If you’ve been a WellRead subscriber for a while, you might remember Emily Maguire from our April 2021 selection, Love Objects. While this month’s selection, Rapture, is completely different, we think it will blow you away.  

Dropping us in ninth century Mainz, Maguire introduces us to Agnes, the daughter of an English Priest. She’s hungry for knowledge as she waits on her father’s friends who visit from afar. To avoid a future as a wife or a nun, Agnes disguises herself as a man and secures a place at the Fulda monastery.

From there, we follow her on a journey of astounding proportions as she navigates political intrigue, desire and the realities of a Church unsteady on its feet.

Inspired by a series of medieval stories of a woman whose life took a similar trajectory, Maguire says she was initially intimidated by how much the rumours and records couldn’t agree on the details, or even the existence of this woman.

Rapture is one of the best books you will read all year, if not in your life. We can’t wait to hear what you think of it. If you’d like to join us in Sydney to hear from Emily Maguire at the Ace Hotel later this month, head to this link.