan pamannya, William Parr meminta pertolongan dari Master Shardlake untuk menyelidiki kasus kehilangan itu. Perhiasan berharga yang merupakan peninggalan suami keduanya dan putri tirinya turut hilang. Hilangnya perhiasan itu dipakai sebagai alasan penyidikan. Penyidikan hilangnya buku itu harus ditangani secara rahasia. Beberapa hari sebelumnya pemilik percetakan kecil bernama Greening baru saja dibunuh di tokonya. 

Sobekan halaman muka dari buku hilang itu ditemukan pada tangan Greening sebelum meninggal. Geoffrey Okedene, tetangga Greening yang menjalankan usaha yang sama namun skala besar, menemukan pembunuhan itu setelah mendengar teriakan dari Greening. Paman Ratu mengatur rencana. Pengacara itu pun di sumpah menjadi asisten hukum Ratu atas kehilangan perhiasan dan ditugaskan dalam penyidikan kematian Greening atas permintaan orang tua Greening.

Menurut tetangganya, Greening sering menerima tamu dan paling rutin dikunjungi empat orang dan mereka sering membicarakan tentang agama. Seorang Belanda bernama Vandersteyn, orang Skotlandia mantan tentara bernama McKendrick, seorang berpenampilan sepertinya orang kaya, pedagang Curdy, dan lelaki muda, tegap dan rupawan Michael Leeman. 

Menurut karyawan Greening dan jadi saksi mata pembunuhnya dua orang. Matthew pun melibatkan  karyawannya: Barak seorang Jahudi, telah memiliki istri dan tengah menunggu kelahiran anak keduanya, Nicholas yakni pemuda yang sedang belajar hukum, dan John Skelly. Shardlake sangat percaya pada Barak namun dia telah disumpah untuk tidak mengatakan kepada siapapun tentang penyidikan sesungguhnya yakni buku hilang itu.

Shardlake tidak memiliki istri, dia hidup dengan empat orang pembantunya: kepala rumah tangga pasangan Martin dan Agnes Brocket, gadis bernama Josephine, Timothy yang berusia tiga belas tahun. Tentu saja kuda kesayangannya Genesis yang selalu membawanya kemana-mana. Ketika rumahnya sepi, suatu hari dia meminta Timothy untuk tidak diganggu oleh siapapun termasuk tamu dan membakar berkas di belakang rumahnya.

Josephine kurang rukun dengan Martin, lelaki itu kurang suka dengan Josephine yang tengah didekati oleh lelaki yang bernama Edward Brown. Tidak suka kegaduhan di rumahnya akhirnya Shardlake pun menanyakan pada Joshepine kenapa Martin begitu benci pada gadis itu. Ketika rumah sepi Martin tertangkap basah oleh Josephine masuk ke ruang kerja Matthew dan membuka laci. Masa itu putra satu-satunya dari Martin dan Agnes Brocket yakni Jhon sakit keras dan terpaksa  terlibat hutang. Namun Matthew tidak merasa kehilangan barang atau uang.

Isabel Slanning telah memecat Shardlake sebagai pengacaranya karena telah mendapati pertemuan Shardlake dan Philip Coleswyn, pengacara saudara lelakinya, yang dituduhnya sebuah koalisi. Isabel juga menuduh saudaranya Edward, Philip, dan Matthew adalah heretik. Ketiganya pun ditangkap dan dipenjarakan. Edward Cotterstoke pun mengakui kesalahannya di masa lalu di mana dialah pembunuh ayah tirinya, Peter Cotterstoke, pada pengacaranya Philip. 

Isabel dan dirinya ketika itu berusia belasan tahun dan cemburu pada ibu mereka telah mengandung bayi dari suami keduanya. Kedua anak itu kuatir tidak mendapat kasih sayang dan warisan. Saat berada di atas kapal, Edward-lah yang mendorong ayah tirinya yang kurus dan kecil itu. Rasa bersalah pun menghantui dirinya demikian juga saudarinya Isabel walau kejadiannya telah berlalu empat puluh tahun.

Pengadilan tidak mendapati kesalahan bahwa ketiganya adalah heretik. Keluar dari penjara, Philip mendapati Edward bunuh diri dan berharap anak dan istrinya tidak menanggung beban kesalahannya di masa lalu. Isabel pun sangat terpukul akan kematian saudaranya Edward dan sempat mengancam bunuh diri. Terakhir mendapat berita bahwa dia telah masuk biarawati. Matthew sangat marah dengan penghianatan pembantunya Martin Brocket dan Timothy. Pengadilan mengetahui gerak-geriknya termasuk pembakaran berkas di rumahnya.

Setelah menyelidiki kediaman Greening, tetangganya, pekerjanya, terakhir penjaga kamar Ratu malam kejadian hilangnya buku dan perhiasan itu. Kepala keamanan mengatakan bahwa Michael Leeman tidak muncul sejak kejadian itu. Demikian juga dengan Elias, pekerja Greening, setelah mewawancarai Elias, anak muda itu menghilang dan didapati dibunuh. Padahal Elias adalah tulang punggung bagi ke dua adiknya dan ibunya.

Tidak hanya itu Matthew mendapat catatan undangan dari Stice yang kemudian dikenali sebagai anak buah Richard Rich, seorang anggota majelis tinggi yang sangat anti dan kejam dengan kelompok reformis. Matthew pun sepakat bekerjasama dengan Stice. Keempat buronan dan asisten Shardlake pun bertemu dengan keempat orang yang menghilang yakni Vandersteyn, McKendrick, Curdy, dan Leeman dan di luar dugaan perkelahian tidak terhindarkan, anak buah Rich menyerang mereka dan mengakibatkan Curdy terbunuh, Leeman pun terluka parah. Anak buah Richard Rich juga terbunuh kala itu. Leeman mengaku dialah pencuri buku itu dan sempat bercerita banyak tentang kelompok Greening namun kepalanya ditembak dari kejauhan, otaknya berserakan.

Buku hilang belum ditemukan namun korban telah banyak jatuh. Raja Henry memanggil dan mempermalukan misi gagal serjeant Matthew Shardlake di depan orang-orang. Bahkan menyebutnya si bungkuk yang menjadi kutuk bagi tanah Inggris. Raja sangat marah dan tidak suka dengan misi rahasia dan geliat Matthew beberapa waktu sebelumnya. Rupanya Raja memegang buku itu dan mengaku terlibat dalam plot menyuruh pembantu Brocket dalam memata-matai kehidupan Matthew.

Penangkapan pengacara Philip Coleswyn, pedagang Edward Cotterstoke, dan penangkapan dirinya adalah bagian dari plot Raja untuk membuktikan apakah Matthew seorang penghianat namun dalam sidang itu Matthew tidak terbukti bersalah. Bagi Raja Henry buku itu tidaklah penghianatan agama kerajaan Inggris, istrinya Chaterine terlalu takut. Shardlake diusir dari istana dan tidak diijinkan menginjak istana.

Enam bulan kemudian Raja Henry meninggal dan Pangeran Edward muda dinobatkan jadi Raja. Namun karena usianya yang masih delapan tahun hak Regent, hak pelindung diberikan pada pamannya Edward Seymour. Musnahlah ambisi Chaterine, harapan menjadi Regent anak itu, kini dia diberi gelar Ratu Dowager dan akhirnya menikahi mantan kekasihnya Thomas Seymour. Buku Lamentation pun diterbitkan. Hak pengasuhan Putri Elizabeth jatuh padanya dan menunjuk Shardlake menjadi petugas hukum yang mencatat dan mengurusi harta kekayaan Putri Elizabeth. Shardlake tahu Elizabeth bukanlah keturunan raja yang diperhitungkan tetapi setidaknya dia dapat perlindungan dari Putri Elizabeth dari serangan Richard Rich.