Carnival of Saints

by George Herman

Book Overview

The year is 1502, and Italy is ablaze with artistic radiance, sexual corruption, and political intrigue. Into this seething cauldron comes a vagabond of improbable erudition and outrageous appearance... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345381505
• ISBN13: 9780345381507
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 419 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

You will not see the likes again

Carnival of Saint is a must for all play directors. drama teachers, and actors. This book is the history of George's trilogy of SAINTS plays, of which A Company of Waywardsaints is the best known. This particular play is one of the most produced plays across the world. It is done in high school, college, and professional/amatuer theatres. This novel goes in to depth about the history of the play characters. However you don't have to be familar with the play to enjoy this novel. This book is a history lesson on the begining of Comedia Del'arte. This is the roots from where we get most of our most cherished comedy routines. It is from these players that Moliere begins his plays. BUT ABOVE all, this novel has a lovely story about people coming together to survive and becoming a family. George has researched the background for this novel by trips to Italy and by just directing plays. The style is one of a different era, one of character developement writen with love of the characters and love of the time/place. No one writes like this anymore and considering that George is in his late 70's and is doing teaching now, you may never see this style again. George also has his mystery series that very few people know about or read now a days if George's royality check is any indecation, which stars DeVinci as a detective. Again this is a thinking man's detective steeped in history and Italy. If you can find them check them out. By now you have noticed that I have been calling Mr. Herman by his first name. I am not name dropping, he is just happens to be a very dear friend. As told I him, he is the most famous writer that no ones knows about and you know something, that is the way he likes it. So have another White Russian, George and bask in your lack of noterity.

An A plus for George Herman!

George Herman certainly deserves credit for not only writing a spirited, often hilarious, tale set in early 16th century Italy, but for taking, literally, the Literary Bull by the Horns and presenting a delightful, mesmerizing story with equally mesmerizing characters."Carnival of Saints" shows Herman's influence of some real masters, notably Boccaccio and Chaucer. This is no "tale told by an idiot," to borrow Shakespeare, but it's a story of some original misfits, nine altogether, who are on a Grand Journey, metaphorically speaking, to right a few wrongs, as it were. While Herman's story does not take the form of "The Decameron" or "The Canterbury Tales," it certainly includes the bawdiness, the ribaldry, even the "lessons" these earlier masterpieces so clearly demonstrated. These "misfits" early on recognize the fact that united they stand, devided they don't, and so with good fortunate, skill, and the Good Lord's blessings, their odyssey takes in the entire scope of Renaissance Italy, pulling no punches as some of the social, religious, and economic disorders of the time. Herman's wit clearly abounds and while readers wil find themselves caught up in the plot development the author's humor keeps everything in perspective. Well, almost.These nine travelers, who represent a cross section of Italian society of the time, much as Chaucer did with his characters, are ofttimes quite bumbling and seem their own worst enemies, yet the "goodness" of their souls always wins out. This is a delightful read, and readers who aren't overly familiar (or fond of) Boccaccio or Chaucer will still find the historical settingand atmosphere worth the time. Herman has a number of well-received like books that also deserve a read! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Delightful and Charming!

Carnival of Saints is a story set in Renassance Italy in the year 1502. This story tracks the people in the band of Wayward Saints, a group of ragtag misfits drawn in for various reasons. Now, on to the review. This book is amazing, and I'm very upset to see that it's out of print. It has the most priceless moments... the humor is rolling on the ground-breaking your ribs type stuff. Hilarious. There are some sexual suggestions, but nothing too bad. This book is wonderful, and definatly worth getting.

A romp through renaissance Italy

"Carnival of Saints" is a delightful novel of a comedy troupe traveling through 16th century Italy, and becoming entagled in the Machiavellian politics of the time. Herman creates interesting and believable characters that interact with historical figures of the time. At times it reads like a tv sitcom, so I took away one star, but this was generally an enjoyable novel.