A book I have had on my Kindle for years but only recently got around to actually reading. There are other stories set in and around Medieval Monasteries, like the Cadfael series, but the device of the stories of the individual monks, told by mother to daughter centuries later holds an interesting spin.

Covering a series of themes from friendship, to pride, forgiveness, despair, learning to live with difficult personalities, the ways in God may communicate with men, and the place of sometimes marginalized groups such as children and disabled people in the church, the first two stories in this collected trilogy (The Hawk and the Dove and The Long Fall) are worthwhile and sometimes though provoking reading.
The last story breaks away from the family stories device, and tells the story directly from the perspective of Abbot Peregrine (the ‘Hawk’ from the title) and his young protégé Brother Tom, detailing the events and challenges posed by the ailing Abbot’s final debilitating illness, dealing with a difficult moral issue and drawing on the author’s own experience of Nursing Care to provide a sympathetic view of growing older, and a touching conclusion to the trilogy.

On a historical level, the stories seemed generally authentic- though some of the details in the last seemed to belong more to the modern period than the 14th century (I definitely don’t think they had wheelchairs of any description) and some of the language definitely was distinctly modern.
That said, Mrs Wilcock clearly knows her Latin Liturgy, and the important details of the workings of a Benedictine Monastery. I didn’t entirely agree with the theological conclusions or spiritual beliefs of all the characters all the time, but generally it seemed sound. Also there were some occasional uses of mild bad language, including a few instances of what may be seen today as taking God's name in vain- although I'm not sure it was meant to be taken so in the historical context.

Overall, The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy was a satisfying and enjoyable set of stories. I look forward to the sequels, written over a decade after this trilogy and continuing the stories of some of the Brothers of St Alcuin’s Monastery, to be republished later this year.
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Written over 25 years ago and set during the 14th century, The Hawk And The Dove trilogy is a timeless piece of literature. It follows the life of Father Peregrine, abbott of the community of St. Alcuin in Yorkshire, England, along with the men who call the monastery home and Peregrine their friend, confidante, counselor and mentor. Filled with spiritual truths, the struggles common to man and a sense of God’s care and provision, Wilcock’s impeccably researched novels are sure to appeal to those who love history.

The first two books in the series, The Hawk And The Dove and The Wounds of God, follow a similar structure. The glimpses of monastic life and the unique characters within are told as a series of stories that have been handed down through the generations from mother to daughter. The present day introduction for each story is told in the first person by 14 year old Melissa. The stories themselves are in the 3rd person and told by Melissa’s mother. Each story looks at Father Peregrine and his ministry to the men at St. Alcuin. The stories are humorous, poignant and speak of universal truths. In The Long Fall there is a departure in structure from the first 2 books. The novel focuses only on Peregrine and Brother Tom and their struggle to understand the meaning and purpose of suffering. At first I didn’t like book 3, but came to appreciate the darker aspects of life that it depicts.

All three books are excellent in their depiction of religious life in the Middle Ages. The simplicity and discipline of the life is fascinating. And the reader also finds that things today are not really all that different from years gone by. Men have always struggled with understanding the trials of life and the compassion, mercy and love of God.

With modern day lessons from ancient monks told in a quiet yet powerful way, The Hawk And The Dove trilogy is one I highly recommend.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Lion Hudson and Kregel for review copies. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

I haven't even finished reading yet, and it is already one of my all-time favorite books. Tales of a 14th century abbott leading his monks with grace and wisdom as they all seek to follow Christ. ( )

I actually read the sequel to this series before reading this trilogy. This did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
The trilogy begins in a present day setting with a mother retelling stories to her daughter about a cloister of Benedictine monks who lived in during the 14th century. One of these monks, the abbott, Father Peregrine, happens to be her great-great-great grandfather. The first two parts of the trilogy flip back and forth between the present and the past focusing mainly on the relationship between Father Peregrine and a younger monk, Brother Tom. When Father Peregrine is seriously injured, the two monks develop a strong bond of love and friendship, each dependant on the other for physical, emotional and spiritual reasons. In the third part of the trilogy, the author switches styles and abandons the mother/daughter story-telling and focuses entirely on the Benedictine cloister.
Although I found the tale to drag in places, I genuinely liked the characters, the mix of humourous and serious moments, and the emotions the author was able to invoke. In fact, this story made me both laugh and cry. ( )