Recital of the Dark Verses

A road novel, coming-of-age tale, and raunchy slapstick comedy tell the (true) story of the theft of Saint John of the Cross's body in 1592. Luis Felipe Fabre masterfully incorporates Saint John's verses into his prose, honoring the mystical poetry of the Carmelite while inviting the reader to reflect on issues such as the sacred and the profane, the body and the soul, and spiritual (as well as carnal) ecstasy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2023
Publisher: Deep Vellum Publishing

A captivating road novel, a poignant coming-of-age tale, and a raucous slapstick comedy blend together to recount the (true) tale of the audacious theft of Saint John of the Cross's body. In the summer of 1592, a bailiff and his two aides arrive at the monastery of Úbeda, carrying a secret mission to transport the revered remains of Saint John of the Cross, the renowned Carmelite poet and mystic, to his final resting place. Upon exhuming his remains, they discover the saint's body as incorrupt and fresh as when he passed away.

This sets the stage for a series of thrilling escapades and unfortunate events, populated by characters that seem to be drawn from mythology. Luis Felipe Fabre skillfully weaves Saint John's verses into his prose, as if the saint had foreseen the delirium that would ensue during his own posthumous transfer. This humorous and immensely entertaining novel manages to pay homage to the mystical poetry of the Carmelite while prompting the reader to contemplate profound themes such as the sacred and the profane, the body and the soul, and the pursuit of spiritual (and carnal) ecstasy.

Weight: 204g
Dimension: 128 x 204 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646052790