In thirteenth century France, a catastrophic fire has destroyed the greatest shrine in Christendom. Out of the ashes of the tragedy, history leaves a shadowy tale of a miracle, of the resurrection of faith, and of reconstruction—the erection of the masterwork of Gothic architecture, the Cathedral at Chartres. At the time of the fire, a powerful visitor, Cardinal Melior from the Holy See, has just arrived to find a new core for his faith at the brilliant School located in the town. A failed Montreal architect-turned-historian, John Wilson is convinced that by excavating the story of Chartres, by explaining its unparalleled complex beauty, he can heal something in his own life. And he is increasingly convinced that Cardinal Melior holds the key to his own personal dilemma. As exquisitely woven as a medieval tapestry, The School At Chartres will appeal to readers of literary mysteries, such as Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, and A. S. Byatt’s Possession.

David Manicom is the award-winning author of seven books. Progeny Of Ghosts: Travels in Russia and the Old Empire was the Quebec Writer’s Federation’s non-fiction book of the year and was shortlisted for the national Writer’s Trust Viacom award for non-fiction. His most recent poetry collection, The Burning Eaves, was short-listed for the 2004 Governor General's Award for poetry. In 2005, he published his first novel, The School at Chartres (Oolichan Books). He has published fiction, poetry, non-fiction and journalism ranging from book reviews to political commentary. A Canadian Foreign Service Officer, he has worked in Moscow, Islamabad, and Beijing, and currently works in Geneva.

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