The Secret Supper
by Javier Sierra
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Book Reviews of The Secret Supper
Book Review: Not a Da Vinci Code clone
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are expecting another Da Vinci Code you will almost certainly be disappointed by The Secret Supper, which is not the same kind of fast-paced popular thriller. For one thing, it is set in the 15th century, during the creation of the Last Supper, and that alone slows it down. Also, it is more driven by character development than plot - not to criticize Brown's book, but there is a different emphasis, as well as a different vantage point on some of the same theories.
Father Agostino Levyre is sent to Milan by the Inquisition to investigate allegations made by a mysterious corresponent known to them only as the Soothsayer. According to the Soothsayer, the Duke of Milan and Leonardo da Vinci are conspiring to enshrine heretical ideas in Leonardo's works, in particular the Last Supper, and Father Agostino must discover both the truth or falsity of the allegations and the identity of the Soothsayer. Sierra's writing talents (and those of his translator, Alberto Manguel) are buttressed by his previous scholarly work in this area. In the process the inquisitor finds himself undergoing his own spiritual transformation.
At least one other reviewer felt that the subject matter was too esoteric, but I would hope that readers would be inspired to do some more delving into the transmission of previously unknown traditions from Byzantium to the West in the fifteenth century and the possibility that "heretical" movements that had supposedly been wiped out survived into the Renaissance and influenced Leonardo. Recommended reading: The Albigensian Crusades by Joseph Strayer and The Perfect Heresy by Stephen O'Shea, which I've just started but seems to be very well-written.
Book Review: tense historical masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1497 the "Soothsayer" warns the Papacy that art is the center of heresy and needs to be carefully monitored and if necessary censored. Taking the warning seriously with the Renaissance flourishing at the Vatican's doorsteps, the Secretariat of Keys of the Papal States Pope Alexander VI sends Inquisitor Father Agostino Leyre to Milan to investigate the works of the growing popular da Vinci for any heretic secret missives and to uncover the identity of the Soothsayer.
Leyre quickly becomes enthralled with da Vinci's current work in progress, the Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie. The priest sees the beauty in the not finished masterpiece, but also becomes somewhat alarmed as he also believes the Soothsayer is right that da Vinci has slipped in some secret codes with what he leaves out as much as he puts in though the artist claims he had divine inspiration. To reveal what Leyre assumes is treacherous unorthodoxy means death of the artist as a heretic and destruction of the painting, but to not do so will place the Father at risk of abetting dissent towards the Church especially if the Soothsayer sends messages.
THE SECRET SUPPER is a terrific thriller that uses the famous painting to tell the story behind the so-called Da Vinci code. The tale grips the audience as the Inquisitor begins to interpret what he assumes are heresies though he can see the beauty in the masterpiece. Adding depth to the fabulous Papacy vs. Leonardo plot is Javier Sierra's intriguing interpretation of The Last Supper. This novel is a tense historical masterpiece.
Book Review: An Intriguing Adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not a novel for those who want a quick thrill, an easy read spiced with action and sex (though those elements are there). This is a novel concerned with great and intriguing questions, art and scholarship.
It should be noted, Sierra was not riding on the coat tails of Dan Brown when he wrote this book. Though he was working from many of the same sources, he began his research and without knowledge of what Brown was doing before publication of "The Da Vinci Code." Sierra's novel is more intellectual, more sophisticated and a deeper presentation of a society vastly different from that we know today.
There are great differences between the two books, though both are revelations of a hidden, or secret, faith.
There is nothing in his notebooks or any of the scholarship about Da Vinci to affirm he was a Cathar. In fact, in his will, he requests Masses by deacons of Saint Florentin and Saint Gregoire before his burial within the church of Saint Florentin at Amboise, France, which would indicate adherence to the faith of Rome. Still, he was several times suspected of heresy and his beliefs indicate he may have been sympathetic to the bonhommes.
Already a bestseller in Europe, "The Secret Supper" is a historical mystery focusing more on the spiritual than the corporate aspects of religion. It is definitely worth the time it takes to read it.
And, after reading this, one can never look at the works of Da Vinci and his contemporaries in the same way again.
Book Review: OK Attempt to Explain Leonardo's Great Composition
Summary: 3 Stars
There is a lot of comparison with the Da Vinci Code but in reality, after reading both books, there is really nothing similar: different times periods, different mentality, different genre, different ideas, etc. This novel is about the artistic interpretations of the Last Supper. It really isn't a thriller but more of an historical murder mystery (like the Name of the Rose, rather than the De Vinci Code). The murder mystery is really a cover for an attempt to explain why Leonardo did this or that to the Last Supper. For example, the knot, or the order and position of the Disciples. It's not really complex since most art history buffs already know how important symbolism was. Or maybe the author suggests that it is not a big deal. It is more about an artist expressing himself against the conventions of the time. So in a sense, Da Vinci was heretical. But then again, so were many of his fellow artists! And scientists like Galileo. Look at what Michangelo did in the Sistine Chapel or Bernini did with his statues that were more about sexual arousal than religion. The explanation of Da Vinci as being "secret" is not much of a thought, but rather obviously plain he was against convention. But to us, it is not as obvious as we are not very conscientious of a time when symbolism meant so much. In the end, it was a fair murder mystery with some interesting historical notes.Book Review: A true cousin of The Da Vinci Code, only more realistic
Summary: 5 Stars
If you liked The Da Vinci Code, go for this novel. Not surprinsingly it was a best seller in Europe. The English version came a little bit late (Amazon has the original Spanish version, "La Cena Secreta"). Mr. Sierra did three years of research with trips to Rome, Milan, and Florence before writing this novel; and he claims he started writing it before Dan Brown's success. The plot is based on several "anomalies" you can find on Da Vinci's famous Last Supper, and surprisingly the Holy Inquisition didn't object or did they?. Buy a good reproduction of the painting to follow the clues through the reading. Can you guess which of the apostles in the painting is Leonardo Da Vinci himself?
To my taste "The Secret Supper" is based on more solid evidence and less speculation than "The Da Vinci Code", but that does not make it less interesting, on the contrary. The story is presented through the eyes of a high ranking monk of the Holy Inquisition, which makes the evolution of the plot very unique. Here you will not find the religious controversy caused by Dan Brown's book.
Highly recommended, specially if you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. I am looking forward to read some of the other novels by this author(unfortunately, they are in Spanish only).